Live to Eat Again
Forget thriving ... we're gonna focus on surviving
January is my birthday month, so at the tail end of 2024, I asked Johnny if I could pick a theme for January. He said sure and I immediately chose survival movies because … well … we all need to survive right now.
For the meal pairing, we selected meals that are important to us. Meals we would want to come home to after facing an ordeal. Meals that matter.
Week 1: Johnny’s Pick
Movie: The Martian (2015)
What is it with Matt Damon being left behind in space?
We’re both fans of The Martian, and I appreciated Johnny’s interpretation of survival for this (I just tend to think of it as a sci-fi/space movie). Between the star-studded cast and the thoughtful adaptation of Weir’s novel, this film ticks all the boxes for me.
Check it out if you want to:
Be charmed by Matt Damon all the dang time (or maybe that’s just me).
See a stunt butt.
Meal: Johnny’s Mom’s Linguine with Clam Sauce
When I asked Johnny why he picked this meal, he said that the dish is a comforting piece of home—a sign he made it back. This recipe is deceptively simple, but you have to follow the directions closely (once you’ve earned the right to ask for recipe!) and trust the process. Moreso, it’s delicious!
Week 2: Mel’s Pick
Movie: Wild (2014)
Sometimes you need to exit the world for a bit and walk.
I love this movie. It came to me at a tumultuous time of my life (via the Gilmore Girls, A Year in the Life: Fall), and while Lorelai never makes it onto the trail, seeing Reese Witherspoon’s portrayal of Cheryl Strayed was the exact thing I needed back then. This movie covers survival on a number of levels, from surviving grief to surviving drug addiction to surviving a 1,100-mile hike.
Check it out if you want to:
Compare the book to the movie (both are excellent, but their own experiences).
Fantasize about hiking the PCT, but know you’d die in the desert (Hi, it’s me.)
Meal: Wings in 2 Sauces, Carrots and Celery, and of course, Blue Cheese Dressing
I LOVE wings. I like to make them for my birthday each year, and they would absolutely be a meal I would have to have post-surviving a major event. I like to use the wing recipe from Fried & True (great book for all things fried chicken), and for this I made a traditional wing sauce, then used up a garlic parm sauce we had on hand. But no matter what, you serve blue cheese with wings—NOT RANCH!
Week 3: Johnny’s Pick
Movie: The Revenant (2015)
Well, that got violent quickly.
This was a first watch for both of us, and wow. This film is so beautifully shot, and the majesty of the environment juxtaposed with the harshness of nature (and cruelty of man) is fantastic. It’s also interesting to think about how little vocal acting Leonardo DiCaprio does—it’s almost all physical, and so well done.
Check it out if you want to:
See the bear scene everyone has been talking about for the past 10 years
Witness DiCaprio’s character die like 14 times.
Meal: Herby Oven Salmon with Mashed Potatoes
Johnny is a big fan of salmon, and thought a salmon dish would be a fun pairing with this movie (cue the bear joke). It’s also a dish he’s been working to perfect, based off the original recipe.
Week 4: Mel’s Pick
Movie: Alive (1993)
I’ll never be able to watch the TV show Alone and be impressed.
Another first watch for both of us (and another true story!), Alive is the kind of movie that comes to mind when you think of survival movies. While it sometimes dragged on in spots, it more regularly delivered regular gut punches as the survivors dealt with their new reality on the mountain.
Check it out if you want to:
Learn about the survival of the Uruguayan rugby team in the Andes mountains.
See a young Ethan Hawke step up and help his fellow survivors make it out of their collective nightmare scenario.
Meal: Eggplant Parmesan with Linguine (and Chicken Parm for Johnny)
Eggplant parm is a dish that my good friend Liz taught me how to make years ago during grad school … an invite over to her house for dinner always meant something delicious and a full stomach. So, for me, surviving something major would have me turning to this saucy, cheesy meal. Because Johnny isn’t a fan of eggplant, I kindly prepared chicken parm for him.
February is Johnny’s birthday month; however he has shifted his film genre pick to March (more on that later). So, instead we picked one of the themes on our list: B-movies! Until then!