Movies have a way of presenting our prejudices and one common cinematic trope is this culinary stereotype, where entire nationalities are reduced to a single, often caricatured dish. Let’s see how these culinary prejudices are presented in a number of films.
The classic British black comedy The Ladykillers (1955) revolves around a group of criminals who pose as a string quintet, renting a room from a sweet old lady. When the lady innocently offers them tea, one of the gang members quips: You English and your tea. I’ll bet it’s fish and chips for supper then?
American Graffiti (1973) is a coming-of-age film set in the early 1960s. During a drive-in scene, one character jokes about American eating habits: What’s on the menu tonight? Same old burgers and shakes. We Americans sure know how to diversify!
National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985) - The Griswold family travels across Europe, encountering various national stereotypes. In one scene, they dine in an Italian restaurant, and Clark Griswold humorously remarks on the food: Pizza, pasta, more pizza... Guess that's all Italians eat, huh? Next, we’ll probably get gelato for dessert!
In My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002), the groom’s parents, who are not Greek, are introduced to the family and their cuisine: Is there anything you Greeks don’t put lamb in? Oh wait, how could I forget about the baklava?
The stereotypical French obsession with food is humorously depicted through various characters’ reactions in Ratatouille (2007): Ah, the French! Always with the fancy sauces and the disdain for fast food. Here, even the rats are gourmet chefs!
The Hundred-Foot Journey (2014) tells the story of an Indian family opening a restaurant in a quaint French village. The culinary clash is highlighted by the French characters’ attitudes toward Indian cuisine: All these spices! Do Indians ever eat anything bland? It's like they have a vendetta against my taste buds!
Set in the fictional European country of Zubrowka, The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) often pokes fun at various national stereotypes, including food. A memorable moment comes when a character disdainfully speaks of typical Eastern European fare: More sausages and goulash? Ah, the Eastern Europeans, always with the hearty meals that sit like bricks in your stomach.
These culinary stereotypes are often played for laughs, but it’s important to remember that they don’t reflect the rich diversity of each country’s cuisine.
Read also about Culinary Stereotypes in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare