Recipes for laughter: 10 films and sitcoms that’ll tickle your taste buds, and funny bone

Similarly, in Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983), the cake symbolises pseudo-affluence with the now-legendary dialogue “thoda khao, thoda phenko,” while in Andaz Apna Apna (1994), memorable one-liners like “do dost, ek hi pyali main chai peeyenge” and “omelette ka raja aur bread ka Badshah,” along with the non-stop chai-drinking sessions of Byomkesh Bakshi (2015), highlight food’s central role in comedy. The connection with food is so profound that even a satirical period drama like Shatranj Ke Khiladi (1977) uses it as a third character to resolve much of the protagonists’ dilemmas.

Yet, put funny and food movies together, and you get a list of cult classics that remain unbeatable for their sheer power in using food as the hero. From Bawarchi (1972), a faithful adaptation of the Bengali film Galpo Holeo Satti (1966), which resurrected not just the career of superstar Rajesh Khanna but also the fortunes of yam, shaak, shukto, Ovaltine, desi-daru, and Thumbs Up, to Satyajit Ray’s Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne, a film where two simpletons gain the power to conjure gourmet feasts with just a thought. Then there’s Anwar Rasheed’s Malayalam film, Ustad Hotel, starring Dulquer Salmaan and Nithya Menen, in which a chef learns life lessons from a dhaba that’s giving a five-star hotel a run for its money — an interesting theme also explored in many of Govinda’s films.

Of course, there are also the outrageously plotted Bee Movie, where a bee sues humans for honey, Julie & Julia, a food blogger’s ode to a famous chef; Eat Pray Love (2010); Today’s Special; Mostly Martha (which inspired No Reservations), Chef, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, The God of Cookery, and, of course, Ratatouille, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Big Night, Babette’s Feast, Chef, Love Khichdi, Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana, and The Lunchbox, to name a few. Add in dark comedies and situational funnies, and the list becomes endless. That is till we decided to unearth a few more that showcase not just food, but the known and unknown tales of the kitchen, and some beyond the burner. Here is a peek into 10 of them:

1. Whites (2010): One of the beloved sitcoms from the BBC, Whites is an accurate, Yes, Prime Minister-like take on the world of kitchens, chefs, and service staff. Written by Oliver Lansley and Matt King, this six-episode sitcom stars award-winning stand-up comedian and actor Alan Davies as Ronald White, the Executive Chef of the White House Hotel, and Darren Boyd as his long-suffering sous-chef Bib. Comedian Isy Suttie plays the scatty waitress, Kiki. The charm of this quintessentially British series lies in its light-hearted yet relatable take on the real issues that plague the men of the kitchen. For instance, when a diner asks Kiki for an eggless omelette, or the hilariously bored Kiki grills Bib on the definition of a “steak.” The series also highlights the heartwarming camaraderie among chefs, particularly when White offers to drive Bib and his sperm to a fertility clinic — with comically disastrous results. The only film that comes close, but lacks the finesse, is Waiting..., starring Ryan Reynolds. It features scenes that are almost carbon copies of any gastropub kitchen across the country — complete with kitchen banter, clock-watching for closing time, and dealing with difficult customers. 

2. From Soup to Nuts (1928): If you enjoyed Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times and The Great Dictator, which features the iconic food fight scene between Adenoid Hynkel and Benzino Napaloni, then this 1927 silent film should be your next watch. Running just under 30 minutes, this Laurel and Hardy special has Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy hired as waiters for a dinner party hosted by an affluent family. The film, titled after the first (soup) and last (nuts) courses of a meal, is a slightly exaggerated yet riotous take on what happens behind the scenes at catering events. The highlight: When Ollie is asked to serve the salad ‘undressed,’ he obliges — after consulting the maid, of course — wearing nothing but his under-shorts and a blissful smirk. 

3. Who is Killing The Great Chefs of Europe? (1978): Yes, it is considered vintage. Yes, there hasn’t been a remake of it yet. But here’s what makes this book-turned-movie an absolute delight to watch, especially if you enjoy shows like Kitchen Nightmares and Hell’s Kitchen. This is a food murder mystery with dollops of humour, which arises more from the situations than intent. The film’s premise is simple: Max Vandervere, the renowned editor of Epicurus magazine, has organised a gourmet feast featuring dishes prepared by some of the finest chefs of his time. Among them is a pastry chef and another chef famous for his baked pigeon — a sort of atta chicken variant. Disrupting this plan is a sadistic murderer on a killing spree, targeting chefs and serving them as their own signature dishes. As the murders unfold, Max is served disappointment after disappointment, with the finest chefs proclaiming themselves ‘bad.’ The plot twist comes when fast food magnate Robby, who will stop at nothing to have Max endorse his omelette shop, enters the scene. Think of it as the food world’s version of Dulquer Salmaan’s Chup. 

4. The Trip (2010): Ask a chef, food writer, traveller, or even an influencer about their dream job, and that would be the premise of The Trip. A seemingly improvised style of filmmaking, the prequel to what is now a trilogy follows Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon — two of the finest poker-faced comedians today — on a journey to sample some of the best restaurants in Europe, presented episode by episode. The series begins with The Observer asking Coogan to write a review of Europe’s finest dining spots. However, things take a turn when Coogan’s girlfriend backs out, and his ever-ready, slightly bothersome friend Rob Brydon fills in at the last moment. What follows is a bite-by-bite experience of life as they eat, bicker, share opinions, and explore the best takeaways from beautifully plated meals. Expect food comas and offhand comments like ‘the tomato soup is tomatoey’ as you get an inside look at the wicked humour that often comes with the outrageously textured life of a food reviewer on the go. Caution: It’s British, so expect plenty of dry humour. 

5. Last Holiday (2006): If you loved Women on Top and have a soft spot for big-hearted films with loads of laughter, this Queen Latifah’s movie is worth watching. The story centres on Georgia Byrd, a sales clerk working in a chain store who dreams of becoming a chef. She learns to make elaborate meals through TV cooking shows, although she herself is on a diet. But everything changes when she’s given devastating news: she has only four weeks to live. The rest of the movie follows Georgia as she travels the world, indulging in her one true love — good food. While the storyline is predictable, what’s not is the sheer, unadulterated joy that good food, humour, and Queen Latifah bring to the film, which shows that sometimes, the best things in life come to those who know how to savour them. Secretly, Queen Latifah embodies the ideal guest every hospitality professional hopes for. One of the finest scenes is in the restaurant where Georgia orders all of the chef’s specials, causing the usually uptight Chef Didier to break character and engage in an enjoyable conversation. 

6. Tadka (2022): Heartwarming, funny, and with a delicious dose of lip-smacking food preparation scenes, Tadka, starring Nana Patekar, follows a recipe for success similar to that of beloved films like Stanley Ka Dabba and The Lunchbox. Food and conversation are wrapped tightly around a plausible storyline. Nana plays the role of a middle-aged bachelor archaeologist obsessed with food, who even refuses marriage proposals because the prospective bride doesn’t understand his exacting standards for flavours. In one scene, when a girl asks for nimbu pani with sugar and ice, he replies, “Nimbu chalega?” Another proposal is rejected because the girl doesn’t like shengdana chutney. His love for perfectly prepared food even leads him to poach a cook from a potential bride’s house. Life becomes a series of comical food escapades, where you see Nana take over a food cart just to teach the right way to prepare dishes. Then, a misplaced call from Madhura, a food-loving radio jockey, sparks a volley of funny conversations, meetings, misunderstandings, and of course, more food, until romance blossoms. A remake of Aashiq Abu’s 2011 Malayalam film Salt N’ Pepper, it was simultaneously shot in three languages, including Tamil (Un Samayal Arayil). 

7. Kung Fu Chefs (2009): When it comes to food movies with just the right blend of laughter and culinary delight, few can match the brilliance of Chinese films. Whether it’s the cult classic The God of Cookery or Jackie Chan’s Meals on Wheels, these films showcase food as the central story. In this genre, Kung Fu Chefs stands out. The story follows a once-renowned chef who falls victim to a conspiracy and is jailed. Coaxed by two young restaurant owners, he trains an unruly, overconfident but under-skilled cook into a winning chef, finding redemption along the way. The film echoes The Karate Kid in parts. Beyond the humour, the beauty of the movie lies in its extraordinary portrayal of cooking techniques, ideas, and the fine art of cuisine. The standout moment is the description of a simple yet sophisticated cabbage soup, the winning dish that restores the restaurant’s reputation and the chef's lost honour. Two Indian movies that have tried to bring the same grandness to cuisine are Cheeni Kum (Hyderabadi Pulao, anyone?) and Ramji Londonwaley. 

8. Mr Queen (2020-2021): Funny, clever, and full of food – this K-drama has everything a food-history buff needs for a binge-worthy series. Like many history-meets-fantasy shows from Korea, Mr. Queen follows an intriguing, impossible plot. The story revolves around Jang Bong Hwan, a free-spirited, overconfident chef at a fine dining restaurant who, after a particularly rough night, mysteriously falls into a pool and wakes up in the body of Queen-to-be Kim So-yong during the Joseon period. His only way back is the pool, which is now empty. How this once mercurial chef, trapped in the queen’s body, uses his wit, food, and flavours to unearth conspiracies, fulfil his desires, and revolutionise the royal kitchen by introducing the first dim sum and ramen bowl is what makes the series a delightful watch. 

9. Cook Up A Storm (2017): When Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential was adapted into a sitcom, many expected a Whites reboot. However, it fell short, despite starring Bradley Cooper, who later reprised a similar role in Burnt. Cook Up A Storm, however, is different. Much like the tense Thai film Hunger, which explores the intense kitchen and chef dynamics of the real world, Cook Up A Storm, a Hong Kong drama, delves into similar territory but with a good dose of well-crafted, delicious food, comedy, and respect between two seasoned chefs: no-frills street cook Sky (Nicholas Tse) and Michelin-approved chef Paul (South Korean Jung Yong-hwa). A delightful watch, Cook Up A Storm culminates in a cooking competition cleverly titled “God of Cookery.” The film scores not only with its fast-paced storyline but also with its martial arts-style, meticulously choreographed cook-offs and food presentation. In this tradition-versus-modernity tug-of-war, it all comes down to mouthwatering dishes, plated to perfection. 

10. Bolo Dugga Mai Ki (2017): From the cult classic Galpo Holeo Satti to the Gopi Bagha trilogy, from Macher Jhol to Agantuk and Charmurti, few can weave food and culture into a big-hearted story like Bengali films. With Durga Puja around the corner, Bolo Dugga Mai Ki is the perfect film to kick off your gourmet trail. While the story is a light-hearted romantic comedy — reminiscent of many Hindi films, including Jab We Met — the hero, Shamyo, is a reckless buffoon, much like Govinda in his comedy roles, who lands in trouble due to a picture posted on social media. How he navigates his way out of a literal slapstick situation, matures, and wins over his girl, Uma (a quieter version of Geet), forms the crux of the story. What gives this otherwise predictable script its charm is the food, the bylanes of Murshidabad, and the feasts and festivities of Durga Puja, peppered with some old-school, easy humour. One of the finest scenes is the Jamai Bhoj, where the hero is fed to his limit and still served more, with the classic line: “Matr untrees piece mangsho khile ki pet bharti paro baba (the stomach doesn’t fill up with just 39 pieces of meat).”