Pizza Movie Night #4 - Foodie Films

We know it’s not been long since our last Pizza Movie Night suggestions, but we can’t help it, we do love a good night-in. This week we are giving you our top five for true foodies with films that will make you hungry – and then a pizza to remedy that!

The pizza we have gone for is our favourite – and we’re a pretty foodie bunch here at Pizzeria Oregano! – and we are fairly certain it will be a hit with you all too. We call it, the Oregano. Fresh tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, shaved parmesan, and basil. Simple and classic, it lets the high quality ingredients do the talking. Food doesn’t need to be all fancy-pants to be delicious. We’d suggest also customising this beauty and adding a handful of crunchy pine-nuts.

Now – on  with the films!

·         Babette’s Feast – 1987

o   “In a remote 19th Danish century village two sisters take in French refugee, Babette Hersant, who agrees to work as their servant. After winning the lottery, Babette wants to repay the sisters for their kindness and offers to cook a French meal for them” Likely to be up there in every food-lover’s top 5. This beautiful, touching film shows what the true power and purpose of food is: bringing people together. Such a classic that it has inspired countless restaurants to host their own feast and offer the menu from the film.

·         Big Night – 1996

o   “A failing Italian restaurant run by two brothers gambles on one special night to try to save the business”. A supreme heart-warmer, this lovely film is about family, food, and offers a non-mafia-central glimpse into the Italian American community. And it has Stanley Tucci in it, who is JUST GREAT. And, incidentally, a real food-lover, he has just released his second cookbook! 

·         Today’s Special – 2009

o   “In this super-feel-good foodie comedy, young Manhattan chef Samir rediscovers his heritage and his passion for life through the enchanting art of cooking Indian food.” This is our indie offering. And our Indian offering, actually. Adding a little edge to our listing, “Today’s Special” offers up some glimpses of everything which is good about Indian cooking. And the double-meaning of the title is pretty sweet too.

·         Julie & Julia – 2009

o   “Julia Child's story of her start in the cooking profession is intertwined with blogger Julie Powell's 2002 challenge to cook all the recipes in Child's first book.” A romp. A film filled with more wonderful food and human emotions than you could shake a stick at. Whatever that means. This film also has Stanley Tucci in it, and he is still amazing. Also – so much butter. It’s glorious.

·         Chef – 2014

o   “A chef who loses his restaurant job starts up a food truck in an effort to reclaim his creative promise, while piecing back together his estranged family”. This has everything in it that you might want from a decent family-friendly(ish) film. No particular unbelievable drama. The bit where it all goes wrong is near the start and the rest of the film plays like a wonderous homage to America’s highways and culinary offerings. Which, believe it or not, are considerable. Well worth a watch.

Some good news also – both “Chef” and “Big Night” are on Netflix, and you can rent Julie & Julia on iTunes. So you’ve no excuse! Get on it, order your pizza, crack open some wine, and enjoy food in all its forms. 

Pizza Movie Night #3 - Easter

Easter-time is family time in the Oregano household, and we know it’s traditional to have a big ol’ roast, but this year we’re suggesting you give the chef of the household the day off and hunker down for some fuss-free family bonding.

The Pizza we have chosen this week is the simply egg-cellent Fiorentina. Trick your kids into eating healthily. Yes it’s a pizza – but it’s got a protein-rich egg, antioxidant-stuffed olives, and iron-filled spinach. Just tell them the Easter Bunny left an egg especially for them on top of their pizza then sit back to watch them enjoy spinach. Mu ha ha.

As for the films, we’ve gone for some festive favourites which the whole family can enjoy...

• Easter Parade – 1948
• “A nightclub performer hires a naive chorus girl to become his new dance partner to make his former partner jealous and to prove he can make any partner a star.” A film which ought genuinely to appeal to adults as much as it does to children. (As long as those adults like good old-timey musicals, Fred Astaire and Judy Garland. Which you should.)

• It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown – 1974
• “With Easter coming up, the gang is hard at work for get ready for the holiday. While Snoopy is shopping for a new home for Woodstock, Peppermint Patty is having a difficult time making Easter eggs with Marcie who hasn't the slightest idea of how to do that.” The Peanuts Crew at their finest. Fun for the kids, nostalgia for the adults – what’s not to love?

• Bugs Bunny’s Easter Funnies – 2010
• “Bugs Bunny refuses to deliver Easter Eggs, forcing his cartoon friends to go and hunt them out themselves.” Revamp of the 1977 hit “Bugs Bunny’s Easter Special”. Loony Toons for the win. 

• Hop! – 2011
•  “E.B., the Easter Bunny's teenage son, heads to Hollywood, determined to become a drummer in a rock 'n' roll band. In LA, he's taken in by Fred after the out-of-work slacker hits E.B. with his car.” How’s this for a rollicking romp? Russell Brand in Rabbit form wants to throw off the shackles of an inherited role (Easter Bunny) to be a drummer in a band, but changes his mind when some Easter Chicks stage a coup d'état. No. Really.

• Rise of the Guardians – 2012
• “When the evil spirit Pitch launches an assault on Earth, the Immortal Guardians team up to protect the innocence of children all around the world.” The Easter Bunny teams up with Jack Frost, the Sandman, the Tooth Fairy, and Santa in this action-packed animation which celebrates the innocent wonders of childhood. Aww.

•  The Passion of the Christ – 2004
• “Animated compilation for Easter. Bugs Bunny refuses to deliver Easter Eggs, forcing his cartoon friends to go and hunt them out themselves.” If you fancied teaching the kids what Easter is really about. NOTE: THIS IS NOT A RECCOMMENDATION. YOU WILL MOST LIKELY DISTRESS YOUR CHILDREN. Maybe one to watch once they’ve gone to bed.

Note = this is NOT the poster for The Passion of the Christ, but we felt the real poster would be too upsetting for this family-friendly blog. So you got some pretty Easter eggs instead.

So get on the blower, order yourself some Family-sized Fiorentini and cuddle up with kids in your life for an evening of embarrassment-free watching of all the films you’ve been wanting to see, but have definitely out-grown... Happy Easter!

Pizza Movie Night #2 - The Seaside

It’s seafood month here at Oregano. Which means that this month’s Pizza Movie Night has a fabulous nautical theme. Yes, this March we are going to suggest to you some of the finest seaside films we could find, and we think there will be a little something for everyone.

Since the very beginning of film, the seaside has been the perfect location for observing humanity. The first successful motion picture shot in natural colour was George Albert Smith’s 1910 film “A Visit to the Seaside at Brighton Beach”, which was a series of shots of the various activities taking place along the seafront. The seaside is holiday destination par excellence, the perfect place to escape as well as the ideal backdrop for stormy action and violence, mirrored in the untameable beast of the sea.

But  enough of that already. Let’s talk about the food. We’ve gone to the liberty of choosing, what we think is, the perfect pizza for our seaside theme: the Puglia. Named after our owner’s coastal home, the Puglia is a riot of seafood delights. Tomato-base topped with fresh clams, mussels, squid, garlic, olives and olive oil. Want to kick it up a notch? Why not add any, or all, of the following: tuna, anchovies, prawns. A fishy feast. Now, on with the films!

• “The Ghost and Mrs Muir” – 1947
• “In 1900, a young widow finds her seaside cottage is haunted...and forms a unique relationship with the ghost.” – This is a lovely film, plain and simple. If you’re looking for a romantic comedy that’s not too soppy, this is the one for you.

• “Et Dieu… créa la femme” (...And God Created Woman), Roger Vadim – 1956
• “In sunny St. Tropez, a young sexpot loves one brother but marries the other.” – This film is sexy as hell. And French. Which is pretty cool. It also has Brigitte Bardot in it, who is amazing. Essentially it was an excuse for director Vadim to show the world how sexy his wife is... Watch this with someone who fancies themselves a bit clever. Or with someone who fancies Brigitte Bardot...

• “Blue Hawaii” – 1961
• “Chad Gates has just gotten out of the Army, and is happy to be back in Hawaii with his surf-board, his beach buddies, and his girlfriend. His father wants him to go to work at the Great Southern Hawaiian Fruit Company, but Chad is reluctant. So Chad goes to work as a tour guide at his girlfriend's agency.” – This film has Elvis Presley in it. Nuff said. Seriously though, this is a family friendly film with gorgeous sets, excellent music, and a lot of very good-looking people. What’s not to like?

•  “Gallipoli”, Peter Weir – 1981
• “Two Australian sprinters face the brutal realities of war when they are sent to fight in the Gallipoli campaign in Turkey during World War I.” – If war films are your thing, we offer you “Gallipoli”. Perhaps too tragic to be called a ‘seaside’ film, the characters nonetheless spend a lot of time on the beach...

•  “Shipping News” – 2001
• “An emotionally-beaten man with his young daughter moves to his ancestral home in Newfoundland to reclaim his life.” – This film gets mixed reception. Some might call it dull, we think it’s beautiful and a slow burner. Worth a watch just for the stunningly talented all-star cast.

•  “Miami Vice” – 2006
• “Based on the 1980s TV action/drama, this update focuses on vice detectives Crockett and Tubbs as their respective personal and professional lives become dangerously intertwined.” – High octane, shiny remake of 80s cop show, if action movies are your sort of thing, then this is the beachy film for you. Perhaps not the greatest action film ever made, but Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell as the leads definitely make up for that. 

So, there you have it, 6 films, a couple of Pizza Puglia's and one rocking Friday night. Enjoy!

Pizza Movie Night #1 - Romance

Ok, so Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, just three days away in fact. Now, if you’re anything like me, you’ll have got caught up in day-to-day life and totally forgotten that an important factor of the perfect Valentine’s Day is where – and what – you are going to eat. And this takes careful consideration and much planning. If you haven’t managed to book a table, or if staying in is more your sort of thing, then we at Oregano are here to help you make it the perfect Valentine’s Night In.

Because what could be more romantic than a Pizza Movie Night?

Step One: Choose your pizza. 

Now, since V’day is the day of romance, we have selected something to help add an element of heat to your evening: The Calabria. Sweet tomatoes, indulgent mozzarella, and spicy Italian sausage. Sweet, spicy, indulgent. Need we say more? You could try to make it at home from scratch or go for the easy option: order it from us! Because the less time you spend in the kitchen, the more time you can spend with your Valentine...

Step Two: Customise.

If you want to take your night to the next level, we suggest you accessorise this baby. Chilli peppers are widely recognised as an aphrodisiac and symbol of love. It has been discovered that chilli peppers stimulate endorphins (happy chemicals in your brain), speed up your heart rate, and make you sweat. While the last one may not sound super romantic, a racing heart and supreme happiness certainly sound like a loved-up state to me. SO, why not think of adding a few jalapenos to your pizza, to spice up your night a little more.

Step Three: Movie Time.

We all know that there are approximately a bajillion rom-coms out there to choose from. Some good, some great, some utterly dreadful. But Valentine’s Day should be a day of relaxation, not one where you bicker over which film to watch, so we’ve taken the liberty of compiling a list of romantic foodie films to watch with your romantic foodie lover.

• “Bella Martha” (“Mostly Martha") [German] 

“When a headstrong chef takes charge of her equally stubborn 8-year-old niece, the tensions between them mount... until an Italian sous-chef arrives to lighten the mood” – Don’t let the fact that this is in a foreign language dissuade you, this is a fabulous film which will leave you both hungry and warm inside.

•  “No Reservations”

“The life of a top chef changes when she becomes the guardian of her young niece”  - The English remake of “Bella Martha”, which isn’t quite as good but is still a great watch.

•  “Chocolat” 

“A woman and her daughter open a chocolate shop in a small French village that shakes up the rigid morality of the community.” – You’ll be wanting dessert after/while watching this one. Sporting an amazing cast, including Dame Judie, headed by Juliette Binoche and Jonny Depp.

•  “Mystic Pizza”

“Three teenage girls come of age while working at a pizza parlor in the Connecticut town of Mystic.” – Worth watching just for the ridiculous title. And 1988. And young Julia Roberts. WARNING: you need to be in the mood for a ridiculous Julia Roberts rom-com from the 80s. Just sayin’.

• “Last Holiday”

“Georgia Byrd clerks at a New Orleans department store. She defers pleasure: cooks gourmet meals, eats Lean Cuisine; likes a co-worker in silence; has savings, but hasn't left Louisiana. All that changes when a CT Scan discloses she has three weeks to live.”  -  Another daft one, but heartwarming as hell. And who doesn’t love a bit of Queen Latifah in her prime?

There you have it, our recipe for the perfect Pizza and Movie night in. Crack open the wine and have a no-fuss Valentine's Day on us.