Ratatouille

Have you ever wondered why the animated film Ratatouille chose a sewer rat as a tiny chef in a luxurious restaurant kitchen, despite everyone's perception of rats as unhygienic? This is because, in the past, French society had a class division between the rich and the poor. Rats were a negative symbol associated with the lower class. Therefore, to break down the wall separating these classes, the screenwriter of this animation chose a rat as a representative.

Ratatouille: From Lower-Class Fare to Big Screen Star

The story doesn't end there, as this animation also features a simple dish called Ratatouille. This is because Ratatouille was once considered a lower-class food, being a simple dish made from whatever vegetables were available, chopped together and thrown into a pot. It would be prepared in large quantities to be eaten over several days. However, this method was not popular in high society, as most French cuisine is known for its precision and meticulousness, often prepared dish by dish and served in small courses. For this reason, they referred to Ratatouille as a dish for the lower class.

Ratatouille is a traditional Provençal dish with a long history dating back to the 18th century, originating in the city of Nice, in the south of France. The traditional ingredients found in classic Ratatouille include eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, onions, garlic, tomatoes, and various herbs such as spearmint, basil, and oregano.

How "Ratatouille" Elevated the Dish and Opened Culinary Horizons

However, in the past, Ratatouille was only popular among the lower classes. It wasn't until the animated film Ratatouille, produced by Pixar Animation Studios, was released in 2007 that people's perception of Ratatouille began to change. The film tells the story of a rat named Remy, who dreams of becoming a famous chef in Paris. In the story, Remy meets a young chef named Alfredo Linguini, the son of a restaurant owner who tries to present a dish to Anton Ego, a harsh food critic evaluating his restaurant. But Linguini is not good at cooking, so Remy steps in to help, teaching him how to cook. The dish Remy chooses to make is Ratatouille.

It is said that Remy chose this dish for the famous food critic Ego because he compared himself to Ratatouille, which was stigmatized as worthless and unfit to be served on high society tables. To overcome this humble perception, Remy reinterpreted the dish, making it more luxurious and appetizing, ultimately winning over the harsh food critic Ego. More than that, the animation also conveyed Remy's meticulousness in cooking, creating a truly impressive scene as Remy paid attention to every detail in the preparation process, elevating Ratatouille into a dish everyone wanted to taste.

Ratatouille Today: Delicious, Healthy, and Creative

After the animation was released, Ratatouille gained global popularity and became a staple in French cuisine. In recent years, Ratatouille has evolved into a variety of culinary creations. Chefs worldwide have adapted Ratatouille to be more modern. Some restaurants serve it as a main course for vegetarian menus, while others use it as a topping for pizza and pasta to add vibrant color. Besides being delicious and appetizing, Ratatouille is also a very healthy dish.