A Cuban movie review by Mama Mojito!

Have you seen the movie, “Chef”?

Jon Favreau, stars as a chef who loses his restaurant job starts up a food truck in an effort to reclaim his creative promise, while piecing back together his estranged family. Wow, can I relate…..in some ways.

I mostly relate to Sophia Vergara- Yeah Right!

Gary and I went to see “Chef” at the recommendation of my hair stylist, Anita (she gives me all the latest updates on flicks, while trying to make me beautiful, a harrowing job!). On one visit, she told me to go and see, “Chef” because we were opening a Cuban restaurant. She was rather funny, saying it was all about a guy who was a chef who made great CUBAN food, but got badgered by his boss to stick to the same old, same old menu and recipes thus stifling his creative juices. And to add to the layers of drama, he was also going through a divorce with the love of his life, and Cuban wife played by Sofia Vegara (well now we had to go).

First movie we went to in 20 some years (Big Daddy - Gary, yes the Cuban of the family) doesn’t like to go to movies…rather would sit at home and see them on Netflix. He says, “we get the best seat in the house”. UHG. In all honesty, the most interesting man on the world (in his mind) – is basically just plain cheap.

Cheap like Dustin Hoffman's character in the film, but not as boring.

Well – as the movie began the background music blasted through the theater and all of a sudden I felt like I was back in Miami or Hialeah in Florida – all the old classical Cubanaso music began to roar.

You must hear this soundtrack!

 The scenes were cool but actually the story is based on California.

I won’t ruin the story for anyone but the funny thing about this movie is that I/we could relate to the troubles the Chef was going through after he got fired from his job, bought his new found empire “food truck” - which was basically a piece of crap.

There were so many similarities with the old place, a/k/a, the old 90 Main…. It was disgusting – every inch of the truck had to be taken apart, cleaned, powerwashed, or trashed -just like our building!

The chef went through this labor of love with his son (estranged) and this was another connection too – Yes you all know Dean by now (our son and manager at Mojito).

 Although they have never been estranged at all (as a matter of fact Dean has always idolized his dad, though now the roles are reversing) - but during the transformation of 90 Main, there were times that I thought big Daddy and Dean were going to duke it out. All a result of too many gallons of petrified grease they had to strip out of this place . Thank God for the end of the day beers they shared when they were able to relax, reflect and chill at either John & Peters, The Logan, or Havanas (thanks you guys!).

::SPOILER ALERT::

At the end of the movie they are all very successful and the Dad and son are lifelong business buddies. The Chef gets bought out by a mega broker who just loves his food (the original critique that hated his old bosses mandated creations). Any food connoisseurs out there who want the Cuban American dream and make us rich? :)

Then the icing on the cake, of course the Chef and Sofia reunite and live happily ever after. Ha, how surreal! Big Daddy and I just celebrated 32 years of marital bliss. Well, in all honesty, marital bliss would be non-existent if not for a bit of turbulence, jubilation, rice and beans topped with some caliente hot sauce of course.

Come to Mojito and say hi and then see a movie!!!! Love to all

Love, Mama Mojito