Settle in with a good takeaway (find some recommendations here, here or here) and be inspired by sights and flavours from places far away.

Chef

We dare you to not want to open a food truck or, at least, to not want to take a trip around the US, sampling the variety that country has to offer after watching this movie. Jon Favreau (who wrote, produced and stars) perfectly illustrates the work that goes on behind the scenes of the dining room, with lots of beautiful close-up shots of food in all its various forms. 

A highlight has to be the scene where a simple cheese toastie is elevated to become a gooey, sizzling delight. 

The story follows Chef Carl Casper, whose genius constantly clashes with the vision of the restaurant owner. Jon Favreau actually took cooking classes and trained with a real-life chef, Roy Choi, in preparation for his role as Chef Casper.

Eat, Pray, Love

While the movie fails to capture the emotional intensity of the book, there can be no denying the joy Julia Roberts experiences as she wines and dines her way through Italy. Let’s face it – if you can afford it, who wouldn’t want to mend their broken heart in the Bel Paese? After fleeing the monotony of her marriage, Elizabeth Gilbert decides to travel to Italy, India and Bali to do just what the title says: eat, pray and learn to love again. She starts the “eat” part of her journey in Rome. 

Julia Roberts reportedly picked up seven pounds while filming there – and who can blame her? While discovering la dolce vita, she dines on classic Italian dishes like spaghetti cacio e pepe and gelato in iconic places like Piazza Navona (where the Pantheon is) and the Borghese Gardens. Then she moves on to Naples, where you’ll spot one of the most famous pizzerias in the world: L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele. 

Ratatouille

If you need some motivation to pursue your dreams this year, don’t miss this delightful animation that reveals that anyone can become a chef if it’s their calling – yes, even a rat! When Remy the rat is separated from his family one day, he finds himself above the kitchen of Gusteau’s Restaurant in Paris. 

There, he befriends a young garbage boy, Alfredo Linguini, who is in desperate need of help. But the other humans aren’t quite as ready to welcome a rat into the kitchen and Remy’s dream hangs in the balance. Don’t dismiss this one just because it’s an animation – the whole family will enjoy a generous helping of Ratatouille!

Julie & Julia

Delve into the early career of one of the world’s most famous chefs, Julia Child, and the food blogger who strived to cook all 524 recipes in Julia Child’s cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Julie Powell. The movie starts in the 1950s, where Julia is the only woman in her Le Cordon Bleu class. Despite the obstacles, she decides to write a French cookbook for American housewives. It then fast-forwards to 2002 and Julie’s attempts to cook from this now-famous cookbook. 

Food stylist Colin Flynn and culinary consultant Susan Spungen have shared that each and every one of the dishes featured in the movie were recreated in real-life – including the infamous boeuf bourguignon. In an interview with Smithsonian Magazine, Colin recalls how they burnt the dish and were then told to burn it some more. “That was one funny thing about this job; having to make things that were screwed up, when normally your job as a good stylist is to make things look overly perfect,” he revealed.

The Hundred-Foot Journey

You’ll practically be able to smell the aromas of India coming off your TV screen as you watch this charming tale. A family is forced to flee Mumbai after their restaurant is burned down. After a brief stay in London, they decide to settle down somewhere in Europe – somewhere vegetables have “soul”, as Hassan Haji puts it. But fate intervenes when their van breaks down near Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val in France and they spot an abandoned restaurant for sale. 

The only problem is it’s 100 feet away from a one-Michelin-starred restaurant run by a snooty chef who doesn’t believe Indian cuisine can live up to French expectations. Slowly but surely dishes such as tandoori chicken and naan bread and their accompanying relishes and sauces win the French diners over … while Hassan finds himself bewitched by the French style of cooking.

Which food movies are on your must-watch list? Tell us in the comments below.