A flavorful review of Chef (2014) blending film, food, music, and emotion—plus the toast scene that’ll send you straight to your kitchen.
Sometimes, life can be made better with just two simple things: a good movie and a delicious piece of toast. Chef (2014) brings those two joys together beautifully. The film kept me glued to the screen, while at the same time calling out to my stomach, making me say, ‘Let’s go to the kitchen!’
The hero of the film, Carl Casper, is a passionate chef who truly loves his craft. But not everything goes the way he hopes. Facing setbacks in his career, Carl finds himself wandering down a series of dead ends. However, life takes a turn. In an effort to break free from this rut, he starts a food truck business—giving him the freedom to cook on his own terms. From that moment on, Carl’s life takes a positive turn, with one good thing leading to another.
The film opens with a fiery kitchen scene, set to the rhythm of Wild Magnolias’ ‘Brother John is Gone.’ Right from that moment, you sense that the energy in this film won’t let up. The rest of the soundtrack only reinforces this feeling. Songs like ‘A Message to You Rudy,’ ‘I Like It Like That,’ and ‘Lucky Man’ keep the tempo high and the mood upbeat.
In such a fast-paced film, with pans dancing to the rhythm of the music and bread toasting on the side, it’s impossible not to feel inspired to head into the kitchen and cook something yourself. One of the most memorable scenes is when Carl makes a grilled cheese sandwich for his son. The way the bread turns golden and the cheese sizzles on the grill creates a true feast for the senses. And it’s not just the toast—throughout the movie, we’re treated to mouthwatering shots of pasta, carne asada, and sandwiches bursting with vibrant ingredients.
In short, Chef is a film that blends mouthwatering food, lively music, and a heartfelt father-son story. If you’re looking for something fun, touching, and appetite-inducing, this movie is a must-watch. And yes—by the end, you’ll almost certainly find yourself heading to the kitchen to make some toast.
Director and Screenwriter: Jon Favreau
Cast: Jon Favreau, Sofia Vergara, John Leguizamo, Scarlett Johansson, Oliver Platt, Bobby Cannavale, Dustin Hoffman, Robert Downey Jr.
Click here to watch the deliciously fun trailer for Chef!