The Cinema Chefs

Jenn de la Vega, Clara Park
  • 5.0 (19)
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“The Cinema Chefs” podcast highlights the fundamentals of cooking by exploring food scenes in movies. Hosted by Chefs Clara Park and Jenn de la Vega, this duo has decades of culinary experience, including Michelin-starred restaurants, all aspects of cookbook writing, product development, cooking classes, and, of course, food styling and craft services for film and TV. You might recognize them from Chopped, Snack v. Chef, Guy’s Grocery Games, and Gastronauts.

Episodes

  1. 09/08/2025

    Big Night - Special Occasion Dining (Audio Version)

    Jenn and Clara dive into special occasion dining via the lavish meal prepared for VIP Louis Prima in Big Night. How do you set the best table? Do all centerpieces need to be flowers? How do you cook for people with highly varied diets? Why make-ahead dishes are your lifeline and where to go if you don’t feel like cooking a special occasion dinner. Chapters 0:26 About Big Night 2:48 The table setting 4:18 Allison Janney & some flower tips 5:39 A trick for tea light candles 6:15  What if I don't have nice silverware or glassware? 7:08 Planning a special occasion menu 9:13 What are our showstopping dishes?  11:59 The menu for Big Night 14:50 The timpano 18:13 Culinary terms in the movie 21:19 Where to celebrate special occasion meals 23:14 Thanks, and that's a wrap on season 1 Other media we mentioned: Timpano alla "Big Night" Support the show! Join our membership program. Follow The Cinema Chefs on Instagram Follow Clara Park on Instagram Follow Clara Park on Letterboxd Follow Jenn de la Vega on Letterboxd Follow Jenn de la Vega on Instagram Music by penguinmusic - “Paradise Island”  and "Elegant Minimal"from Pixabay. Logo by Nikki Newsome Share the show with a friend!

    27 min

  2. 08/25/2025

    Tampopo - Ramen

    Jenn and Clara explore the world of ramen through the eyes of the titular character Tampopo and her merry band of “experts.” What makes a great ramen soup base? Does the age or quality of the chicken matter if you’re simmering it? How exactly do you make bonito, and why you might want to leave ramen noodle making to the experts. Chapters 0:38 About Tampopo 3:44 How to make a great ramen broth 9:41 Tonkatsu vs Tonkotsu 11:11 Where is ramen in the movie? 13:50 Why we don't make noodles at home 23:59 Culinary terms in Tampopo 28.12 Where is the best ramen? 29:22 Our next episode 🍝 Other media we mentioned: Clara's bowl of ramenShoyu Ramen by Just One Cookbook Support the show! Join our membership program. Follow The Cinema Chefs on Instagram Follow Clara Park on Instagram Follow Clara Park on Letterboxd Follow Jenn de la Vega on Letterboxd Follow Jenn de la Vega on Instagram Music by penguinmusic - “Paradise Island”  and "Elegant Minimal"from Pixabay. Logo by Nikki Newsome Share the show with a friend!

    30 min

  3. 08/11/2025

    Pulp Fiction - Diner Food

    Jenn and Clara explore the world of diner food in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, where you can have breakfast any time of day! They extol the virtues of the metric system when it comes to cooking and baking, as well as the intricacies of a $5 shake (not adjusted for inflation). Is all fast food The Worst? Can food be cheap AND delicious? What makes a great pancake rise? Tune in to find out. Chapters 0:52 About Pulp Fiction 2:30 Metric vs Imperial measurements 4:37 Where are diners in the movie? 5:07 Our requirements for a good diner 5:50 The secret of the flattop grill 8:30 Alternatives to pork bacon (and other diner sins) 9:29 Muffin tips 10:50 Pancake tips 11:13 Will it waffle? 12:40 Our go-to diner orders 14:55 Where are diners in the movie? (Continued) 15:50 Red Apple cigarettes 20:58 The $5 shake, today 24:26 On the diner table 28:20 Where are the best diners? 29:44 Our next episode 🍜 Other media we mentioned: Fluffy Blueberry Pancakes on Recipe Tin EatsRed Apple CiagarettesWill it Waffle? (affiliate link) Support the show! Join our membership program. Follow The Cinema Chefs on Instagram Follow Clara Park on Instagram Follow Clara Park on Letterboxd Follow Jenn de la Vega on Letterboxd Follow Jenn de la Vega on Instagram Music by penguinmusic - “Paradise Island”  and "Elegant Minimal"from Pixabay. Logo by Nikki Newsome Share the show with a friend!

    30 min

  4. 07/28/2025

    The Menu - Fine Dining and Burgers

    Jenn and Clara debate the pluses and minuses of meals prepared in Michelin-starred kitchens. Is it possible to achieve culinary perfection and still be a nice person? Does it make sense to source hyper-locally for all four seasons in a deciduous climate? Has abusive chef culture gone out of style, and what are the effects on kitchen culture? Plus, the world’s greatest smash burger hits the spot, no matter who you are. Chapters 1:51 About The Menu 2:43 Amuse bouche 5:08 The diners 9:40 What is a Pacojet? 10:42 References to Noma 11:38 How do fine dining restaurants turn a profit? 13:34 Dining as a competitive sport 14:40 The burger 18:56 Our thoughts on pickles 21:47 Culinary terms in The Menu 32:49 Where do you get the best burgers? 35:46 Our next episode 🥄 Other media we mentioned: 3-Minute Double Smash Burgers by RecipeTin EatsCleaning at MugaritzSoak Your Ground Meat in Heavy Cream Support the show! Join our membership program. Follow The Cinema Chefs on Instagram Follow Clara Park on Instagram Follow Clara Park on Letterboxd Follow Jenn de la Vega on Letterboxd Follow Jenn de la Vega on Instagram Music by penguinmusic - “Paradise Island”  and "Elegant Minimal"from Pixabay. Logo by Nikki Newsome Share the show with a friend!

    38 min

  5. 07/14/2025

    The Platform - Food Waste

    Jenn and Clara break down optimal ways to utilize food scraps, how to stretch out ingredients, and how to upcycle all things edible in the Spanish horror film, El Hoyo (The Platform). The duo discusses techniques like pickling, fermentation, and more. Ingredients that are typically viewed as trash can get a second chance at life. Chapters 0:34 About The Platform 3:20 What is a panna cotta? 4:48 Where is The Platform in the movie? 5:24 What to do with leftover wine 6:35 How to use meat bones 9:11 Transform old bread 12:24 Vegetables & fruit scraps 16:19 Using the entire citrus  18:08 Utilizing 100% of a condiment in a jar 20:02 What to do with older fruits & vegetables 22:00 About prosciutto 23:44 Escargot or no? 26:00 Current events 28:05 A slight disagreement about bouillon 30:06 Why you should buy whole fish 34:20 Tips for reducing food waste 38:04 Our next episode 🍔 Links we mentioned: Don't Throw That Out! Tips to Avoid Food WasteZero Waste Kitchen - Easy Upcycled Cooking Ideas Support the show! Join our membership program. Follow The Cinema Chefs on Instagram Follow Clara Park on Instagram Follow Clara Park on Letterboxd Follow Jenn de la Vega on Letterboxd Follow Jenn de la Vega on Instagram Music by penguinmusic - “Paradise Island”  and "Elegant Minimal"from Pixabay. Logo by Nikki Newsome Share the show with a friend!

    39 min

  6. 06/30/2025

    Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory - 3-Course Meals

    Jenn and Clara break down the best and worst ways to prepare the 3 course meal that Violet Beuregard experiences while on tour at the Factory. The two then share their experiences with their own cultural dining practices, the cadence, and format of meals around the world from antipasti in Italy to a refreshing plate of cut fruit at the end of many meals in Asia. Meal formats nowadays tend to be more of a suggestion than a steadfast set of rules. Chapters 0:40 About Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory 1:58 Where is the 3-course chewing gum in the movie? 3:00 What is a 3-course meal? Plus, other types of courses 6:25 Thoughts on tasting menus 9:22 Tomato bisque vs Tomato Soup 10:02 Roast beef & other cuts 10:46 Comparing the meals in the film 13:05 The best ways to make baked potatoes 15:59 Know your food system 19:24 What is the best potato dish to have with meat? 21:48 Blueberry pie & cream 28:04 Our ideal multi-course chewing gum 31:55 Where is the best multi-course dinner? 33:42 The best pie shops 34:50 Tips for hosting course meals 37:27 Our next episode 🔼⬇️ Links we mentioned: The Best Blueberry Pie by Scientifically Sweet50 Pies 50 States by Stacey Mei Yan Fong (affiliate link)Galette by Rebecca Firkser (affiliate link)Magpie: Sweets and Savories from Philadelphia's Favorite Pie Boutique (affiliate link) Support the show! Join our membership program. Follow The Cinema Chefs on Instagram Follow Clara Park on Instagram Follow Clara Park on Letterboxd Follow Jenn de la Vega on Letterboxd Follow Jenn de la Vega on Instagram Music by penguinmusic - “Paradise Island”  and "Elegant Minimal"from Pixabay. Logo by Nikki Newsome Share the show with a friend!

    38 min

  7. 06/16/2025

    The Phantom Thread - The Ultimate Breakfast

    Jenn and Clara delve deep into the finer points of the English breakfast, including egg cookery, differences in types of bacon and sausage, what makes clotted cream so darn delicious, and how a man’s tea order says so much about his tastes. Also, discover the joy of Welsh rarebit and how a toast rack can also be a symbol of quiet luxury. Chapters 0:38 About The Phantom Thread 2:14 Why we started this podcast (lore drop!) 6:12 Some context before we meet Alma 8:48 Where is the breakfast scene in the movie? 12:55 What is Welsh rarebit? 14:33 A poached egg (not too runny) 19:19 What items were missing from this breakfast? 22:35 Scones? Scones 25:29 Coffee or tea? Lapsang 29:23 Can you clock when someone orders with style? 35:17 Our next episode 🍽️ Other media we mentioned: A Breakdown of the Full English Breakfast by I Am a Food BlogMei Lin's Poached Egg HackDave Arnold's Egg ChartEater's Map of English Breakfast in NYCThe Breakfast Bible (affiliate link)Disclosure: If you purchase from our links, we may earn a commission. Support the show! Join our membership program. Follow The Cinema Chefs on Instagram Follow Clara Park on Instagram Follow Clara Park on Letterboxd Follow Jenn de la Vega on Letterboxd Follow Jenn de la Vega on Instagram Music by penguinmusic - “Paradise Island”  and "Elegant Minimal"from Pixabay. Logo by Nikki Newsome Share the show with a friend!

    36 min

  8. 06/02/2025

    Oldboy - Dumplings

    Jenn and Clara discuss Dae-su’s first, last, and only meal while imprisoned in Oldboy: fried dumplings. They dive deep into the storied global history of dumplings and debate what makes a great dumpling, from the optimal filling to the proper thickness of skin and which cooking technique reigns supreme. Chapters 0:34 About Oldboy 3:40 Egg Films 6:58 Where are the dumplings in Oldboy? 12:23 What are dumplings? Plus, some history. 15:26 Randwiches lore 16:47 How we make dumplings 21:48 The ideal frying temperature 23:53 Troubleshooting 24:58 Our favorite dipping sauces 27:08 Order of operations and what is the best dumpling size? 27:27 Our favorite dumpling shapes 34:27 Where to get the best dumplings 39:21 Our next episode 🧵🪡 Links we mentioned: Chinese dumplings, an ultimate how-to guide by Red House SpiceDumpling SkirtShowdown: Comfort Food, Chili & BBQCopper Cash DumplingWoks of LifeAhnest KitchenMaxi's Noodle on Food.CuratedMaangchi Youtube Support the show! Join our membership program. Follow The Cinema Chefs on Instagram Follow Clara Park on Instagram Follow Clara Park on Letterboxd Follow Jenn de la Vega on Letterboxd Follow Jenn de la Vega on Instagram Music by penguinmusic - “Paradise Island”  and "Elegant Minimal"from Pixabay. Logo by Nikki Newsome Share the show with a friend!

    40 min

  9. 05/19/2025

    Forrest Gump - Shrimp

    Jenn de la Vega and Clara Park dive deep into the anatomy of shrimp, rules for proper sourcing, visual cues of the freshest shrimp, and the seemingly infinite ways to cook them from the bayou to Beijing. Bubba’s monologue in Forrest Gump is just the beginning of the wide world of shrimp cookery. Despite Jenn's shrimp allergy, prepare to be schooled by our vast opinions on the best way to eat shrimp, cook shrimp, and which shrimp products reign supreme. Final note: size does matter, even in the world of shrimp. Chapters: 0:34 About the movie Forrest Gump 2:47 Where is shrimp in the movie? 6:41 Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. lore 7:53 What are shrimp? 8:53 Our favorite ways to enjoy shrimp 10:07 Broiling vs. Baking 11:08 U Classifications 13:20 What's the difference between prawn and shrimp? 16:19 Poaching and steaming shrimp 17:53 Pan-frying vs. Deep frying vs. Stir-frying 21:22 How to buy and clean shrimp 24:44 Can you eat the whole shrimp? 28:20 What if my shrimp tastes dirty? 29:47 How else can you cook shrimp? 30:48 Wild vs. Farmed Shrimp 34:20 Our next episode 🥟 Other media we mentioned: Coconut shrimp by The Woks of LifeWatch the Forrest Gump trailerTour Bubba Gump's London locationFARE shellfish allergy explainedMonterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch-- Email us your feedback and cooking tips Support the show! Join our membership program. Follow The Cinema Chefs on Instagram Follow Clara Park on Instagram Follow Clara Park on Letterboxd Follow Jenn de la Vega on Letterboxd Follow Jenn de la Vega on Instagram Music by penguinmusic - “Paradise Island”  and "Elegant Minimal"from Pixabay. Logo by Nikki Newsome Share the show with a friend!

    35 min

  10. 05/19/2025

    Chef - Cubano Sandwich

    Jenn de la Vega and Clara Park explore and discuss all aspects of the Cubano sandwich from the movie Chef.  The Cubano is more than just a sandwich. Join us for our discussion about the pros and cons of different cuts of pork, the world of mustard, how pickle brine belongs on sandwiches (and not in the garbage), and a query: is butter always better than margarine?  Chapters: 0:41 About us  1:20 About the movie Chef 4:48 What is a Cubano? 5:56 The bread 6:38 Where is the Cubano in the movie? 9:49 The Ingredients 10:47 The Techniques 15:16 Cubano vs Medianoche 17:02 Where to get Cubanos 21:36 How to make it vegetarian 25.44 The Chef food truck  30:02 Our next episode 🦐 Other media we mentioned: Miami-Style Cuban Sandwich Recipe (Cubano) by A Sassy SpoonWatch the trailer for ChefHannibal Buress’ sandwich secret-- Email us your feedback and cooking tips Support the show! Join our membership program. Follow The Cinema Chefs on Instagram Follow Clara Park on Instagram Follow Clara Park on Letterboxd Follow Jenn de la Vega on Letterboxd Follow Jenn de la Vega on Instagram Music by penguinmusic - “Paradise Island”  and "Elegant Minimal"from Pixabay. Logo by Nikki Newsome Share the show with a friend!

    31 min

  11. 05/13/2025

    Season 1 Trailer

    The Cinema Chefs podcast highlights the fundamentals of cooking by exploring food scenes in movies. Hosted by Chefs Clara Park and Jenn de la Vega, this duo has decades of culinary experience, including Michelin-starred restaurants, all aspects of cookbook writing, product development, cooking classes, and, of course, food styling and craft services for film and TV. You might recognize them from Chopped, Snack v. Chef, Guy’s Grocery Games, and Gastronauts. Support the show! Join our membership program. Follow The Cinema Chefs on Instagram Follow Clara Park on Instagram Follow Clara Park on Letterboxd Follow Jenn de la Vega on Letterboxd Follow Jenn de la Vega on Instagram Music by penguinmusic - “Paradise Island”  and "Elegant Minimal"from Pixabay. Logo by Nikki Newsome Share the show with a friend!

    1 min

Trailer

5
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

“The Cinema Chefs” podcast highlights the fundamentals of cooking by exploring food scenes in movies. Hosted by Chefs Clara Park and Jenn de la Vega, this duo has decades of culinary experience, including Michelin-starred restaurants, all aspects of cookbook writing, product development, cooking classes, and, of course, food styling and craft services for film and TV. You might recognize them from Chopped, Snack v. Chef, Guy’s Grocery Games, and Gastronauts.

Information

  • Creator
    Jenn de la Vega, Clara Park
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    The Cinema Chefs