15 Fascinating Film Foods from 1993

What do you look for when you watch a movie? Good performances? Sharp dialogue? A story? What a buncha rubbish. Like any family get-together or company gathering, I'm here for the food. Not that '93 stands out for scenes of sustenance - I can tally up the treats of most any given year, but doing something like this can have some educational value; apparently this was a popular time for sandwiches of all kinds. I'm not sure what that says any more than in terms of music, drugs, or fashion but it's clear the pizza craze was on a break. That or the product placement polls had shifted. At any rate, per usual, I like to mirror these meals whenever I happen to watch these movies, which is sometimes satisfying, sometimes a challenge, and sometimes a mystery. 

- Paul

Phil's breakfast

Groundhog Day

I've never been a breakfast guy, it's too early for me. But I'll admit that one of the things that's always given me pause is my struggle to watch what I eat. But if I found myself in a situation in which there were no tomorrow and I was potentially a god then angel food cake and cigarettes feel like a suitable eyeopener. 

Subway party sandwich

The Beverly Hillbillies

I honestly can't remember if Subway made sandwiches this big (I'm a D'Angelo lifer) but in the 1990s it seemed entirely plausible. Regardless, the big long sandwich sight gag was a sorta common comedic device around this time and I can say that I certainly hoped it was based on some truth. 

On-the-go sandwiches

Searching For Bobby Fischer

Me, I'm not fancy. In fact I'm probably the opposite of whatever fancy is. Trash! To wit, I'm an absolute slut for those premade sandwiches you find in gas stations and vending machines - the ones of which you don't know when they were made or where or by whom, you just know they need a shitload of condiment packets to reach that divinity of which they're capable. Their holiness increases when they're triangle cut. 

Dave's secret sandwich

Dave

I mean I certainly wouldn't pass up any artisan creation were it offered to me. The fact that Kevin Kline asserts that its ingredients are a "secret" had my curiosity, but the fact that this on camera creation was assembled with groceries from the White House kitchen certainly had my attention. 

Mass quantities

Coneheads

Let's take a break from sandwiches (and definitely from Subway) and focus on any of the other foodstuffs the Conehead family inhales - particularly their morning routine of grid-like breakfast slabs, extruded mammal fillings, seared strips of swine flesh, and flattened chicken embryos. And while I'm sure I would enjoy it, that mountain of Pop Tarts is what turns me on most. 

Valenti's Gourmet Take-Out

Mrs. Doubtfire

As a kid I thought this overpriced barf was intended as a visual punchline - it always got a laugh in the theater but I might've misread the room. As an adult (trash or not) my refined palate/fat ass finds this elegant entrée to be entirely appetizing. (Certainly not for $135 though.) 

Oskar's lunch

Schindler's List

I can't even begin to determine what kinda la-di-da Western European businessman meal Oskar Schindler would be having; the black and white photography makes it tough to determine, but also makes it look that much more delectable. He also mentions that it's "still hot" which should guarantee it didn't come out of some lunchbox. Ultimately what I took from this the most is a lifelong desire to eat all my meals on oval plates only. 

Scrambled eggs & toast

The Fugitive

I've piled my eggs onto my toast for as long as I can remember - both components were just way too boring for me on their own. I know this particular situation is meant to depict an urgent chew & screw meal but I'm here to affirm that you can actually sit and enjoy your custom-made toasted scrambled egg sandwich. 

Meat and potatoes

The Age of Innocence

I'm certain it carries a more eloquent name than this, but the main allure here is just a spectrum of fine dining. From razor thin garlic to blueberry muffins, whenever Marty decided to shoot food it was lusciously remarkable - up to and including this blink-and-you'll-miss-it insert. 

Chinese food

True Romance

There's a rule in this household: if there's onscreen Chinese food it's a Chinese food movie. It's not as common as you'd think and some are certainly more prominent than others. For a Tarantino script it's surprisingly subtle with the cuisine; though not surprisingly the scene offers its own accessible scenario: you could watch this or watch The Mack and settle in with a smorgasbord of everything from a diddle-eyed Joe to a damned-if-I-know. 

Fester's weird meatloaf

Addams Family Values

I mean I suppose it's a meatloaf - the pineapples, olives, and green peppers may suggest otherwise but those just appear to be garnish. I can't imagine what an Addams Family meatloaf would consist of but I can tell you that I'm here for it. 

Chris's snack suitcase

Another Stakeout

Technically this accoutrement in intended to be the meals for the duration of the titular stakeout, which is fine as Twinkies, candy bars, and sandwiches are pretty on point for my own diet. Additionally, Gina (Rosie O'Donnell) introduces a "hummus side" into the meal and to this day I can't hear it or see it or eat it without thinking of this scene. 

Hotdogs and Pepsi

For Love or Money

Do I really need to explain the appeal of this combo to anyone? How about hotdogs and Pepsi and Gabrielle Anwar as the most dynamic threesome of the year? 

Sidenote: quick shoutout to both Barry Sonnenfeld (For Love or Money, Addams Family Values) and John Badham (Another Stakeout, Point of No Return) for joining Spielberg in releasing two studio features in 1993. Very ambitious and an excellent job on all fronts. 

Hot black coffee

The Vanishing

Coffee is so utilitarian that it's rarely depicted as sexy as it can be. But when it's a major plot point it's only right to give it the hero shot it deserves. Yeah I know it's drugged but I'm not drinking it for health reasons here. 

Wine and chocolate

Alive

No I didn't go the weird route (and you know I damn well could've). A little wine and chocolate on a cold night with friends can be a pretty cozy setup when you disregard the corpses, malnutrition, avalanches, general injuries, and impending doom. I typically drink as much wine as possible to help me feel grateful that I don't have to ration and share.