SIFF Serves a Turducken: Surprise Food Films at the Festival

Bon Appetit plays The Seattle International Film festival June 2-9.

The 37th Seattle International Film Festival is much like a holiday delicacy with a surprise inside. This year, hidden inside the festival of over 400 independent films from 70 countries is a miniature food film festival.

The opening weekend served up a deeply-engrossing documentary, "A Matter of Taste". "A Matter of Taste" follows cause célèbre Paul Liebrandt through over a decade of professional triumphs and travails.This film provides an unusually intimate portrait of an artist at work in the fiercely competitive restaurant business in Manhattan. Look for cameos from Thomas Keller and Eric Ripert. This one is worth a second viewing for the food visuals alone.

Miss the opening weekend action? Not to worry, more food-related fare is yet to come:

Michael Winterbottom's "The Trip"stars bone-dry Steve Coogan as he portrays a food critic touring Northern England's finest countryside restaurants. While the table conversation with a long-time friend, played by Rob Brydon, may veer anywhere from juvenile banter to full-on discussions of life's biggest questions, this one is a charmer that those with more than a passing interest in food and friendship are certain to enjoy.

"Toast", while not a documentary, is based on the memoir of Britain's most celebrated food critic, Nigel Slater. He traces his love and fascination of food back through childhood memories of eating vegetables fresh from the garden, and family meals provided by multiple mothers - which ranged from the terrible to the sublime.

"Bon Appetit", premiering at Kirkland Performing Arts Center, has a gourmet chef front-and-center in this behind-the-restaurant-doors-based romantic comedy.

Love sushi but concerned about the environmental impact of your dining choices? Then "Sushi: The Global Catch" was custom made for you. This fishy film traces the origins of sushi back to the streets, and tells the cautionary tale of how it came to be what many would say is Japan's most iconic (and unsustainable) export.

And while not strictly a food title, "Perfect Sense" beautifully portrays the creativity of a chef, played by (the dreamy) Ewan McGregor, as he struggles to develop menus to truly pique all the senses after society literally loses its sense of taste.

And there you have it-- the surprise food films, tucked gently among the rest. For showtimes, ticketing and additional information visit SIFF's website.