Chef

Jon Favreau’s best film by a country mile. If Y Tu Mamá También is the pinnacle coming-of-age story for teenagers, then I’d argue that Chef is the pinnacle coming-of-age story for adults. Not only is it the epitome of a feel-good movie, but it’s surprisingly very funny the whole way through (I say “surprisingly” because I’ve always found Favreau’s style of comedy in Elf to be insufferable). Above all, it’s a beautiful story about the power of human connection and how the things that ignite our hearts bring us together in ways words can’t. I also have Cuban roots and a deep love for Cuban cuisine, so seeing that whole cultural aspect really hit close to home. It was super cool to see the famous Versailles restaurant featured in the film, as I have fond memories of visiting my grandma when she lived in Little Havana and eating there with her. She also cooked amazing Cuban food herself, which is something that my mom still carries on, so watching those scenes made the experience feel even more special. Needless to say, all signs point to this becoming one of my go-to comfort movies.