Miramax Films

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Martha Stewart is the first name that comes to mind when we think of celebrities who love cooking. Stewart’s journey in the food industry started in 1976 when she founded a catering business in her basement with a friend from her modeling days. She would go on to pursue various other ventures, but cooking has remained her passion. Over the years, Stewart has written several books and hosted various culinary-related shows. According to the biography Martha Stewart: Lifestyle Entrepreneur by Sherry Paprocki, the star was taughtto cook and sew by her mother. She later learned the processes of canning and preserving from her grandparents’ home in Buffalo, New York.

A few years ago, Stewart named her six favorite food movies and documentaries on the Tribeca Shortlist, which often features a handful of celebrities (Shortlisters) discussing their favorite films that all share a common theme. Unsurprisingly, she has great ‘taste.’ Stewart’s choices will make you hungry, but they will also teach you a thing or two about the art of making nice meals. Most importantly, they will entertain you. So, grab your remote, sit back, and keep something to munch on nearby.

6 ‘Chocolat’ (2000)

Miramax Films

Based on the 1999 novel of the same name by the English author Joanne Harris, ***Chocolat ***tells the story of Vianne Rocher (Juliette Binoche), who arrives in the fictional, quiet French village of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes at the beginning of Lent, accompanied by her six-year-old daughter, Anouk (Victoire Thivisol). Despite not getting along with the residents, she opens a small chocolaterie. Within no time, she wins over some friends and her business influences the lives of the townspeople in ways they never expected.

Chocolate Is the Food for Love

Anyone who has read the novel (Winner of the Creative Freedom Award) will inevitably make comparisons, but it’s obvious that the source material isn’t in the same league. Vianne Rocher, competent and likable as she is in the book, doesn’t glide along the floor with the optimism that the movie version of the character does. Whereas the page version of Rocher has a naturally gauche persona that carries an aura of pathos and vulnerability, the book version comes across as far too confident, and you never doubt for one moment that he won’t succeed. All praise goes to actress Juliette Binoche for that.

Most importantly, you can feel the taste of chocolate from your seat. The manner in which the residents of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes munch with delight makes you believe it’s truly delicious. Away from the food, we get a heartwarming love story, making this one of the most enjoyable romance movies of the 2000s. At the Oscars, *Chocolat *was nominated for several awards: Best Picture, Best Actress (Juliette Binoche), Best Supporting Actress (Judi Dench), Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Score.

5 ‘A Place at the Table’ (2012)

Magnolia Pictures

***A Place at the Table ***is a documentary that digs into the oft-neglected issue of hunger in America, revealing how 50 million Americans — including one out of four children — go for days without food. The film primarily focuses on three individuals: Barbie, a single mom in Philadelphia; Rosie, a Colorado fifth-grader; and Tremonica, a Mississippi girl suffering from obesity and asthma.

The Unheard Cries of the Tummy

An undeniably accomplished work of information-centered art, *A Place at the Table *is one of the more thought-provoking documentaries ever made. By combining tearful confessions and expert commentary, directors Kristi Jacobson and Lori Silverbush not only draw attention to the hunger problem but also expose other systemic issues, such as low wages and bureaucratic obstacles created by bad politics. The two filmmakers make their wish clear, calling for a change in policy and fairness in all quarters of life.

On the level of technical brilliance alone, the documentary film is a visual monument every bit as powerful and concerning as a news report. Throughout its 84-minute running time, the magnificent, heartbreaking masterpiece offers a powerfully instructive look at living conditions, while making great use of sound. Thanks to the great work, the film was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. At the 2013 IDA Documentary Awards, it won the Pare Lorentz Award, which recognizes films that tackle social problems.

4 ‘Food For Thought, Food For Life’ (2015)

As we eat, do we ever stop to think about how the environment is being affected? Narrated by Tony Robbins, ***Food for Thought, Food for Life ***analyzes the ecological and ethical impacts of modern food production. The documentary educates us on how industrial agriculture destroys the planet, contributes to unforeseen chronic illnesses, and depletes natural resources. Via interviews with farmers, scientists, and activists, the film suggests solutions to prevent climate change and a global health crisis.

Be Sure to Eat Responsibly

It’s great to know that Martha Stewart doesn’t just love food. She cares about how our food practices affect the planet.* Food for Thought, Food for Life *might not have been nominated for any major awards, but it deserves to be seen by everyone and taken to heart. With a running time of less than an hour, the documentary film is modeled on clear, concise storytelling, summarizing key details as much as possible. Tony Robbins’ powerful voice also adds the much-needed passion and sense of urgency to the message, leaving viewers in a reflective mood.

Movie-like cinematography further adds to the awesomeness here. Beautiful images of farms, forests, oceans, and highly populated cities help accentuate the difference between responsible and irresponsible food processing/consumption. And even though it might seem preachy from its premise, the documentary is anything but that. Better than most movies about climate change, the documentary simply encourages people to make small dietary alterations, not overturn their entire lives and discard their favorite meals.

3 ‘Like Water for Chocolate’ (1992)

Miramax

Based on Laura Esquivel’s debut novel of the same name, Like Water for Chocolate takes us to 20th-century Mexico and introduces us to Tita (Lumi Cavazos). The young woman has been forbidden to marry because tradition dictates that, as the youngest daughter, she must devote her time to caring for her mother, Mama Elena (Regina Torné). Tita’s true love, Pedro (Marco Leonardi), thus weds her sister Rosaura to stay close to her. Meanwhile, Tita pours her heart into the craft of cooking, and it soon emerges that her emotions magically transfer to anyone who eats her meals. What are the consequences?

Food Is More Lethal Than Cupid’s Arrow

Who knew food would be so powerful? Audiences will definitely appreciate how magical realism is used to drive the narrative in *Like Water for Chocolate. *Look out for a scene where a character eats and becomes so aroused that her body begins to steam. It gets even better. She causes an outhouse to catch fire. What the hell? Lumi Cavazos is superb as the love-deprived woman who holds our sympathy as her ordeal begins. Marco Leonardi is excellent, too, as Pedro, the man forced to marry the sister he doesn’t really like.

Beyond that, the clash between tradition and modernity is expertly handled. We see characters rebel against gender roles and ancient societal rules, with consequences. What results is a beautiful all-round viewing experience. The movie was nominated for 10 Ariel Awards (the Mexican version of the Oscars), including Best Picture, and was also in contention for Best Foreign Language Film at the Golden Globes. Additionally, at the time, it became the highest-grossing foreign-language film ever released in the United States.

2 ‘Food, Inc.’ (2008)

Magnolia Pictures

Food, Inc. exposes the unsafe practices of the U.S. industrial food system. It calls out the few powerful corporations that control most of the nation’s food production for prioritizing profit over health, the environment, and animal welfare. Via numerous interviews with food experts, farmers, and activists, the film sheds light on labor exploitation, genetic modification, and government conspiracy in the food market.

Time to Change Where We Get Food?

Director Robert Kenner’s call for organic, locally-grown food is yet to be heeded by many, but there is still great food for thought here, 17 years later. The filmmaker reportedly spent three years making the film, allocating the biggest chunk of the budget on legal fees to try to shield himself against the inevitable lawsuits from industrial food producers, as well as pesticide and fertilizer manufacturers. Logical questions can be raised regarding how the masses can be fed using organic food only. Is it really possible? Probably not. Thankfully, some of the issues are addressed in the sequel, Food, Inc. 2, which was released on April 12, 2024.

From a technical perspective, Food, Inc. is visually stylish, presenting many zoom-in and zoom-out shots that aspiring filmmakers would be keen to reproduce. The sound engineering is also tailored perfectly to each scene. During award season, the documentary was nominated for several trophies, including the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature and the Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary Feature.

1 ‘Jiro Dreams Of Sushi’ (2011)

Magnolia Pictures

***Jiro Dreams of Sushi ***is about Jiro Ono, an 85-year-old sushi expert and owner of Sukiyabashi Jiro, a three-star restaurant in Tokyo, Japan. Director David Gelb follows Jiro as he perfects his craft, sourcing the best ingredients and taking hours to prepare each dish. Additionally, we get to see the sometimes contentious but highly fruitful relationship between the chef and his sons as he mentors them to be just like him.

Made in Japan

Forget movies about entrepreneurs. Watch *Jiro Dreams of Sushi *not just for the food but for a greater understanding of how to run a business together with family members. Director David Gleb gives us a warm, intimate portrait of Jiro and his sons. The affection and conflict create several touching moments, but the fascinating documentary also presents a frank, clear-eyed perspective on a group of people with both outsize intellects and egos, who cross swords occasionally as expected but complement each other perfectly. Whether reserved or outspoken, each person in the family remains self-aware, confident, and articulate about their wishes, and the profound, abiding respect they have for each other jumps off the screen.

Overall, discipline, hard work, and legacy are highly emphasized, three things that are likely to push anyone to the top, no matter which field they are in. You’ll be glad to learn that Jiro Ono recently turned 100 years old and has no plans to retire. “I plan to keep going for about five more years,” Ono said in October 2025 as he marked Japan’s “Respect for the Aged Day,” according to AP News.