Ryan McNeil
Watching all manner of cooks – from peasant fishermen to top chef – preparing Peruvian food is rather fascinating. Many of the ingredients and flavours start out the same, but the manner in which they are brought together in COOKING UP DREAMS couldn’t be more varied. Seeing executive chefs work in gourmet kitchens isn’t anything original…but watching full dinners being cooked on hot stones buried in soil is a sight to behold.
The food of Peru is on the rise in the culinary world, with competitions being won with increasing regularity and new fusions being presented at every turn. What this doc points out though, is that while the rest of the world is discovering many of these combinations for the first time, the chefs themselves are using techniques and recipes handed down in Peru for generations. Cooking in Peru is a talent that grandparents teach parents…who teach children…who will later teach their own children.
The film isn’t exactly flawless unfortunately. As the food conversation hops its way through so many different people, it gives the overall story a slight lack of focus. Likewise, from a sensory perspective, I would have wanted a bit more attention paid to the photography where the visuals of the food are concerned. Hearing what’s going into these dishes made my mouth water – slightly improved video would easily make my stomach rumble in response.
These details hold a good doc back from being a great doc, especially in its final act where food brings people together under truly trying circumstances. In this moment alone, it’s amazing to see how food can define people as a culture, and re-enforce the nature of family and community.
COOKING UP DREAMS plays tonight – 6:30 pm at Cumberland 3, again on Saturday May 1st – 1:30pm at Cumberland 3, and finally on Sunday May 9th, 9:30pm at Cumberland 2.
Come to think of it, I've never had Peruvian food, but I can only imagine how hungry a doc devoted to cooking interesting dishes would make me (I can barely watch Top Chef without pausing to make dinner). Too bad they didn't go all-out on the photography, but perhaps it was a good thing to avoid massive stomach rumblings mid-viewing?