Twice a month, BAMPFA, the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, holds "Film to Table" events in which it screens a film and serves a film-inspired four course meal made by Babette Cafe's chefs Patrick Hooker and Joan Ellis. For $65 per person, guests will enjoy a four-course meal and wine; film tickets start at $7. I had to opportunity to attend one of BAMPFA's Film to Table nights, inspired by the 1963 Italian comedy "Il Boom," and can conclude that this is one of Berkeley's hidden gems that cinephiles and food lovers alike must seek out.
The mission of "Film to Table"
BAMPFA strives to give the community an opportunity to experience film and food in an intimate and enriching setting. With a longer event from 6PM to 10PM, BAMPFA hopes to facilitate conversation about older cinema and its relevance today.
Joan and Patrick take a loose template from the region and era of the film to create a specialized menu that ties together the entire experience. In addition, they encourage students to reach out to BAMPFA and Babette for any events, or speakers they'd like to see and the staff would be more than happy to create a meal around it.
About the film: "Il Boom"
"Il Boom" made me want to travel to Rome in the 60s, while the archive's presentation made me want to be a film critic. About 200 enthusiastic guests sat close together in movie theatre style seats and listened attentively to the archive director's description of the cultural significance of the historic film. During the screening, roaring laughter consistently filled the theater, and after, everyone discussed its hilarity.
The dining setting
After the screening, a group of twenty dinner guests made their way up to Babette to find a single, long, candlelit table adorned with decorations fit for a royal feast. The intimate setting and lavish ambiance set the stage for what would be an unforgettable evening.
The group of diners, including myself, got to know one another over wine, Campari spritzers, and focaccia bread, as we discussed the subtle nuances of the film. Just as my conversation with my table-mate Ruth moved from the film to travel experiences, our chef and host for the evening, Joan Ellis, gave us a warm welcome and set out the first course.
Appetizers
The starting courses were light, but extremely satisfying. We were first served a fresh fig, gorgonzola, arugula and mint wrapped in prosciutto. The freshness of the figs made the dish as delectable as it was beautiful.
Next, we were served thick spaghetti, topped with a single, savory meatball resting on a bed of diced tomatoes. We moved through the courses slowly, dining like the Europeans in the film we'd just observed.
Main Course
For the main course, we passed around a creamy gorgonzola and butter pear salad to pair with lamb chops. The richness of the medium rare lamb chops perfectly complemented the lightness of the salad and the previous appetizers.
Joan and Patrick provided vegetarian options as well, introducing an eggplant stuffed with decadent cheese, resemblant of a vegetable cannoli.
Dessert
Salad dishes were replaced with bowls of fresh fruit and plates of Jewish Roman Ricotta Cheesecake with chocolate chips and kumquat jam. The cheesecake was refreshing and reminded me of crisp orange chocolate chip ice cream.
Overall, BAMPFA's Film to Table meal was a dream-like Italian experience, complete with never-empty bread baskets and wine glasses. Course by course, the delicate, beautifully garnished plates impressed the diners. However, it was the personalization that truly made the experience so memorable; Joan came around the table to describe each dish, making each guest feel like guests in her home.
Final Thoughts
It can be rare in our busy lives to slow down and truly enjoy a meal or reflect on a film. Luckily, BAMPFA provides the community a chance to do both. BAMPFA's Film to Table is a unique and unforgettable cultural experience in which people can share a love of film and food in an intimate setting. If you are looking for an evening well worth its time and price, reserve a ticket online here and get ready for an enriching experience!