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FOOD COMEDY GEORGE EGG The DIY Chef picks his top 5 food moments in film
Spinal Tap and the backstage catering problems (1984) In this scene the band are confused by the fact that the bread is too small for the fillings. The child-like Nigel Tufnel can’t figure it out while his confused manager tries to help him by suggesting that he folds the salami to fit in the bread, but this only makes things worse. The French Toast scenes in Kramer vs Kramer (1979) I’ve watched this hundreds of times. There are two scenes in the film where Ted (Dustin Hoffman) and his son Billy (Justin Henry) make French Toast together. They’re completely different but both are utterly heart-breaking.
Any from a plethora of moments from Napoleon Dynamite (2004) This is a film so rich with food but my most memorable moment is the ‘tots’ that Napoleon eats from his pocket. More so because, listening to the DVD commentary, the cast reminisce how they were completely stale, with the crunch added by a Foley artist.
The ratatouille tasting in Ratatouille (2007) Remy has decided to cook this simple peasant’s dish for reviewer Anton Ego who sniffs at it, pokes it around a little and then tastes it. And the moment he does so he’s transported back to his childhood. All art has the power to do this and the moment it happens here is magical. Keith and Candice Marie discuss chewing during Nuts in May (1976) Here, Candice Marie (Alison Steadman) questions Keith (Roger Sloman) on his rule that food should be chewed 72 times. Keith chews (I adore how long they draw out his internal counting) before he concedes that it depends on what it is you’re chewing. (As told to Brian Donaldson) ■ The Stand, Edinburgh, Sun 11 Mar; The Stand, Glasgow, Mon 12 Mar. See more about George Egg’s foodie films at list.co.uk/comedy.
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