While a jumbo tub of hot buttered popcorn is one of our most frequently indulged guilty pleasures, we think a good movie deserves a little better company than junk food. Try out our movie and meal pairings for yourself or feel free to suggest one of your own favorites in the comments.
The Movie: Movie 43
The Meal: Davanti Enoteca
See Also:
- Les Misérables and Dinner at Scratch Pastries in Scottsdale
- Davanti Enoteca: Believe the Buzz; It's Sensational
- In Theaters: Movie 43
Movie 43 We almost never pair our meals with funny or feel-good movies, but this week we're checking out what was marketed as a shocking and raunchy comedy. While there isn't much in the way of fuzzy feelings in Movie 43, there are plenty of jokes. Whether you find them funny or shocking is your call.
The most promising part of Movie 43 was seeing Kate Winslet in the preview, so we went because we adore her. Since her part was only a few minutes because the whole movie is made up of a bunch of different star-studded shorts, we definitely didn't get our KW fix. The most pervasive roles in the film went to Dennis Quaid and Greg Kinnear, whose entire storyline was the Elmer's glue stick adhesive that held the story together-unnecessary and not super effective.
While one or two of the shorts were funny (and all of them were heart-stoppingly raucous if you've never heard of the internet), Movie 43 is definitely not one to rush out and see. The best parts will likely be up on Youtube soon enough anyway. Besides, there will surely be an unrated version available on your pay per view in a matter of months that will be filled with unmissably filthy bonus content. So what does one eat after neck balls, parent-on-son make-out sessions, poop explosions and a cartoon cat masturbating to pictures of its owner?
Davanti Enoteca Since Movie 43 was a grip on tasteless short films, we decided to go to one of our favorite new Italian joints that serves flavorful small plates. Luckily, there was no need for a weak and mildly self-indulgent plot line to weave our different plates together--just quality ingredients executed properly.
We started off with a vasi ($7) of ricotta and local honeycomb with tuscan crostini on the side. Act for act, the buttery toast, smooth ricotta and sweet and chewy comb performed head and shoulders above the first Movie 43 performance, despite their use of A and B list celebs. Next we grabbed a grilled asparagus antipasti ($10) with sweet pickled rhubarb and spicy black pepper marscapone and a creamy burrata insalate ($12) with basil pesto and Campari tomatoes roasted on the vine. Both were tasty and light, with just enough to tease the palate without weighing down your tummy for the next round of plates.
We had to try some fresh pasta while at Davanti so we went with the raviolo ($10), which might be one of the tastiest single raviolos we've had. The browned butter on top and the blended spinach and gooey egg yolk on the inside make for a completely luxurious pasta. Our only complaint with their raviolo is that you only get one. That's not to say it isn't worth the price tag, just that we could happily eat those raviolos all night. Last but not least, we tried the lightly sweet and tangy seasonal Bosc pear tarte with vanilla gelato a la mode ($8) paired with a hot, foamy cappuccino. Overall, the plates at Davanti were bigger stars than any of the Hollywood-types that Movie 43 so heavily relied on.
