Kill Bill: Vol. 1 and 2
Quentin Tarantino’s gruesome tale of a once-pregnant bride avenging the deaths of her fiance and friends doesn’t exactly lend itself to eating. But if one had to pair a meal with this movie, we recommend a Japanese-style tuna dish -- since a large portion of the film occurs in Tokyo (feel free to wield your knives like a ninja or dine wearing masks) -- and a nice blood orange martini as an homage to the film’s gore.
· Blood Orange Martini
· Pan-Seared Ahi Tuna With Wasabi Cream Sauce
Goldfinger and Casino Royale
James Bond doesn’t exactly take time off from fighting the world’s latest supervillains (and romancing the world’s most beautiful women) to dine, so we turned to a fan-fiction site for inspiration. According to “The James Bond Dossier,” Bond does, in fact, have notable meals in most films. We like the meal Bond has in Diamonds Are Forever: Eggs Benedict, strawberries, and two of his signature drink: vodka martini, shaken, not stirred.
· Eggs Benedict
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
The passive-aggressive dinner took on a whole new meaning when John and Jane Smith dine for the first time after becoming aware of each other’s profession. Both are on high alert, with John suspecting Jane slipped something deadly in his martini and poisoned the roast, and Jane wielding a carving knife like a professional. And who can forget the favorite “Did you do something different?”/“I added peas”/“Ah, peas” exchange? Dine like the Smiths, but leave the passive-aggression to Brad and Angelina.
· Roast Beef
Juno
One of our favorite parts of Juno was the way Juno’s infectious personality was fleshed out through her bedroom decor, clothing ensembles, and props, like her hamburger phone. Since the movie is set in Minnesota, you’ll probably want to reach for comfort food like hamburgers and baked potatoes -- a meal the MacGuff family shares at the beginning of the film. Oh, and be sure to have some orange Tic Tacs on hand; they’re Paulie Bleeker’s only vice.
· Hamburger (based on Juno's hamburger phone)
· Baked Sweet Potatoes
· Orange Tic Tacs
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
Ben invites Andie over for what he considers his foolproof meal to get a girl into bed. Since the grace period for “normal, nonpsychotic Andie” has ended, however, Kate Hudson’s character refuses to eat Ben’s famous rack of lamb. That doesn’t mean you can’t, though! We suggest serving it with a side of ratatouille or couscous and a nice pinot noir.
· Rack of Lamb
· Ratatouille
The Princess Bride
As you wish: a meal inspired by fairy-tales. Start with pumpkin soup (a tribute to Cinderella’s carriage), honey-glazed ham inspired by Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and finish off with a nice bread pudding a la Hansel and Gretel.
· Pumpkin Soup
· Spiced and Honey-Glazed Ham
· Bread Pudding
Knocked Up
You may not think Knocked Up easily lends itself to a meal, but we can think of many it inspires. First off, there’s the idea of having breakfast for dinner, inspired by Iris Apatow’s line “I loooove breakfast!” Then, there’s the stoner/munchie connection, and for that we suggest a Southwestern Chicken Pileup, which Ben’s stoner friends would surely enjoy.
· Breakfast Burrito
· Southwestern Chicken Pileup
Wedding Crashers
One of The Nest editors’ favorite movies, this one’s a no-brainer. Quoth crazy touch football player guy: “Crab cakes and football. That’s what Maryland does!” Make some crab-and-corn chowder and accompany it with a nice baba ghanoush and pitas. Why the odd combination, you ask? Owen Wilson’s character, John, lovingly refers to Jeremy (Vince Vaughn) as “baba ghanoush” throughout the film.
· Crab-and-Corn Chowder
· Baba Ghanoush
· Champagne
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
Ah, the touching tale of two friends on a daring adventure to score drugs and dine at a fast food establishment shaped like a castle. It’s almost straight out of Hans Christian Andersen! Or, you know, not at all. Either way, dine like Harold and Kumar on sliders (duh), fries, and a huge fountain soda (Mountain Dew is their beverage of choice in the movie). The best part is that you already have the recipes, so there’s no need to wander through New Jersey all night to eat what you desire.
· Sliders
· Fries
· A gigantic Mountain Dew
We Were Soldiers
Since the film deals with depressing subject matter, we looked for food inspiration from the country where it takes place. We chose to pair Vietnamese Spicy Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Golden Raisin Oatmeal Fitness Bars because the latter seemed like a fitting tribute to the heroes who fought for our country.
· Spicy Chicken Lettuce Wraps
· Golden Raisin Oatmeal Fitness Bars -- to keep your energy up!
The Departed
Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-winning tale about a corrupt policeman and his dealings with the Irish mob in Boston after the police commissioner has ordered a crackdown on organized crime doesn’t necessarily inspire culinary delights. But you can dine on Irish staples, like shepherd’s pie, and have a pint of Guinness.
· Lamb Shepherd’s Pie
· A six-pack of Guinness. It’s good for you!
Rocky
Yo, Adrian, cue theme music, don a sweat suit, and run up nearest staircase a few times (jump up and down at the top for the full experience) to build up a hearty appetite for a Philly Cheesesteak “wit whiz” (that’s “with Cheez Whiz,” to you non-Philadelphians) and water (pronounced “wudder”) ice. Thirsty?
· Philly Cheesesteak
· Water (pronounced “wudder”) ice
Psycho
The Bates Motel didn’t have great room service (checking in but never checking out isn’t our idea of four-star), but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a delicious room service-inspired meal while watching one of Hitchcock’s greatest films. Serve your meal on a tray or, if you want to go the distance, a rolling table covered in white linens.
· Salad
· Veal Milanese
· Chocolate Chip Cookies
· Bellini
Misery
Novelist Paul Sheldon is trapped in a blizzard with a crazed fan, but you’re safe at home and it’s only a movie (phew). Enjoy some blizzard/wintry fare including hot cocoa, Meatballs and Snow Peas (food puns are our favorite), and Winter Vegetable Stew.
· Winter Vegetable Stew
· Meatballs and Snow Peas
· Mayan-inspired hot cocoa
Jaws
Eat something gentle to soothe your stomach for all the carnage, but since Amity Island is, well, an island, it has to be seafood or fish. And to drink? Try a Captain Nemo cocktail -- we love a nautical theme!
· Baked Halibut With Herb Butter
· Down Island Burgers With Mango
· Captain Nemo
Crash
Paul Haggis’ Oscar-winning film is about the clashing of cultures during two days in Los Angeles. The tension finally comes to a boil and results in a frenetic car crash later obscured by pure falling snow. Have your meal mimic the movie: Begin with a Mexican appetizer, enjoy an Indian entree, and finish the meal with a Snowflake Cake.
Tex-Mex Salad
Saraman
Snowflake Cake
The Shawshank Redemption
We assume you don’t want the full prison experience of eating Nutraloaf, so we’ll stick with a safe meal suggestion inspired by Shawshank State Prison’s Maine location: lobster accompanied by steamed (or grilled) corn.
· Lobster
http://www.thenest.com/odb/themes/recipes/detailview.aspx?id=8095&type=7&s=lobster
· Corn on the cob from your favorite farmers' market
There Will Be Blood
Daniel Day-Lewis plays Daniel Plainview, a self-described “oil man” on the verge of mania in Paul Thomas Anderson’s masterpiece, so follow our logic here. Plainview’s fortune is made from oil profits, and latkes (Jewish potato pancakes) are made on Chanukah to celebrate the miracle of a small amount of oil burning for eight days. So enjoy latkes in all their oily goodness and, of course, drink a milkshake: “DRINK IT UP!”
· Latkes
· Milkshake from your favorite ice cream parlor
North by Northwest
One poster for this Hitchcock caper promised audiences “A 3,000-MILE CHASE…that blazes a trail of TERROR to a gripping, spine-chilling climax!" But there’s no need to get all riled up when watching. Sit back, relax, and enjoy some food inspired by the film’s beginning, which is set in Long Island, New York. And have a Manhattan! After all, Cary Grant’s Roger Thornhill is an NYC advertising executive in the 1950s…
· Long Island-inspired seafood
· Manhattans: Sweet vermouth, whiskey, bitters, and a cherry
Casablanca
This one’s easy: Moroccan meatballs over couscous accompanied by Moroccan lentil salad. Here’s looking at you, delicious.
· Moroccan Meatballs Over Couscous
· Moroccan Lentil Salad
The Godfather (Parts I & II)
Time for some of our Italian favorites thanks to Francis Ford Coppola’s mafia epic. But leave the gun; eat a cannoli.
· Minestrone
· Veal Scallops in Cream Sauce
· Spaghetti
· Pick up some cannolis and red wine on your way home.
-- Lauren Le Vine