CineMat event adds authentic taste to films
A prominent foreign social media user joined hands with a local CGV theater to offer a special monthly event marrying cinema and cuisine.
“CineMat” is a monthly event offering an international food-related film followed by a meal featuring food from the film catered by a local international restaurant. Following the meal, a panel discussion takes place with food and culture experts at the adjacent Cine Library.
The first CineMat event was held on Aug. 27 with Indian cuisine as its theme. The next event will take place this Saturday at the CGV Myeong-dong Station Cine Library. The event will take place monthly for the next year at the same location.
The event is a collaboration between the country’s largest cinema chain, CGV and Todd Sample, an American expat with over 48,000 Twitter followers who introduces authentic international restaurants in Korea.
“I started ToddSample Eats to introduce only authentic international restaurants in Korea through social media. Since appreciating a country’s food is an important step toward understanding the culture of that country, we decided one year ago to start holding offline social dining events for our followers which would enable them not only to try the food, but also learn about the country’s food culture from the chef of the restaurant or from a diplomat from the featured country,” Sample said in an email interview.
“CineMat is another extension of this concept of us wanting to provide an opportunity for more people to raise their appreciation of international cultures through direct exposure to a culture, in this case, via a film, a curated catered lunch and a lighthearted discussion among experts.”
This month’s CineMat features the 2012 French-language film “Les Saveurs du Palais” (Haute Cuisine), a story of a female chef from the French countryside who is suddenly appointed as the French president’s personal chef. The film is based on the true story of Daniele Mazet-Delpeuch, who became the private chef for former French President Francois Mitterand.
?Following the film, attendees will enjoy a French lunch prepared by Jean-Paul Baurez, head chef of Le Gascon Cafe-Bistro. As the film emphasizes the simplicity of "grandmother’s cooking," Baurez will prepare a meal which not only represents his home region of southwestern France, but which also includes dishes made by his grandmother.
For the panel discussion, Sample and Sara Park from Eathentic, the parent company of ToddSample Eats, will be joined by Baurez and Laurent Dallet, owner chef of French restaurant Le Chef Bleu who is also the chef for the French Embassy in Seoul. Baurez and Dallet will share their insights on how French food differs from region to region and offer opinions on how French food is evolving. After the panel discussion, there will be a lucky draw.
Last month’s event featured the 2013 film “The Lunch Box” with an authentic Indian lunch prepared by Jyoti Indian restaurant, including some of the same foods featured in the film, such as chapati, dal tadka and chicken butter masala. During the film, namkeen, the traditional snack eaten at movie theaters in India, was served instead of popcorn along with Indian chai.
The event has a 35,000 won entry fee, which includes the movie ticket, lunch and wine. For more information, visit @ToddSample—Eats on Instagram and Twitter or @ToddSampleEats on Facebook.