Teachings on eating from films and dramas turn us into epicures

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Following the movie This Is Not What I Expected, Takeshi Kaneshiro inspired social media memes and imitated demonstrations on how to cook cup noodles.

As he insists in the movie, it takes seven minutes to create the perfect instant noodle: in the first three minutes, pour boiling water into the instant noodles and cover it; then, put the noodles in icy water whilst adding the flavor bags and a little sesame oil. Finally, pour heated water again, and after 2 minutes and 50 seconds, you can enjoy your perfect noodles.

This process inspired many people to promote their own way of cooking cup noodles.

But there are also many other films that provide us with more "delicious inspirations".

Eat Drink Man Woman

 Taiwanese-Style Steamed Fish

Eat Drink Man Woman delivers a clear message that meals help bring families together through a culinary enjoyment for all. The first meal cooked by the father is a simple, easy-to-prepare steamed fish.

The experienced chef emphasized that when you steam fresh fish, never smear it with salts; instead, put salt on the edge of the plate, and the water vapor will drill the salts into the fish.

Ultimately, Eat Drink Man Woman taught us that despite limited ingredients, it's always the small details that decide the delectability of the dish.

My Love from the Star

Korean "Chimek"

The leading actress of a South Korean TV, My Love from the Star, is crazy for chimek - "chi" is short for chicken and "mek" for "mekju," the Korean word for beer. Chimek makes frequent appearances as the favored comfort food of the drama's heroine, who says, "It's snowing. How can you not have chimek?"

Her desire for Korean-style fried chicken has since become deeply rooted in audiences' hearts and stomachs.

Tampopo

Special Ramen

A classic ramen movie, Tampopo showed us the true way to eat ramen, best observed as:

1

Observe and appreciate the contents of the bowl. Hold up to your face and breathe in the aromas of ramen soup.

2

Poke the pork, chicken or beef in your ramen noodle. Gently pick up the meat and dip it into the soup on the right of the bowl.

3

Slurp the noodle and pay attention to the texture. There's nothing worse than overcooked noodles. The perfect texture of ramen noodles should offer a slight resistance in the mouth while chewing.

4

Sip some soup, being careful to not also take in any of the toppings. Try to experience all the ingredients that made the broth.

5

Soak the meat on the edge of the bowl allowing the soup to drip away for a moment before biting.

6

Hold the bowl up to your face again and repeat until the bowl is empty.

This is not only a way to appreciate the chef's work to the fullest, but is also a way to taste and cherish the textured essence of noodles and broth.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Chocolate Sauce and Fondue

Jonny Depp as the mysterious Willy Wonka created unforgettable chocolate waterfalls. Flowing like silk, chocolate sauce is perfect drizzled over cake, ice cream, or, in Willy Wonka's case, used to make fondue.

Making chocolate fondue for dessert leaves lots of room for personalization. Fondue can be prepped in advance, and the chocolate sauce comes together in just a few minutes. Melt chocolate and cream together, stirring in a pat of butter for a smoother texture. Serve with anything you like for dipping. It is a great way to end any meal at home.

Whether or not we’ve realized it, what we watch can influence our appetites. Food has the power to reunite siblings, foster romantic relationships, and bring you to moments of self-reflection. 

As satisfying as food can be, the fullness we feel at the end is far richer and more complex than that offered by the most extravagant meal.

Which film inspired you to try ordinary food in a new way? Share your experience or secret recipes with us!

Editors: Shen Yiming, Zhang Hanzhi (intern)

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