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Keller for President, who's with me?

Pixar’s new feature film, “Ratatouille” features probably what is any good (actually, make that anyone that possesses an ounce of common sense) chef’s worst fear: rats in the kitchen. The animated film’s star rat, Remy, is hard not to love with his dream of becoming a chef while hiding in an upscale Paris bistro.

The movie’s realistic and dynamic portrayal of the kitchen isn’t an accident. To make the scenes seem genuine, the filmmakers enlisted the help of chef Thomas Keller for his expertise. What has this man not conquered? Michelen-Check. James Beard-Check Check. Frank Bruni-Check Check Check. Now he conquers animation? In a word: amazing.

In preparation for the film, animators observed the renowned French Laundry kitchen and had Keller design the titular dish in the movie. Other members of the film crew were sent to French restaurants to truly soak in the ambience. Keller even found resonance in the film’s message. "How [the film’s snotty food critic antagonist] came to realize that it does not necessarily have to be somebody who is a figurehead [to be a chef] ... that was an important part for me." Other complicated scenes like the chopping sequences were perfected by watching cooking videos and taking cooking classes.

"It was important that it looked really appetizing," said Kim White, the movie's lighting supervisor. "The food needed to look absolutely as beautiful as it could look."

In other summer culinary flick news: I saw the trailer for the new film called No Reservations starring Catherine Zeta-Jones that looked sappy yet semi-interesting. It’s the story of a successful chef who takes on the care of her niece after her sister dies in a car accident and since all chefs are hot and in-shape naturally working with food and all... she meets another hunky chef (Aaron Eckhart) who becomes her partner at the restaurant.

Side note: From the previews it seems that the filming location for it might be 17 Bleecker in the West Village, although there are rumors of some other locations, Little Owl, perhaps?

EDIT: Re: Ratataouille, Anthony Bourdain is on record (via Michael Ruhlman) that this might in fact be the best culinary flick--EVER. Bold statement. Even bolder when coming from the ever-skeptical Bourdain. Have you seen it? Will you see it? What do you think?

Posted Jul 9, 2007 by themagster | 3 Comments | Share It

Filed under: chefs movies