by Saira Lortan
Lights, camera, ovens! Taste The Movie is the first in South Africa to provide a dining-and-viewing combo experience where you get to eat what you see on the screen. What's on the menu, you ask? All the tastiest bits of your favourite childhood classics, date-night rom-coms, and blockbuster hits. This is absolutely an unforgettable experience. Get to know more about Taste The Movie!
Eat What You See On Screen
A movie cinema where you eat the food you see on screen? This is not a drill! We’ve all seen food in a movie and thought, “Yoh, that looks delicious. I wonder how it tastes”. Taste The Movie is bringing all our food fantasies to life with a culinary experience we've never seen in South Africa before.
Here, you don’t just eat dishes based on the movie; each dish is served according to when it appears on your screen. This experience takes the age-old “dinner and a movie” outing to an epic level. Most experiences include six- to eight-course luxury meals, so believe us when we say it's a proper treat for the senses.
Harry Potter & The Yum Overload
The most recent screening was Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and long-time fans of the franchise were squealing with excitement at the chance to feast on the magical meals featured. Let’s take a look at the menu to get an idea of what you can expect from this incredible place. (Spoiler: it was DELICIOUS.)
The movie-inspired meals started with a Chinese smashed cucumber salad formed into a snake, paying homage to one of the movie’s most iconic scenes. The next course was inspired by Harry’s lovable owl, Hedwig. Warm olive ciabatta with basil pesto butter was accompanied by owl-shaped candles. Next up was a visit from the magic trolley lady on the train, offering a sweet assortment of chocolate frogs, jelly snakes, and a Dumbledore cookie.
They then moved on to the epic Great Hall feast, which consisted of two mouth-watering chicken drumsticks served with mashed potatoes, corn, and glazed carrots. The next dish was the Golden Snitch: a shiny truffle-infused arancini, filled with wild mushrooms and creamy parmesan risotto, finished with delicate parmesan "wings".
Now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for: butterbeer! This drink is so iconic that it was specially imported for this screening. It's a frothy blend of butterscotch and vanilla richness, finished with a slightly sweet hint of fizz.
The night came to a close with Hogwarts Expresso Cake. We love a cute play on words, but not as much as we love dessert. This dessert had layers of decadent, espresso-infused chocolate cake covered in creamy coffee buttercream.
What To Look Forward To
If that epically indulgent menu didn’t have you saying “Shut up and take my money”, we’re not sure what will. It gets even better, somehow. Taste The Movie is offering a Valentine's Day Special with a screening of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. If you want to impress your date this Valentine's Day, run, don’t walk, to book your tickets. Here’s a quick rundown of the six-course menu to give you a peek at what you could experience.
The night is set to start with an edible rice paper magazine served with artisan bread and herb butter. The next course is prawns in a lemon and herb dressing, followed by a cola drink served with buttery popcorn. They then move on to beef ribs with roasted potatoes and carrots. This is followed by a baguette sandwich filled with creamy cheese and cucumber slices. What's for dessert, you ask? Sparkly edible jelly crystals that are sure to be a feast for your eyes and your taste buds.
It's Your Turn
If you’re looking to transport your taste buds while watching one of your favourite movies, it's time to book your spot at the next Taste The Movie screening. You’ll also officially be the cool friend in the group, because who else has tasted actual food from the movies?
Joburg's Taste The Movie is located at Hyatt House Sandton. To book your spot, visit this page or email [email protected].
For more information, check out their website or follow them on Instagram.
