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Film and Food

Spicy Thai Tofu Burgers!

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Spicy Thai Tofu Burger
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The Inspiration For This Tofu Burger

Recently we selected the film "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" for our Sunday movie night. This film is about a friendship that develops between Fred Rogers (of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood) and a cynical and jaded journalist assigned to do a story on him. It's a lovely film, and highly recommended.

Fred Rogers was a beloved figure of the American public. I discovered that he was actually a Presbyterian minister, and a vegetarian. From HuffPost.com: "Rogers was one of the rare Christian ministers at this point who believed that treating animals nonviolently and embracing a vegetarian lifestyle are deeply spiritual practices that bear witness to God’s love for animals." He once told the editor of the Vegetarian Times magazine (which he co-owned) that he loved tofu burgers and beets!

On movie nights I'll cook a meal that has something to do with the film we are watching. So I made tofu burgers and beets to accompany this film!

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Easy and Scrummy British Beans on Toast!

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This page may contain affiliate links. So, I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. Here is a post about Scrummy British Beans on Toast!

Beans on Toast with Worcestershire and Tabasco sauces and a salad in the background
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Netflix Night! Behind Her Eyes

We have been watching the Netflix series called "Behind Her Eyes" which is based on the psychological thriller novel of the same name by Sarah Pinborough. The series is set in England, a beautiful country that I had the privilege of living in for 7 years.

I love to cook a meal on movie/Netflix nights that has something to do with the film or program we are watching.  Usually either the setting, or food actually eaten or highlighted in the film or program can inspire the meal.

Beans on Toast makes an appearance in the first couple of episodes of Behind Her Eyes, so was totally inspired to make this delicious British dish!

I don't remember eating Beans on Toast very often when I was in England! But I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this simple, easy, and delicious meal and I KNOW YOU WILL TOO!

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Easy and Delicious Scottish Mince and Tatties!

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about the classic Scottish dish called Mince and Tatties!

2 bowls of Mince and tatties served with peas and carrots
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Movie Night - Gregory's Girl

Recently we selected for our Sunday movie night the Scottish coming of age film called "Gregory's Girl." It's about Gregory, a super geeky teenager who falls head over heels for Dorothy. Dorothy's skills as a footballer (soccer, to us Americans) lands her a place on the school football team, actually taking Gregory's place. You'll have to watch it to find out what happens next. 🙂 It's a super cute film and really funny!

On movie nights I'll cook a meal that has something to do with the film we are watching. The inspiration for the meal could be something eaten in the film, or perhaps the setting. This time it was the beautiful country of Scotland (the setting) which inspired the meal. This is how I discovered the delicious Scottish dish called Mince and Tatties!

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Soul Surfer Film and Food Pairing - Delicious Healthy Bowl and Banana Bread!

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about a film and food pairing evening watching Soul Surfer!

Salmon Rice Bowl with vegetables in a white bowl with chopsticks

Soul Surfer Film and Food Pairing Night

Last Sunday we enjoyed a "Soul Surfer" Film and Food Pairing night. The film is based on American surfer and athlete Bethany Hamilton's autobiography "Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board." Bethany lost her left arm in a horrific shark attack when she was 13 years old. She miraculously survived, and INCREDIBLY and BRAVELY decides to get back in the water, and return to competitive surfing. This is an amazingly inspiring film, and I hope you will take the time to watch it if you haven't already.

Poke Inspired Bowl

On movie nights I cook a meal that is somehow inspired by the film. In this case, as it is set in Hawaii, I decided to make a Poke inspired bowl for our main meal. I say "inspired" because I used Foppen smoked and cooked Norwegian salmon instead of raw fish. It also included edamame, mango, pickled cucumber and ginger, green lettuce, carrots, avocado, and radishes. Super healthy, which I hope Bethany would approve of! Please refer to the recipe below to create your own Poke inspired bowl!

Salmon Rice Bowl with vegetables in a white bowl with chopsticks

Banana Bread

I also did something I hadn't done in years...bake! Actually this is my first post where I've included something I've baked (banana bread) so I'm very proud of myself. 😃 I got this recipe from LoveMischka.com, and you can be assured that it is an easy recipe and the results are oh so delicious!

3 loaves of banana bread
Sliced Banana Bread

I usually make a short video about each Film and Food Pairing night (with the film and dinner explained). I included that here, and if you watch you can see I nonchalantly say that there's a scene in the film in which Bethany bakes and serves banana bread to her family, hence why I made the banana bread. But I didn't realize that she made her delicious bread with ONE ARM ONLY. Just imagine.

Bethany becomes well known and a celebrity. At the end of the film, a reporter asks Bethany what she would do if she had the chance to undo the loss of her arm. She states that she wouldn't change anything, because she could embrace more people now than she ever could with both.

I'll end on that. 🙂

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Poke Inspired Bowl, Banana Bread, and sliced Blood Orange

Some Other Film and Food Pairing Ideas!

Ram-don From the Film Parasite

Ram-don in a bowl with chopsticks

Florida Cuban Sandwich and "Chef"

Cubano Sandwich

Cheers!

Grace

Salmon Rice Bowl with vegetables in a white bowl with chopsticks

Poke Inspired Bowl

Grace
This delicious Poke inspired bowl is also supremely healthy! Made with smoked salmon and lots of colorful veggies, you'll enjoy every bite!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Hawaiian
Servings 2 people
Calories 1080 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pks Smoked Salmon 1 used Foppen Hot Smoked Salmon Fillets (1 4 oz package per person)
  • 2-4 cups hot cooked rice
  • ¼ cup edamame cooked and shelled
  • few leaves green lettuce cut into ribbons
  • ¼ cup mango diced
  • 4 radishes sliced
  • 1 avocado sliced
  • ¼ cup carrots peeled into ribbons
  • 4 green onions sliced
  • ¼ cup pickled cucumber or sliced cucumber Recipe can be found on this site: https://explorecookeat.com/japanese-pickled-cucumber/
  • pickled ginger few slices
  • Furikake optional, for sprinkling on top

Sriracha Wasabi Mayo

  • ¼ cup mayo
  • ½-1 ts wasabi paste amend according to your tolerance for wasabi!
  • 1 ts sriracha

Instructions
 

  • Remove salmon from packaging and set aside.
  • Prep all your veggies (peel, slice, dice, etc.) ready to add to your bowl.
    Pickled ginger, radishes, avocado, green onions, carrot, edamame, salmon, mango, and Japanese pickled cucumber
  • Mix your Sriracha Wasabi Mayo and place in a condiment bottle, for easy drizzling. If you don't have a condiment bottle no worries..you can just drizzle it with a spoon!
    Bottles of mayo, sriracha, and wasabi
  • Layer your bowl the following way: hot cooked rice on the bottom, then all the other ingredients on top! Drizzle with Sriracha Wasabi Mayo as the finishing touch, and also furikake if you are using!
    Salmon Rice Bowl with vegetables in a white bowl with chopsticks and cantaloupe in a white bowl

Notes

This recipe is only a guide!  Feel free to switch out some of the veggies with others that you enjoy, or use what you have!  I highly recommend adding the Japanese Pickled Cucumber it's super delicious!  Enjoy this anytime you desire a delicious and healthy meal!
The nutrition information is only a guideline and estimation and will vary according to how your salmon is prepared and other factors. 

Nutrition

Calories: 1080kcalCarbohydrates: 165gProtein: 19gFat: 38gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 15gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 285mgPotassium: 968mgFiber: 12gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 3306IUVitamin C: 27mgCalcium: 106mgIron: 3mg
Keyword poke, poke bowl
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

How To Make Delicious Mississippi Hot Tamales

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about Mississippi Hot Tamales!

Mississippi Hot Tamales
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Tamales are a South Texas Christmas Tradition

I live in South Texas (San Antonio), and here tamales are a Christmas tradition. I have always thought of them as Mexican. Although they are available year round in restaurants and grocery stores, I usually dined on them at Christmas. Tamales made easy...the ones I bought were from the grocery store. 🙂

Whereas my annual Christmas dinner included store bought tamales, it's a totally different situation for Hispanic families. For many Hispanic families, they gather together on Christmas Eve to make them. Over the years this gathering turned into a big social event called a tamalada. There's a great article from NPR called "Tamales For Texas Are a True Texas Tradition" which I urge you to read for great background information.

Mississippi Hot Tamales
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Simple Moules Marinières

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This page may contain affiliate links. So I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about the classic French dish called Moules Marinières!

Moules Marinières

Movie Night - "The Rules of the Game"

On movie nights, I cook a meal to accompany the film we are going to watch. The meal I choose is somehow inspired by the film. The inspiration could be something actually eaten in the film, or the setting.

We watched the 1939 classic French film called "The Rules of the Game" on a recent movie night. Jean Renoir directed this film, and it is considered by many authorities on motion pictures to be one of the greatest films in cinema history.

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Film and Food Pairings

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about Film and Food Pairings. 🙂

Movie Nights!

Sunday nights are movie nights at my home. On movie nights, or Food and Film Pairing nights, I like to cook a meal is inspired by the film we are going to watch. Usually either the setting of the movie, or food actually eaten or highlighted in the film can inspire the meal.

I LOVE movie nights! It's fun and challenging to research food to pair along with films. Sometimes I don't get it right LOL but that's ok...it's great fun anyway!

4 Suggestions for Film and Food Pairing Nights

Would you like to start Film and Food Pairing nights at your home? If so, I have 4 easy suggestions for you to get started!

Mississippi Catfish Allison and "O Brother, Where Art Thou"?

Catfish Allison

O Brother, Where Art Thou is a film by Joel and Ethan Coen, and stars George Clooney. Based on The Odyssey, by Homer, it turned out to be very funny and we enjoyed it greatly! The film is set in Mississippi, so that evening I decided to cook Catfish Allison for dinner.

Catfish Allison, one of the most well known and loved dishes served at The Crown Restaurant, in Indianola, Mississippi. It's super delicious and easy to make!

Click here or the picture of the Catfish Allison above to get the recipe!

Ram-Don From The Film "Parasite"

Ram-don in a bowl with chopsticks

Have you seen the Oscar Best Picture Winner of 2020, the Korean film Parasite? I didn't know what this film was about before watching...however I knew that we weren't in for something "normal" because we have seen two films recently by the director Bong Joon-Ho which were NOT what we expected.

The PERFECT meal to accompany watching this film is Ram-Don! Ram-Don is actually eaten in the film. It's super delicious and combines beef and a couple of kinds of Korean Instant Noodles.

Click here or the picture above to get the recipe!

Florida Cuban Sandwich and "Chef"

Cubano Sandwich

2014 saw the release of a film called Chef, which I absolutely adored! In the film, a prominent chef quits his job at a prestigious LA restaurant. He then ends up in Miami where he then starts a food truck business. He ends up selling Cubanos. I highly recommend you watch this film to see how his food truck business turns out!

Obviously you MUST enjoy a Florida Cuban Sandwich, or Cubano, while enjoying this film! The MOST AMAZING mojo pork is combined with ham, swiss cheese, yellow mustard, and pickles on Cuban bread (if available or use French if not). This combo is PURE HEAVEN!!

Click here or the picture above to get the recipe!

Polish Kluski Noodles With Sauerkraut and "The Zookeeper's Wife"

Polish Kluski Noodes and Polish Kielbasa

"The Zookeeper's Wife" is a film based on a non-fiction book which tells the story of Jan and Antonina Zabinski, who were the owners and keepers of the Warsaw zoo. Amazingly they helped save hundreds of Polish Jews during the WWII German occupation of Poland, and their bravery under the most dire of circumstances was truly awe inspiring.

I decided on cooking Polish Kluski Noodles with Sauerkraut, and Polish Kielbasa to accompany this film. If you haven't tried Kluski noodles before, then you're in for a treat. They are delicious and fun to cook! And Polish Kielbasa is always a favorite in our household, so all in all this was a delicious meal.

Click here or the picture above to get the recipe!

I Hope You Will Start A Food And Film Pairing Night Tradition In Your Home!

We've had so much fun with pairing food and film and I hope you will too! If you have a film that you'd like some pairing ideas for, please email me at grace@explorecookeat.com. I love a challenge!

Please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration to have fun with food! Please join me by signing up here. 🙂

Cheers!

Grace

Simple and Delicious Noodle Dish Ram-Don From the Film Parasite!

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about how to make Ram-Don from the film Parasite!

Ram-Don

Parasite

Have you seen the Oscar Best Picture Winner of 2020, the Korean film Parasite?

I didn't know what this film was about before watching...however I knew that we weren't in for something "normal" because we have seen two films recently by the director Bong Joon-Ho which were NOT what we expected.

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Florida Cuban Sandwich

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about the AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS Florida Cuban Sandwich!

Cubano Sandwich

I visited Miami over 20 years ago and can't believe it has been that long! The need to go back is starting to get stronger. 🙂 I remember being thrilled at the Cuban accents I heard for the first time. Additionally the unmistakable Cuban influence on the food was everywhere and was an exciting new foodie experience for me.

Unfortunately I did not try the Cuban Sandwich (also called the Cubano) while I was there. The Cubano is a must when visiting Florida so I truly missed out! Therefore I wanted to try my hand at making one of these delicious sandwiches and bring a taste of Miami to my Texas kitchen.

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