We received a letter from a reader telling us how how much she loved the scene in "Desk Set" (a film that Amy Ephron's parents wrote) where Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy make fried chicken and floating island! And since it's Oscar season, it inspired us to ask some of our contributors what their favorite food scenes in movies are.

ANJELICA HUSTON

Favorite food scene! I won't say it was "The Dead," which involved sitting in front of fish-fed goose for three weeks! I would have to say "Tom Jones," the scene where Joyce Redman and Albert Finney eat lobster.

AMY EPHRON

The scene in Ron Howard's "Splash" where Darryl Hannah attacks the shellfish in the fancy restaurant mermaid-style and the scene in "Big" where Tom Hanks razor-nibbles the baby ears of corn the way a kid would. In character, ingenious and hilarious in both instances.

LYNDA RESNICK

I guess the most memorable food scene in movies for me is from "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" when Jane serves her sister's lunch under a silver salver that, once open, reveals a rat. It is kind of heart stopping. To this day, when I see dinner being served under those shiny domes, I hold my breath until the contents underneath are revealed by the liveried footman. Not an everyday occurrence, for sure, unless you are as devoted (as I am) to "Downton Abbey."

LARAINE NEWMAN

Jeannie Berlin eating an egg-salad sandwich in "The Heartbreak Kid."

CHRISTOPHER CERF

Nora Ephron's "I'll have what she's having" is right up there! What better tribute (however misguided) to the power of food is there? I also treasure the humor of the exotic (and then some!) banquet scene in "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom." Some of Anthony Bourdain's travel-food adventures compare.

VALERIE BERTINELLI

I'd have to say the "who gets the last brownie" scene in "Notting Hill," where the saddest story wins. Clever, funny, poignant and, as an actress, unfortunately true. I would have given Julia the brownie.

MATT ARMENDARIZ aka Matt Bites

For me, my favorite food scenes in a movie are the opening credits of "Napoleon Dynamite." Spending most of my days coaxing out the beauty of food in romantic and ethereal contexts for photographs, seeing it displayed so crudely and devoid of romance was refreshing and full of humor the first time I saw it. To this day, it still makes me chuckle, and I cannot think of Tater Tots or mustard the same way.

DAVE DINSMORE

A film we quote almost once a month, whenever we eat pasta is "The Odd Couple." Felix: "It's not spaghetti, it's linguini." Oscar throws the plate against the wall. "Now it's garbage." Finally, his own F.U. to Felix.

JO STOUGAARD aka My Last Bite

Being an obsessed food and movie lover, it's hard to narrow it down to just one scene. There are just too many, and my favorite depends on my mood. If you're looking for the best movies about food my Top 5 are: "Tampopo," "Mostly Martha," "Ratatouille," "Big Night" and "Eat Drink Man Woman."

LISA DINSMORE

As a wine lover, I have to say the films that showcase an alcoholic beverage to the best comedic and clever effect are "Arsenic and Old Lace" and "The Princess Bride." Who would believe what those two little old ladies were up to? It's inconceivable! Hands down the funniest wine tasting on film goes to the ladies from "AbFab." Pure drunken hilarity. The food scene I wish I could re-enact one day in real life has to be Bill Murray eating the whole diner menu in "Groundhog Day." No consequences, as the day is just going to reset, so the calories don't count. A girl can dream.

ALAN ZWEIBEL

The bean eating scene in "Blazing Saddles" because, well, I'm immature. OK? At least I admit it.

 

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