Italy & Food - A Visual Feast
/Italian movies, movies featuring food, and travel shows about food can all be found on the streaming services. Years ago you may have been able to rent a copy of “Life is Beautiful” at the local Blockbuster or video store. Especially since it was the first film where a non-English speaking male actor (Roberto Benigni) won the Oscar at the Academy Awards in 1998.
Now, you can find a wealth of entertainment in the comfort of your own home. Here are a few suggestions:
Classic Italian Movies
Bicycle Thieves (Ladri di Biciclette): Made in 1948, it is set amid the struggles of post-war Italy and has been named by numerous movie reviewers as one of the best films ever made.
Cinema Paradiso: Released in 1988, it also takes place just after the end of WWII and explores the relationship between a young boy and the projectionist at the local movie theatre in small town cinema.
Two Women, Marriage Italian Style or The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti Ase): The first Oscar for a non-English speaking part went to Sophia Loren for her performance in “Two Women” in 1961. Since then, the legendary Italian actress has appeared in numerous classics, including “Marriage Italian Style” and most recently in “The Life Ahead”. That film was directed by Loren’s son, Edoardo Ponti, and was released in 2020. Stream any of her movies and you won’t regret it.
Food Movies
Babette’s Feast: Several years ago I spent New Year’s Eve with my cousin in Chicago eating caviar and smoked salmon, drinking Dom Perignon and watching “Babette’s Feast.” It had just been released and was the first Danish film made from a book by Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixen of “Out of Africa” fame). It’s an incredible story of the pleasures of food, love and sacrifice set among a strict religious order in 19th century Denmark.
Big Night: Set on the Jersey shore in the 1950s, two brothers from Calabria, Primo and Secondo, (Tony Shaloub and Stanley Tucci) are running a struggling Italian restaurant. Primo, the chef, won’t cook the more familiar Italian-American food that the locals prefer. In order to save their restaurant, an elaborate feast is prepared to try and change the hearts and minds of the locals. It’s a wonderful film that should not be missed.
Food, Cooking & Travel Series
All of the following series are on Netflix. Combined, they offer hours of enjoyable travels with food at the heart of each story.
Somebody Feed Phil: If you, like me, were devastated by the death of Anthony Bourdain and the end of his amazing series of food travel shows, you might love this show, starring the creator of “Everybody Loves Raymond.” Not a former chef like Bourdain, Phil Rosenthal is curious, kind and loves to eat. You might find yourself planning a trip after watching this series.
Ugly Delicious: The Chef/owner of the famous NYC restaurant, Momofuku, David Chang dives deep into different kinds of food, globetrotting to bring us his take on pizza, tacos and other familiar foods. Well-known chefs and actors sometimes accompany Chang on his travels.
Chef’s Table: Beautifully photographed, each episode in this well-done series focuses on a well-known chef. Chefs from Massimo Bottura (Francescana in Modena, Italy) to Enrique Olvera (Pujo in Mexico City), this series will delight anyone who loves travel, good food and the inspiration behind creating great meals.
Salt Fat Acid Heat: Samin Nosrat published a book of the same title, in which she proposes that these four elements form the basis of cooking. She travels to Italy, Japan, the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, and then to Chez Panisse in Berkley, CA. It’s a fascinating travelogue, but also loaded with information for the home cook.
Last Pairing Dinner of the Year - Don’t miss it.
Available Today through 12/31
Weekend Specials
M’tucci’s Italian
Ravioli - Roasted Carrots/Goat Cheese filling, Butternut Squash, Roasted Eggplant, Spinach, Tea Brown Butter Sauce, Shaved Parmesan & Micro Greens $25
14 oz Ribeye: Crispy Salt Water Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, Grilled Lemon, Balsamic Reduction $39
Pan-Seared Ruby Trout - Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Arugula, Grilled Artichokes, Lemon Caper Sauce $27
Braise - Napolean: Bolognese & Spicy Marinara, Sautéed Garlic Spinach & Creamy Polenta $23
Weekend Cocktail
Santa’s Little Helper - Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Venezia Apertivo, Rhubarb Bitters
M’tucci’s Moderno
14 oz. NY Strip - Traditional Italian Salsa Verde, Crispy Saltwater Potatoes, & Grilled Asparagus $36
Pan-Seared Yellowtail - Roasted Artichoke, Braised Escarole, Mashed Potatoes, Caper Lemon Butter Sauce, & Smoked Prosciutto Powder $27
Beef Tips Tortelloni - Cajun Seasoning, Grape Tomatoes, Onions, Rosa Sauce, Gorgonzola Cheese $21
Weekend Cocktail
Scottish Cherry Sour (one of the cocktails from the 12/1 Pairing Dinner) - Monkey Shoulder Scotch Whiskey, Cherry Liqueur, Rhubarb Bitters, Fresh Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup, Egg White
M’tucci’s Twenty-Five
24 oz. Porterhouse - Grilled Broccolini, Whipped Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Smoked Blackberry bone Marrow Butter $41
Pan-Seared Mahi Mahi - Garlic Whipped Potatoes, Braised Greens, Stem on Artichoke Hearts, Lemon Butter Caper Sauce $28
Duck Confit & Ricotta Ravioli - Duck confit, Caramelized Onions, Roasted Root Vegetables in a Duck Cream Broth, Parmesan Cheese, Parsley $21
Weekend Cocktail
Winter Wonderland - Vanilla Vodka, Coconut Rum, Coconut Cream, Pineapple Juice, Simple Syrup
M’tucci’s Bar Roma
24 oz Bone-In Wagyu Porterhouse - Gorgonzola & Garlic Whipped Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole a la Minute, Crispy Shallots, Fig & Balsamic Reduction $63
Pan-Seared Ruby Trout - Garlic Whipped Potatoes, Braised Arugula with Garlic, Seared Stem-on Artichokes, Lemon Caper Butter Sauce $27
Weekend Cocktail
The Pom Pom - Gray Whale Gin, St. Germain, Pomegranate Juice, Fresh Lemon Juice
Live Music for November, December & January
M’tucci’s Bar Roma - Wed 6:30-8:30. Sunday noon-2pm
11/27 Shane Wallin
11/30 Oscar Butler
12/4 Oscar Butler
12/7 Shane Wallin
12/11 Lani Nash
12/14 Gilbert Uribe
12/18 Shane Wallin
12/21 Lani Nash
12/28 Shane Wallin
1/4 RJ Perez
1/8 Matt Jones
1/11 Alex Long
1/15 Javier Ortega
1/18 Jason Seel
1/22 Abby Deeter
1/25 Rob Martinez
1/29 Xandra
M’tucci’s Twenty-Five - Thursday 6:30-8:30 * Friday 7:30-9:30
12/1 Oscar Butler
12/2 Lani Nash
12/8 John Martinez
12/9 Shane Wallin
12/15 Matt Jones
12/16 Alex Long
12/22 Abby Deeter
12/23 Gilbert Uribe
12/29 Chessa Peak
12/30 RJ Perez
1/5 Marissa
1/6 John Martinez
1/12 Amy Faithe
1/13 Gilbert Uribe
1/19 RJ Perez
1/20 Javier Ortega
1/26 Amy Faithe
1/27 Lani Nash
M’tucci’s Moderno - Thursday 6:30-830 *Friday 7:30-9:30
12/1 Matt Jones
12/2 Jason Seel
12/8 Abby Deeter
12/9 Gilbert Uribe
12/15 Oscar Butler
12/16 Lani Nash
12/22 RJ Perez
12/23 Rob Martinez
12/29 Marissa
12/30 Javier Ortega
1/5 Xandra
1/6 Lani Nash
1/12 John Martinez
1/13 RJ Perez
1/19 Oscar Butler
1/20 Matt Jones
1/26 Chessa Peak
1/27 John Martinez
Thanks for reading. See you next Friday. Ciao!
