As Christmas is over and New Years approaches and as all the Bailes do at Christmas is eat and watch films, I thought I’d come up with my favorite films about food. Or films that send me racing to the kitchen for a snack.

1. “Big Night” Campbell Scott and Stanley Tucci’s love letter to authentic Italian cooking. I still can’t get the image of the timpani being cut open out of my head.

2. “Waitress” Adrienne Shelly’s beautiful film set in a southern diner includes the most creative shots of pie making. Like a Busby Berkeley musical, the camera looks down at the pie crusts as Keri Russell fills them with delicious ingredients.

3. “Mostly Martha” A simple pasta dish is a gesture of love and affection in this romance. I could almost smell the basil.

4. “Ratatouille” This film just made me want to be in Paris, eating fine food, and especially the vegetable dish of the title -- even if it was prepared by a rat.

5. “Chocolat” Hated the movie, but you can’t beat those shots of chocolate being stirred and poured and molded and wrapped.

Honorable mention
“Elf” Buddy’s sweet tooth is only slightly bigger than mine. That breakfast feast looked so good!