Dinner and a movie is good and all, but how about dinner in a movie? When Elise at Simply Recipes asked everyone what their favorite foodie movies were, it inspired me to compose a shopcast of all my favorite films upon which I feast my eyes.

Commenters in Elise’s post almost uniformly rated two films at the top of their lists: Tampopo, the great spaghetti Western, and Best Foreign Film Oscar winner Babette’s Feast. Truly, these are meals not to be missed.

But hands-down my favorite is Big Night, about a pair of Italian immigrant brothers who run an Italian restaurant in 1950s Long Island. The story is joyous, poignant, passionate and petulant all at once. And the timballo at the end of the dinner party? Fuhgeddaboutit!

The Oscar for best wine film simply has to go to Sideways, the film that made pinot noir’s (and Paul Giamatti’s) star rise — and merlot’s fall. As a bigtime pinot fan myself, I can relate to the romance of the grape.

Food and romance go hand in hand, of course. What could be sweeter than the spaghetti kiss in Lady and the Tramp, still as adorable more than 50 years after its release. Or perhaps unleash a little chocolate-covered passion in Chocolat. Speaking of chocolate-covered passion, 9 1/2 Weeks gave “food porn” a whole new meaning.

Some foodie films might put you off your dinner, though that doesn’t make them any less worth watching. Morgan Spurlock’s Super Size Me will definitely make you think twice before stopping off at the McDonald’s drive-thru on the way home. Last Supper may make you want to take a raincheck on that unexpected dinner party invitation. And if you’ve ever been faced with a plate full of mystery meat, you might flash back on the camp classic Soylent Green.

So how’s this for a holiday gift: Pick up a couple of your favorite foodie films and stuff them in a basket with a couple packets of microwave popcorn, Jujubes and a bottle of wine. Tie on a pretty bow, and give the gift of a cinematic feast.

See more of my Gift Guide: Foodie Movies list at ThisNext.