How many times have you seen some food or drink in a movie and thought “I wish I could eat that right now”? Or maybe you cooked something or chose a restaurant for a certain cuisine that was going to pair with the movie you watched? Movies and food go together beautifully and that’s the idea behind a brilliant business concept and a really inventive happening in Denver. After enjoying a hosted media preview Fork n’ Film event at The Maven hotel at Dairy Block, and hearing a little about how the concept began, I knew an In Good Taste Denver Podcast needed to happen!
Click on the player above to meet my guest, Francesca Houston of Fork n’ Film, a foodie event that shows movies while a multi-course meal inspired by what’s happening on the screen, is presented to the diner timed to just the right moment. Natasha and her husband Nick Houston own Fork n’ Film which has already become popular in New York, Tokyo, Dallas and Los Angeles. Now Denver joins the lineup. In the podcast, you’ll get the full story about how the concept began but, hint, it was a craving for a certain dessert being shown on a movie the couple was watching.
The Fork ‘n Film Experience
For its debut in Denver, Fork n’ Film is playing Ratatouille (2007), the animated story about a rat living in France, with a deep appreciation and passion for food, who then becomes a tiny rat chef in a fine dining restaurant for humans.
It had been years since I saw the movie so I was really looking forward to it and had forgotten just how deeply culinary it is. It’s practically an animated cooking school experience. Because food is central to the movie, it must have been a lot of fun for Natasha to come up with which of the many items from the film to turn into a real-life dining experience for attendees. But it isn’t just about recreating the food.
Very cleverly, it isn’t just “this is served in the film so we’ll prepare that for the meal.” The Fork n’ Film team plays with props too like a salad served in a small (clean) trash can (Remy and his fellow rats are very familiar with trash cans, being rats and all). There are interactive elements like being able to mix our own cocktails. So fun! And, no, don’t even think about pocketing any of the props – keep them for future diners.
I can hear you saying “Okay, so it’s themey and fun but is the food good?” Yes! The Fork ‘n Film team includes a culinary director who develops the actual recipes and then works with the chefs where the event is being held. He makes sure the concept is carried out properly and that everything is going to be a legitimately good dining experience.
A Fork n’ Film evening includes popcorn popped up fresh (the tantalizing aroma greeted us the moment we entered the sliding doors of The Maven’s lobby). Following the smell like a blood hound, we saw a popcorn maker churning it out fresh as old-fashioned, red and white striped popcorn containers were filled, awaiting guests with something to munch on as they checked in.
The evening includes the meal and a couple of drinks (more can be purchased on-site) which, at The Maven at Dairy Block, was held in an intimate special events room across from Poka Lola bar off the lobby. Tables are nicely set with tablecloths and flowers. Brilliantly, there’s a screen at either end of the room so everyone gets a good view of the movie.
During key moments in the film, servers glide in, placing each course in front of diners. Our attention was briefly taken away from the movie to marvel at what was served, checking the menu for a little more explanation. There was “Gusto Was Right,” a strawberry compote on a bed of aged cheese (because Remy the rat tastes high quality cheese with a fresh strawberry and delights in the combination). And there’s “Plate Du Chef” with glazed roast chicken and a parsnip puree with mustard tarragon sauce and haricot verts (green beans) like a meal served in the restaurant. I won’t spoil things by telling you ALL about the menu but, rest assured, actual ratatouille, a medley of slowcooked veggies with herbs was part of the offerings and was my favorite part both visually and in taste. I remember loving the look of the shingled slices of colorful veggies in the ratatouille dish in the movie and…there it was!
In the episode above of the In Good Taste Denver Podcast, Natasha explains that some initial dates for Ratatouille were released (and promptly sold out, with new dates opening up). She said that the film would probably run through October when something more holiday-themed would take over through the end of the year. Come 2027? Well, we’ll just see what happens based on Colorado’s reaction to the Fork n’ Film idea.
An evening at Fork n’ Film costs $199.99 per person and includes popcorn, two drinks (non-alcoholic are available) and the meal of typically 6-8 courses. Most dietary adaptations can be handled, including vegetarian and vegan and are selected by the guest when they purchase the ticket online.
I suggest getting on the Fork n’ Film email list to be notified before the general public of the next wave of tickets and upcoming films. Fork n’ Film is a fun night for a date, friends, celebration or group event. You can also upgrade to unlimited popcorn and bottles of wine or bubbly. Other films offered by Fork n’ Film include Coco, Elf, Home Alone and The Princess and the Frog, a particular favorite of Nick’s who grew up in New Orleans.
To learn more about Fork n’ Film, visit the website, here.
My thanks to Natasha Houston for joining me for this In Good Taste Denver Podcast episode and for hosting my husband and me for the preview evening. Fork n’ Film is dinner and a movie like you’ve never experienced.
-Story and photos by Courtney Drake-McDonough, Publisher & Managing Editor of InGoodTasteDenver.com and host of the In Good Taste Denver Podcast
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