Connecting with Ratatouille
How a Simple Dish Warmed the Heart of a Cold Critic
By Sam Minhas
The most important lesson the Disney movie Ratatouille teaches us is that it is the simple joys in life that make life fulfilling. The movie follows a Parisian rat, Remy, who's biggest dream is to be a chef. At the end of the film, Remy faces his biggest challenge, the world renown food critic Anton Ego. Ego is notorious for being hard to please, and yet Remy manages to win him over with ratatouille. Ratatouille is not a fancy or complicated dish; in fact, it is even referred to in the movie as peasant food. So, how is it that a simple, "peasant" dish managed to move the stoic Ego? The answer is simple. When Ego took that first bite, he was transported back to the memory of his mother comforting him with the same dish. Because he had attached such a fond memory to ratatouille, the experience of eating it is much more fulfilling for him.
What makes a comfort meal a comfort meal? Most of the time a true comfort meal takes us back to a fond memory that brings us immense joy. Everytime we eat it, we relive the happiness we felt in that moment. For Ego, it was the love he felt when his mother took care of him after he hurt himself. That connection elevated an otherwise simple meal into a sentimental culinary experience.
Ego's journey throughout the film highlights an experience we're all currently living. The moment we log onto social media, we're flooded with people who are seemingly leading more fulfilling lives than us, and as a result, we're left craving. This is especially true with food trends. We tend to think that the viral snacks everybody else is eating will bring the same satisfaction as a thoughtful meal however, that's not the case. Ego dines at the finest restaurants in France. He eats some of the most intricate and luxurious meals, but they mostly meant nothing to him. This is because they lacked the sentiment of a comfort meal. The memory attached to ratatouille provides fulfillment he didn't even realize he was seeking. It reminded him of his beloved mother, and in turn his humanity. When we allow food trends on social media to dictate our meals, we're not fulfilled in the same way. We can appreciate the flavor and the general essence of the dish, but it lacks the personalization of a comfort meal.
By the end of the film, Ego loses all his credibility for endorsing a rat infested restaurant, however he doesn't care. The fulfillment that memory brought him made him realize the joy of food does not come from fancy ingredients or complicated recipes; it comes from the pleasure of recollecting those special moments that make life worth living.
Although this article is about food, the principles can also be applied to our daily lives at large. Instead of trying to follow a trend or impress people on social media, take the time to reconnect with the small joys (hobbies, loved ones, etc.) in your life, and see just how fulfilling your life will become.
