Weekend Cooking: Off the Menu (movie review)
Oh what a week this has been! A huge news week, plus torrential rains, plus . . . I had a half bushel of roma tomatoes to process. Oh and did I mention that I'm getting ready to go on vacation?
In between the busyness, I found some time to get lost in a light rom-com with a food theme. Off the Menu (directed by Jay Silverman and written by Jennifer Goldson) is streaming via my cable service, and I'm so glad I took the 90 minutes or so to watch. It's just what I needed to unwind and get inspired to get into the kitchen.
Javiera Torres (Dania Ramirez), a single mom to Sophia (Makenzie Moss), lives in a small town outside Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she runs a small cafe that's open only for lunch. Once a week -- or when she's in the mood -- she cooks a special dish for family and close friends. Her cafe has become a foodie destination and is praised by food bloggers near and far.
Meanwhile in Irvine, California, Josh Flanagan (Santino Fontana), a sometime lawyer and co-heir to the fast-food chain Tortilla Hut fortune and business, is tasked with finding a new dish to add to the menu. He's a health nut and somewhat clueless and selfish. Nevertheless, he heads off to the Southwest and makes an effort to eat authentic Mexican-inspired food.
Of course, he stumbles on Javiera's restaurant and of course, he doesn't tell her exactly who he is. Romance, misunderstandings, growth, and love ensue.
Is this the best rom-com you've ever seen? Probably not. But I promise you'll be craving some Southwest/Mexican food within about 3 minutes. The setting is beautiful, the food is to die for, and the acting is just fine. If you're looking for a foodie flick with pure escapism as the draw, Off the Menu is for you.
Take a look at the trailer and put this one on your watch list.
Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.NOTE: Mr. Linky sometimes is mean and will give you an error message. He's usually wrong and your link went through just fine the first time. Grrrr.
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12 comments:
This sounds great. We don't get any of the streaming services, and more and more I'm beginning to feel I am missing out on lots of good things!
I love a good movie recommendation. This sounds light and cute and the food aspect will be inspiring. Have a great vacation.
Why does it make me think of "You've got Mail?" -- which is such a great movie. I hope there's really a new incarnation of Norah Ephron.
best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
This sounds exactly like the sort of mindless romcom that I adore! (Oddly, I hate books like this, but movies...love 'em.)
I watched this a few weeks ago, it is the sort of film my husband rolls his eyes at, but as he had caught up with viewing of "Naked and Afraid" he indulged me!
Not a fan of rom-coms unless I'm on a plane, weird? But if there is food well then this sounds like something I would watch while cooking in the kitchen.
I might watch that just for Santino Fontana - I've listened to him narrate an audio book and he did an outstanding job.
It looks cute and fun--I'll add it the the list. I love Santino Fontana--although after hearing him as Joe Goldberg in the audio books for You and Hidden Bodies, I may struggle not to look for the charming sociopath stalker in this performance! ;-)
I’d probably try to find the book it was made from, if there was one. Lately I’ve not been one for movies.
I'll bet you had fun with this one.
This sounds like a fun movie. Not sure we can get it here easily but I will look out for it!
This movie looks good to me. Thanks for highlighting it.
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