Stay humble, be fearless, and work, work, work, work, work, work.When's the last time you walked away from a movie hungry? It's pretty rare for me. American movies about food seem to be few and far between, and the ones that are around are usually socially-conscious documentaries that bum me out more than anything. Japanese movies about food seem to do exactly the opposite. Most food movies out of Japan focus a lot on the role of food in bringing people together, the journeys people go through for food and, most importantly of all, always make me really hungry. Would you expect anything less from the country that brought us Iron Chef? I gathered up some of the best Japanese movies about food I could find. If these don't rouse your appetite, then you might not have a stomach. Tampopo is the be all and end all of Japanese food movies. If you say that any other food movie is better then sorry, but you're wrong. Billed as a "Ramen Western" (a play on the "Spaghetti Western" genre of movies), Tampopo is, at its most basic, the story of a woman trying to turn her ramen shop around to save it from its own mediocrity.

But that simple description does such disservice to the movie. Tampopo jumps around, exploring different topics, settings, and stories, culminating into a movie that encompasses life, death, love, and all of the big questions in life. If you've never heard of or seen Tampopo before, then see it as soon as you can. But in the meantime, you can read our post on Tampopo and philosophy. Jiro Dreams of Sushi is a documentary all about Jiro Ono, chef at the best sushi restaurant in the world, Sukiyabashi Jiro. How do you get to be the best sushi chef in the world? Jiro Dreams of Sushi tells Jiro's life story and explores his philosophy on sushi and life in general. This movie is the definition of food porn, full of close-up shots of freshly-made sushi glistening with soy sauce, moments before it's delicately gobbled down by a appreciative diner. Even if you can't go to the best sushi restaurant in the world, Jiro Dreams of Sushi will give you a very personal view of the sushi.

You also get a glimpse into the inner workings of the Japanese restaurant industry, all the way up and down the supply chain. It's a behind-the-scenes tour that not many people get. You can watch Jiro Dreams of Sushi on Netflix and Hulu Plus. In Japan, udon noodles plays second fiddle to ramen. Not only is the greatest Japanese food movie, Tampopo, about ramen, but ramen has taken off in the Japanese food world the way udon never has.sushi grade fish rochester ny People in Japan are always tinkering with ramen, coming up with new and exciting ways to serve it. sushi kan ottawa hoursThere are so many variations when it comes to broth, noodles, and toppings, that it's hard to keep track of it all. sushi grade salmon costco

(Although we've written a guide to ramen That doesn't mean that you should ignore udon. Not only is it delicious in its own right, but it even has its own movie, appropriately titled Udon. Udon, like Tampopo, is a bit of an underdog story, but is much different from seminal classic. It follows a washed-up comedian who returns home to help construct an udon pilgrimmage of sorts.sushi conveyor belt dallas Ironically enough, one of the members of the comedy group the Rahmens appears in the movie. jiro dreams of sushi violinMaybe ramen and udon can be friends after all!where to buy sushi grade fish in albany ny When you're stationed at a research facility in Antarctica, it's easy to get homesick.

Surrounded by vast stretches of impossibly cold desert, you long for more hospitable surroundings. Fortunately, some familiar food can go a long way. The Antarctic Cook follows the crew at Antarctica's Dome Fuji Station and, more specifically, Nishimura, the crew's chef. You can read our full review of the Antarctic Cook here. You might think that Spirited Away isn't really a food movie. After all, isn't it one of those Studio Ghibli movies about magic and wonder? And you'd be right. But, Spirited Away also happens to feature enough tasty-looking food to make your mouth water. Even though the food is all illustrated, the variety and serving sizes of those foods still provoke your appetite. You can read our article about how Spirited Away is the perfect foodie movie for more. eatrip (a portmanteau of "eat" and "trip") is a simple documentary about how food bring people together. Despite featuring dreamboat actor Tadanoba Asano and coming out pretty recently (2009), I couldn't track it down through either legitimate or not-so-legitimate means.

The trailer makes the movie look promising, but every review site I've come across gives it pretty mediocre ratings. Just as well, I suppose. What food movies make your mouth water? Did I miss you favorite Japanese food movie on this list? Do you want to try to make the argument that Tampopo isn't the best (rofl)? Tell me on Twitter!If you find yourself growing older and becoming more drawn to food porn than regular porn -- don't worry, Netflix has you covered. There's a veritable cornucopia of food docs, series, miniseries, and docu-miniseries that will make you drool, think, and maybe even cry, and these 14 are the best of the best. This film is for everyone who's ever sat in a Chinese food restaurant at 5am, asking themselves, "Who the hell is General Tso, anyway?" The ambitious filmmakers behind The Search for General Tso dedicated a year of their lives to search for the true origins of everyone's favorite orange-tinted chicken, and its namesake. This doc goes surprisingly deep, and ties in the history of General Tso (he's real!) and his eponymous dish with Chinese immigration, and the assimilation of "Americanized" Chinese food.

Zero Point Zero Production Inc./Youtube If cool-dude Anthony Bourdain and big-nerd Rick Steves had an illegitimate love child who somehow landed his own travel show on PBS, it would look a lot like I'll Have What Phil's Having. The show has all the classic trappings of any food-centric travel show, but like any other example, it only flies as high as its host -- as we are experiencing the world through their eyes. In this case, the titular Phil leads us through exotic locales and cuisine with the dorky excitement of a high school guidance counselor. He makes it work surprisingly well. If you've ever scoffed at buttoned-up oenophiles sipping vino and commenting on the "earthy overtones with hints of brioche," this wine doc will assuredly make you a believer in the power of the palate. The film follows four candidates as they prepare for the absurdly difficult Master Sommelier test -- an exam with one of the lowest pass rates in the world. If they become a Master Somm, their career path may as well be paved in solid gold -- if they fail, they have another year of ceaseless studying and stress.

It's a showcase in commitment and fortitude, and a demonstration of the lengths people will go to truly master what they love. A film that probably flew under most mainstream viewers' radars, For Grace is the story of chef Curtis Duffy as he builds his dream restaurant in Chicago. Food obviously plays a central role in the film, but it's Duffy's personal struggles and private tragedies -- and the way he perseveres through them -- that make this doc special, and a must-watch for those involved with, and interested in the service industry. It gives a glimpse behind kitchen doors, and into the private, tumultuous life of one of the most celebrated chefs in modern America. Jiro Ono, the 85-year-old sushi master at Sukiyabashi Jiro, a Michelin three-star restaurant, has given basically all his life to the pursuit of perfecting his craft. The film documents his sacrifices, the toll his ambition has taken on his personal life, and what it means to give your entire self over to your career, and your obsession.

This is the food doc on Netflix. You've probably seen it, or at least seen Jiro's wise old face cruising the "Recommended" tab for the past three years. Despite its notoriety, we'd be remiss not to mention it as one of the premier food documentaries. It's Anthony Bourdain, narrating the life, story, and travels of chef David Chang. This should be enough to make most anyone salivate, but in case it's not, the show also promises a cooking element. While Bourdain waxes poetic over footage of Chang pioneering recipes and discovering food culture around the country and globe, it delivers an experience unlike any other, as you actually get a nuanced look inside the mind of the iconoclastic chef, and what makes him tick. It also inspired one of our editors to stop being a vegetarian -- so that's something. In four one-hour segments, this project is the story of humanity through cooking, and cooking through humanity. It introduces us to cheese-making nuns, grandmas in the Australian outback who club giant lizards, and avant-garde theories of how cooked food has influenced human evolution.

Oh, and James Taylor singing to his dead pig. Every serious food lover owes it to themselves to binge this masterfully shot, fact-heavy documentary that aims to change the way we think about food, and its impact on our world. This is a deep-cut doc, hardly seen, but well worth your time. It takes a hard look at African-American folk culture and how it ties in so closely with the passion and endearment of soul food -- but it doesn't stop with mere historical and sociological insights. It buckles in an airtight argument that details the toll eating this kind of greasy, fatty (albeit delicious) food has taken on our country, particularly the Southern black community. It goes so far as to call soul food "the bane of African-American health." It's not an easy doc to digest, but then again, that might be the point. Spinning Plates delves into the real-life struggles of the restaurant world, focusing on three eateries, in varying states of success and disarray: a struggling Mexican restaurant, a 150-year-old, family-owned operation with unbreakable ties to the community, and an avant-garde eatery led by a staff with some serious, private issues.

It posits that maintaining a restaurant is equal parts art, science, luck, and perseverance. It brings the human element of the service industry into the spotlight, with empowering -- and sometimes devastating -- results. Food, Inc. certainly doesn't stand alone as a Netflix doc that examines the troubling topic of where our food comes from and its impact on the environment. But, it may tackle the subject with more dexterity and authority than any other streaming title. This Academy Award-nominated film examines food industry commercialization, and the slow shift of agriculture turning into big business. Look, it's kind of a downer. But it's required viewing for everyone who actually gives a damn about how their food gets to the supermarket aisle. OK -- so this is more of a reality show than a documentary. But it's worth checking out if culinary competition shows are your fancy, and you really fancy hearing "fancy" in a quaint British accent. In essence, the British Bake Off follows the script of any baking competition, but it captures a sort of homely, Grandma's kitchen-style intrigue that buoys it above the gluttony of reality food television.

Get in now, before it becomes the next big thing. A Year In Burgundy/Youtube If the line, "A vine has to suffer to make good grapes" makes you cringe, A Year In Burgundy probably isn't for you. If you are saying, "Ah yes! Such is the struggle of life and wine!" then you should stop whatever Camus book you are reading, and stream this look into the lives of seven of France's premier winemakers over the course of one full year. It has a blooming piano score, subtitles, and includes a dirt fight in a Burgundy vineyard. It's a French documentary... alright? The first season of Chef's Table featured six distinct episodes, each profiling one of the world's most ambitious chefs, like Dan Barber, Massimo Bottura, and Niki Nakayama. The cinematography is gorgeous, the narration is tight, and it never loses the viewer's interest or focus, even when diving into mundane topics. It's the premier look into the world of a true top chef. And Season 2 is primed to be released in May -- so binge while it's hot.