From the humble idea of a film studies lecturer watching Goodfellas to a much-loved immersive movie experience selling out daily screenings, Taste Film has taken London, and other UK cities, by storm. This eat-along experience spins the idea of indulging in your favourite film on its head as it pairs a hearty, timed menu with a selection of Blockbusters and fan favourite films. I love eating (who doesn’t?), and I love rewatching my fave films, so I headed to Taste Film myself to check it out; read on for my review.
The venue
Taste Film selects laid-back venues, with comfy seating and good dining at the forefront. I attended The Princess and the Frog showing at Parlour, a contemporary restaurant located a direct, 10-minute walk from Kensal Rise overground station. I was welcomed from the moment I stepped through the door; both the venue and Taste Film staff were super friendly. I was led to the back of the pub-like space, where the narrow walkway opened into a cool dining space with the big screen ready for our immersive film screening.
Review – what is the food like at Taste Film?
Okay, time for the nitty gritty, and probably the main reason you’re reading this review of Taste Film, eh? What is the food actually like? Billed as a “three-course meal timed to the film“, the amount of food pleasantly surprised me. Arguably, they’re underselling themselves with the ‘three course’ claim, because there were some lovely extras too.
First of all, there’s plentiful popcorn, so you can sit at your table and dig right in from the moment you arrive. The sweetness from Parlour’s house mocktail perfectly balanced out the saltiness here. It’s the best way to start the experience, and a nice snack to sink your teeth into as you tackle the film quiz given to each attendee. The Taste Film staff did a great job of getting the group to build up some energy in the room during this quiz, though I am a little disappointed with my 7/12 score. Hey, I’d only seen The Princess and the Frog once before my visit!
Once the film starts, so does the food. Our first course was brilliant bite-sized beignets, served as Tiana serves them on screen. They were sweet and delicious; my only complaint is that I was left wanting more… Not that I needed it with the amount of filling food to come. These were served with coffee to reflect the film; however, due to my dietary requirements, the team whipped up a gorgeous cold chocolate drink. While the team cannot confirm in advance, the kitchen team will do their best to take into consideration any dietary requirements where possible on the day.
Next up was an interactive cocktail, which was zesty, much like the film’s villain, Dr Facilier. Served like a potion, which you could mix yourself, this drink reflected the magic on screen. My favourite course of the afternoon was next: the fried chicken po’boy sandwich, with coated okra bites. The sandwich was the perfect marrying of textures (much like Tiana and Prince Naveen’s blossoming romance starting to unfold on screen). Soft chicken with a crispy coating, encased by a soft roll; and there was a little sweetness and a little spice to it. As we sailed down the bayou on screen, I felt transported to New Orleans.
The final two courses (see, that makes more than three courses, right?) were a ‘bathtub gumbo’ and a king cake kiss. The former was spiced nicely, and I particularly loved the rice with its fine bits of meat; while the latter was beautiful in both presentation and flavour. These appeared to be right out of the film: we ate our gumbo as Tiana, then Mama Otie, made theirs, and the cake was all the colours of the Mardi Gras parade.
To conclude this review of Taste Film, I highly recommend the experience, whether you go with a group, on a date, or solo as I did. The food itself surpassed my expectations, both in its flavour, and amount – the courses are deceptively very filling – and everything is well paced and timed perfectly to the action on screen. The Taste Film and Parlour staff also deserve a shout out: from their welcoming vibes to how seamlessly they changed dishes between courses, they were great.
While The Princess and The Frog is on a limited run, as many of Taste Film’s showings are, they have some great ones coming up, and regularly release new screenings.
Taste Film Presents Chef (2014)
Taste Film Presents The Princess and the Frog (2009)
Taste Film Presents Bridesmaids (2011)
Taste Film Presents Ratatouille (2007)
Taste Film Presents White Chicks (2004)
