Passion for Food

Photo © Rob Jones

So …

It had been a long day. A friend had popped over from Plymouth which meant a lot of walking and talking, a pleasant lunch, and then more talking over a coffee. After escorting them back to their digs for an early night, the weather turned bad, and I foolishly took the coastal path back home, resorting to the torch on my phone to guide me through torrential rain. My battery was about to run out.

By the time I got in, I was ready for a night in in front of the TV. Saturday Night!

There’s a film festival on at the moment in Falmouth and there are a few films I really fancied seeing. One of which is called ‘The Taste of Things.’ I had a few moments before Strictly, so thought, ‘Ah, I’ll just book a ticket before I settle down.’ So far so good.

Only after booking my ticket did my brain kick in .. and I thought, ‘Hang on… that’s this evening, at 8pm’

By now it was 7.30, and there was that agonising moment when you listened to the rain lashing down outside, the Strictly music playing, a glass of wine poured, but then the thought of missing a film I’d just paid for and dearly wanted to watch. What would you do?

Coat on, 20 minute sprint to the Poly in Falmouth and there in good time to collect my ticket and pick a prime seat for what was revealed to be a two hour film! Two hours!!

But it was two hours well spent. See the trailer here.

The Taste of Things is a love story - though at times you do wonder who or what the love object is.

It tells the story of a cook called Eugenie, played by Juliette Binoche, a long time employee of a renowned chef Dodin Bouffant, played by Benoît Magimel. Dodin loves Eugenie, but she rebuffs his advances, though as her health fails she finally relents and they marry. I won’t say any more as it’ll spoil it for you if you intend to see it, and I suggest you do.

More importantly for the blog, is the uncredited starring role of the food. Virtually the first 30 minutes of the film is taken up by the preparation of dish after dish of spectacular French cuisine, for a tasting party for Dodin’s friends. And then it just keeps coming, in glorious technicolour, complete with juicy sound effects. The only thing missing was the smell of cooking. I do sincerely believe they should have handed out bibs to the cinema goers to catch the drool as they watched.

It’s a very funny film - again revolving around food. Dodin is invited to dine with the Prince of Eurasia who devises a menu which takes eight hours to eat. Dodin pledges to return the favour by cooking the Prince a French hot pot (Pot-au-feu.)

Interesting fact of the night - what we call a Baked Alaska, the French call an Omelette Norvégienne - A Norwegian Omelette. Omelette actually means ‘Small Plate.’

It’s also a very sad film at times, and I’m still trying to work out if the ending was happy or sad. Not sure. It happened so quickly, almost as an after thought.

However, if you enjoy seeing the creation of French classic dishes, in great detail, every process, and wish to pick up a few tips of the trade - while watching a love story, in French with subtitles, for two hours, then this is the film for you.

R