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Movie Menus: Recipes for Perfect Meals with Your Favorite Films: A Cookbook
Movie Menus pairs classic movies with easy recipes updated from historic cookbooks to help you create a sensational dining experience for any film genre.
Both foodies and film buffs will find their passions fulfilled in this deliciously cinematic cookbook, which gathers authentic recipes from the cultures and eras portrayed in your favorite films: Old-Fashioned Southern Fried Chicken with Gravy to savor with Gone with the Wind ; Spaghetti and Meatballs with Eggplant for The Godfather; Pan-Seared Steak and Onions with The Alamo ; a Victory Garden Salad for Patton .
The chapters are organized into ten distinct film genres—everything from “Pharaohs and Philosophers” and “Knights and Kings” to “The Wild West” and “Romantic Dinner for Two”—with a dozen or so recipes each. Treat your family to a complete meal served in popcorn bowls while watching Shrek , or enjoy a Renaissance feast with Shakespeare in Love . Spiced with film factoids, black-and-white movie stills, famous lines, and bloopers, Movie Menus is as fun to read as it is to use, and promises to be a classic.
Both foodies and film buffs will find their passions fulfilled in this deliciously cinematic cookbook, which gathers authentic recipes from the cultures and eras portrayed in your favorite films: Old-Fashioned Southern Fried Chicken with Gravy to savor with Gone with the Wind ; Spaghetti and Meatballs with Eggplant for The Godfather; Pan-Seared Steak and Onions with The Alamo ; a Victory Garden Salad for Patton .
The chapters are organized into ten distinct film genres—everything from “Pharaohs and Philosophers” and “Knights and Kings” to “The Wild West” and “Romantic Dinner for Two”—with a dozen or so recipes each. Treat your family to a complete meal served in popcorn bowls while watching Shrek , or enjoy a Renaissance feast with Shakespeare in Love . Spiced with film factoids, black-and-white movie stills, famous lines, and bloopers, Movie Menus is as fun to read as it is to use, and promises to be a classic.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
15 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 25, 2016
What can you say about a Cookbook. Usually something about the recipes and that is about it. In general that is all a cookbook entails. In this case the recipes are nice, although for the most part I find them a tad over complicated for no apparent reason. Still haven't tried one so can say for sure how they turn out or if the extra work and ingredients make a difference.
So why the high review? Well it is simple the book really does add a whole new dimension to the recipes that go above and beyond the norm for a cookbook. This one groups movies (in some cases somewhat arbitrarily for making meals to go with them) this allows you to entertain in a fashion that is appropriate to the movie. It talks about the times in question, gives various bits of trivia, like Sissy Spacek was originally penned in to play Princess Leia.
Each section has quotes, information about various movies, the recipes and then a menu idea for a party as well as a list of movies that fit the category in question. All in all a fun book to read even if you never cook anything from it.
So why the high review? Well it is simple the book really does add a whole new dimension to the recipes that go above and beyond the norm for a cookbook. This one groups movies (in some cases somewhat arbitrarily for making meals to go with them) this allows you to entertain in a fashion that is appropriate to the movie. It talks about the times in question, gives various bits of trivia, like Sissy Spacek was originally penned in to play Princess Leia.
Each section has quotes, information about various movies, the recipes and then a menu idea for a party as well as a list of movies that fit the category in question. All in all a fun book to read even if you never cook anything from it.
May 22, 2016
I love this cook book! I'm a huge movie fan and I love to cook. I was so excited to come across it! Fortunately it did not disappoint me. I had so much fun reading through this. I know. You are wondering why only 4 stars then. Unfortunately the recipes are not easily accessible. I highlighted each of them to be able to quickly find the one I want. Also there were no photos of the finished recipe. Not even one. I took half a star for each. If the author corrects this, it is easily a five star book.
There are wonderful photos from the movies. I loved those. They may be the reason why there are no recipe photos. I get that but it is a cookbook. Tossing in a recipe photo from each themed sections would really complete this book. As mentioned, the recipes are divided according to movie themes. This was a brilliant idea for a cookbook. Each themed section includes the recipes, movie quotes and trivia! I love it, love it, love it! I have already sent out texts regarding some of the trivia to my son. The chapter ends with party tips and movie lists. It makes planning a fun night easy peasy. I'm all about stress free entertaining.
In case you are wondering, will she make all the recipes? Are the recipes complicated? Are the ingredients difficult to find? In full honesty, I will definitely not be making every recipe. At least not as they are. Some recipes call for ingredients that I, or a family member or friend, don't care for or are allergic to. Most likely those I will experiment with to make them to our taste. Only a few recipes looked like they would need an experienced cook, (please note: this is only my opinion). For me, the only truly complicated recipes were the ones included, written in their original form, from certain eras. All others, for me, have ingredient lists that contain common food. I live in Alaska so I pretty much believe if I can locate an ingredient, anyone can. Lol.
Overall I am impressed with this cookbook. I believe it to be one I will use often. I would recommend it, especially for movie chefs.
There are wonderful photos from the movies. I loved those. They may be the reason why there are no recipe photos. I get that but it is a cookbook. Tossing in a recipe photo from each themed sections would really complete this book. As mentioned, the recipes are divided according to movie themes. This was a brilliant idea for a cookbook. Each themed section includes the recipes, movie quotes and trivia! I love it, love it, love it! I have already sent out texts regarding some of the trivia to my son. The chapter ends with party tips and movie lists. It makes planning a fun night easy peasy. I'm all about stress free entertaining.
In case you are wondering, will she make all the recipes? Are the recipes complicated? Are the ingredients difficult to find? In full honesty, I will definitely not be making every recipe. At least not as they are. Some recipes call for ingredients that I, or a family member or friend, don't care for or are allergic to. Most likely those I will experiment with to make them to our taste. Only a few recipes looked like they would need an experienced cook, (please note: this is only my opinion). For me, the only truly complicated recipes were the ones included, written in their original form, from certain eras. All others, for me, have ingredient lists that contain common food. I live in Alaska so I pretty much believe if I can locate an ingredient, anyone can. Lol.
Overall I am impressed with this cookbook. I believe it to be one I will use often. I would recommend it, especially for movie chefs.
January 18, 2024
Has ten chapters and some black and white photos. The title is somewhat misleading. The book is not about foods actually featured in movies but rather the author (a food historian) merely gives recipes from historical eras and suggest movies to view that would fit these recipes.
March 25, 2009
Full of mouth-watering recipes for cinema-themed entertaining and movie tidbits. Segan is a food historian who has acted as a consultant for numerous films. WCDPL patrons can meet Segan Friday, April 17 at the library's 3rd annual piano birthday bash, "Movie Madness." The program starts at 7:30. Segan will be joined by musical guests, Michael Peskilis and Geoff Stephenson.
Mary Boone
WCDPL Adult Services
Mary Boone
WCDPL Adult Services
December 9, 2011
The food part was great - but the book needed more movie stuff, and the ties between movie quotes and recipes were often... strained.
May 23, 2016
Like the mix of movie facts and good food.
July 19, 2016
it has some great recipes and interesting movie facts.
August 6, 2016
Fun-and rewarding for the theme party ideas as well as the lists of movies young and old that are worth seeing (and seeing again).
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews