voila! c'est un petit raton!

in case you were not already aware, the greatest film of all time debuts on dvd today. when i first saw ratatouille, i cried. not only is it visually beautiful (the light! the detail! the rat fur!), but because pixar gets it. they always get it. but with this one, they really get it. i don't think it's possible for people living in lincoln, nebraska (i'm not hating) to be deeply impacted by this film. pixar made it for bay area foodies and french people. ok, maybe new yorkers too. the plating of the foods, the wine pairings, the complex flavors of cheese...and at the heart of it all, the idea that anyone can be a cook. in the beautifully scripted words of one character...

"In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face is that, in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the new. Last night, I experienced something new, an extraordinary meal from a singularly unexpected source. To say that both the meal and its maker have challenged my preconceptions is a gross understatement. They have rocked me to my core. In the past, I have made no secret of my disdain for Chef Gusteau's famous motto: Anyone can cook. But I realize that only now do I truly understand what he meant. Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere. It is difficult to imagine more humble origins than those of the genius now cooking at Gusteau's, who is, in this critic's opinion, nothing less than the finest chef in France. I will be returning to Gusteau's soon, hungry for more."

i'll be at target getting my copy tonight! one might also consider picking up the adorable and delicious ratatouille cookbook for kids, with an introduction by thomas keller. buy it even if you don't have kids!