For the following insight:
"Rocky."
Nothing like punching large sides of cattle.
Do I really think that's the best food scene? Of course not. But it was inventive, it made me laugh and most of all...
I COULD TRACK DOWN THE WRITER'S EMAIL.
Ipsedixit didn't leave me his email, either, but I recognized his tagline from frequent postings at Chowhound. And there he has a profile, which contains his email. (The Knife is nothing if not persistent.)
Unfortunately, I have no idea who "Diana" is; if I did, I'd offer her a bottle of wine as a consolation prize for this magnificently paranoid post:
...Is it the worst restaurant movie scene ever if viewed by a neurotic germ-o-phobic person like me? Without a doubt. The diner scene in the inane Tom Green film, "Road Trip," where DJ Qualls (“Kyle”) sends back his French Toast to a portly, unhygienic cook who proceeds to place said French Toast down his pants before returning it to the table, is simultaneously comical and incredibly disturbing. In a city where health grades are posted in all restaurant windows, Los Angelos know all too well the anxiety felt when they learn their favorite restaurant is given a “B” rating. What exactly is going on behind those swinging kitchen doors?
Watching a scene like the “French Toast down the pants” clip in "Road Trip" amplifies that anxiety to a whole other level. If my $40 petite filet is not cooked properly, do I send it back and risk it accidentally “falling” on the floor next to a (used) rat trap? If my soup is cold, do I say something, or pretend it’s a gazpacho, rather than risk receiving a “spit stew”? "Road Trip" has forever tainted my naïve impressions that restaurants will happily accommodate most customer requests. Is this a good thing? Am I saving myself from food poisoning and bacterial infection? Or am I paranoid? And devoid of the opportunity to receive a properly cooked steak?
Diana has all of our sympathies. If she sends me her email, she'll be able to soothe her anxieties with a nice bottle of red.
Finally, the entry I probably would have awarded first place if (a) I knew how to contact "Jeff" and (b) if it weren't for the fact that his IP address suggests that he works at Variety, which would sort of be cheating. In any case, it's pretty damn cool.
In no particular order...
1. The Silence of the Lambs- Fava beans. Chianti. An old friend for dinner. Need I say more?
2. Hannibal- Hopkins eats Liotta's brain in front of him, and then doggie-bags it for the plane to share with other adventurous passengers.
3. Hostel Part II where the dude's torture fantasy involves cutting a tendon from a guy's leg and eating it raw in front of him as classical music plays.
4. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner- Because that was one long, awkward meal. I'd be afraid to ask for the salt and pepper.
5. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre dinner scene.
6. My Dinner with Andre- the entire film.
7. What else? Seven- Gluttony. I think that's an automatic winner right there.
8. Breaking the Waves- Emily Watson feeding Stellan Skarsgard. Heartbreaking stuff.
9. Good Will Hunting- Either Will and Skylar going out for caramels or the boys grabbing a Double Burger.
10. She's All That- Freddie Prinze Jr. makes Chris Owen eat a slice of pizza with a pubic hair on it.
11. Lolita- Does licking a lollipop count as eating?
12. The Great Outdoors- John Candy has to eat a 64 ounce steak. The man was a one of a kind eater.
13. Animal House- Bluto's zit-popping scene with the mashed potatoes.
14. The Passion of the Christ- Jim Caviezel enjoys a Last Supper with his disciples. I think this was of some importance back in the day.
15. Ferris Bueller's Day Off- Abe Froman scene at the fancy restaurant.
16. The Wire, Season 4- When Bunny Colvin brings some inner city kids to a classy Baltimore restaurant and they're not sure how to act.
17. The Sopranos- Any scene at Satriales. Artie Bucco is the man.
18. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation- Because Christmas dinner with the Griswold clan can't be beat.
19. Home Alone- Where did Kevin's pizza go? In Buzz's belly, so if he wants a slice, someone'll have to barf one up, cuz it's gone!
20. Beverly Hills Cop- Banana in the tailpipe. Comic gold, I tell you!
Ahh! I included my e-mail but I guess it didn't work when it posted? No way to to still snag that gift certificate? :(
Posted by: Diana | June 29, 2007 at 11:38 AM
Satriales is the Butcher Shop. Artie Bucco is the Chef at the Nuovo Vesuvio and Nuovo Vesuvio II resturants.
Posted by: George M. | June 29, 2007 at 11:50 AM
Hey, didn't anyone mention my favorite? The food scene from "Tom Jones?" I add my congratulations to the runner up. It's a scary world out there!!!
Posted by: MamaSan | July 10, 2007 at 11:13 AM