by Gordon Ranks
In between absorbing and critiquing 2018’s best dramas, comedies, horrors and bizarre sci-fi flicks about alien collaborations, you’ll need to make sure that you’re sufficiently fuelled up on the most film-friendly grub. Whether you’re aiming for a chilled out movie marathon at home or wanting quick and stylish options when you’re high-tailing it between art house cinemas, here are the best options for chowing down.
Authentic Pizza
One of the most obvious choices for film fans of all ages, pizza is destined to satisfy even the pickiest eaters in your movie buff entourage. However, if you’re wanting to keep it on trend during film festival season, a greasy pizza from your local take-out just won’t cut it. Your best bet is trying out authentic Neapolitan-style pizza, complete with razor-thin crusts and that quintessentially Italian chewy dough. The Golden Rule is to keep it simple. No over-topped creations spilling with a million different toppings, instead opt for either margarita or marinara to keep it authentic when watching those Italian gangster films.
Mouth-Watering Lebanese Food
This is a standout choice of cuisine given that one of this year’s biggest foreign language splashes at the Oscars was the pulse-racing and explosive Lebanese drama The Insult, Ziad Doueri’s beautifully-shot and politically-charged thriller, which has left critics drooling. Celebrate this milestone in Middle Eastern filmmaking by ordering in delicious Lebanese fare from a company like Deliveroo, and chow down oon juicy shawarma, crunchy felafel, fresh tabouleh or a filling kebab.
Stylish Sushi Platters
2018 has been a stellar year for Japanese film, with even Wes Anderson’s thought-provoking and visually stunning animated film Isle of Dogs being set in Japan. Settle into this one, or any of the other great Japanese films, classic or otherwise, by getting a hold of a colourful and sufficiently varied sushi platter for you and your squad to pick over while you discuss the merits of Japanese cinematography and the thematic evolution of the term kawaii. Whether you’re more into maki, sashimi or nigiri, make sure you do your Japanese film fest right by ordering in copious amounts of sake to wash it all down afterwards. Just beware the after-burn!
Vietnamese Feasts
A country not widely known for cinematic achievements, the southeast Asian country of Vietnam is increasingly making its way onto true film buffs’ radars, especially since the mind-blowing balls-to-the-wall horror flick KFC burst onto screens across the globe back in 2016. If you can stomach it through all the gore, settle in with soul-warming Vietnamese classic dishes such as a steaming bowl of fragrant pho, or some addictive bun cha, a mouth-watering combination of grilled pork and noodles.
Which international films do you think warrant serious exposure to their respective country’s cuisine? Comment to let the people know!
