2026 “Ratatouille” dates. | Photo from @forknfilm on Instagram
Jan. 21 2026 | Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor
I keep seeing Reels about influencers going to restaurants that serve them meals themed to a specific movie they’re watching and all I can say is: I want to go.
The first one I saw was themed to “Ratatouille.” A seven-course meal, all with dishes that are either in the movie or inspired by it. Which, genuinely, sounds divine. I mean, come on, ratatouille? The dish itself is delicious, but eating it while watching “Ratatouille”? That is a dream come true for me. I fear it’s my favorite Pixar movie.
Fork ‘n Film, an interactive dining experience that focuses specifically on Disney-owned films, was founded in 2023 by Francesca Duncan and Nick Houston in Los Angeles, California. After watching “Matilda,” the pair were inspired by the scene where Bruce Bogtrotter eats an entire chocolate cake in front of the school.
“I thought, ‘I’m really hungry. I wish I could try that,’” Duncan recalled in an interview. “How cool would it be to put on an event where people are able to eat what they see on screen?”
In 2023, the Los Angeles social scene was still recovering from the coronavirus quarantine, and came up with the idea as something for people their age to do. After running a trial event on the roof of their apartment building, themed to “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” Duncan and Houston realized they had an idea that people wanted to attend and ran with it.
In less than two years, the pair was hosting 180 events monthly across their eight US locations and generated over $11 million in revenue. What started as a pop-up event quickly became a million-dollar idea.
In December 2024, Portland’s Fork ‘n Film location hosted its first event at the Kimpton Hotel Vintage. Since then, the events have been almost sold out every single weekend.
While tickets can be pricey — ranging from $99.99 for general admission to $199.99 for premium seats — the event offers a full immersion experience. As event-goers watch the movie, servers will bring various meals either explicitly from the movie or inspired by it.
In February, Portland’s Fork ‘n Film will be hosting a “Lady and the Tramp” weekend Feb. 13-15 and a “Princess and the Frog” weekend Feb. 20 and 21.
And the “Ratatouille” themed dinner? Well, it is always their event with the most tickets sold — once completely sold out in 0.8 seconds — and will be coming to Portland for two nights only: March 27 and 28. Better get those tickets fast.
Bon appetit.
Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu
