I love food documentaries, don’t you?

Documentary Edge is an international documentary festival and has just started in Auckland. The festival runs in Auckland from 20 May to 1 of June and in Wellington from 3 June to 14 June. There are a range of movies to suit different tastes.

There are two food documentaries in the festival: Deli Man and For Grace. If you’re interested in one or both, also check out the free event held at The Vault, Q Theatre where directors from both films will discuss food and film.

Food Talk
Sat 30 May, 4.30 – 5.30pm
The Vault, Q Theatre

In Conversation with Erik Greenberg Anjou and Mark Helenowski

Director of Deli Man, Erik Greenberg Anjou, and director of For Grace, Mark Helenowski, talk food and film in this discussion of their respective documentaries. Free event.

Deli Man

(USA, 2014)

Directed by Erik Greenberg Anjou, Deli Man is a look into the history and the food in Jewish delicatessens. Rated a very healthy 7.6 on IMDB, this story follows Ziggy Gruber, a third-generation deli man as he works and visits delis. Features comments from Jewish celebrities such as Larry King (Larry King Live), Jerry Stiller (Seinfeld, Zoolander) and Fyvush Finkel (A Serious Man, Boston Public).

The trailer is going to make you super hungry. I’m betting the movie will be even more mouthwatering. Don’t go on an empty stomach. Be warned!

Deli Man food pairing

Obvious pairing would be any deli that serves Jewish style deli classics. Go to the The Fed (Federal Delicatessen) and order Matzo ball soup, lox, pastrami, washed down with bottomless filter Coffee Supreme. 86 Federal Street, Auckland City, Open 7 days, 11.30am til late.

Screenings of Deli Man

Q Theatre, Auckland
Wed 27 May, 8.15pm
Sat 30 May, 9.30pm
Mon 1 June, 2pm

The Roxy Cinema, Wellington
Thurs 4 June, 6.30pm
Sun 7 June, 8pm
Thurs 11 June, 12pm

https://vimeo.com/107789732

For Grace

(USA, 2015)

Directed by Mark Helenowski and Kevin Pang, For Grace follows a Chicago school teacher who opens a degustation restaurant called Grace. His journey to becoming a 3-star Michelin chef, a story about excellence and sacrifice.

For Grace food pairing

Grace offers 2 tasting menus: Flora and Fauna (vege and seafood/meat). This movie would be amazing be paired with a degustation. Try Meredith’s in Mt Eden, Kazuya in Eden Terrace or Sidart in Ponsonby.