POPCORN and cola are almost always synonymous with movies. When you think of going to the cinema, those two foods come to mind. But not always. Just almost.
Take the case of my Tita, safer not to mention her name, and God bless her soul. Imagine the shock it gave to my Tito when she brought fried chicken and rice inside. We all laughed and pounded my Tito with questions when he relayed it to us, his nieces and nephews.
Come to think of it, can you imagine yourself complete with fork and spoon, gorging on drumsticks and wings? Or worse, eating with bare hands. Hand gloves were not yet a trend at that time.
I don’t know what’s with chips and popcorn that make movie watching more enjoyable. Your hands and mouth are as busy as your eyes and ears. That’s what you call multi-tasking.
And have you noticed the more interesting the storyline progresses, or as the chase scenes become more intense, your munching also goes with the rhythm? The hand-to-mouth action becomes faster.
When you’re inside the cinema, one ear hears the crackling of chicharon or chips. And the other listens to the movie. It’s a common thing. However, it becomes funny or dramatic when the scene is so silent, or it’s in its denouement stage, and then the food cracks. I don’t know if I’d laugh or be annoyed. If I were the culprit, it would be embarrassing to hear the words, “sshhh.”
Decades ago, most theatres in the city had their canteen. It’s like a small convenience store that carries all kinds of food.
Popular then was the pork and beef tapa, or jerky as we call it now. It’s perfect since you can eat it with your bare hands, and it doesn’t have that scandalous sound. It’s packed like the size of a long white envelope. Perfect for one person. I wonder if they still sell those in that size.
Present-day food choices now include healthy options. There are fresh fruit shakes and freshly made sandwiches. And since theatres today are now inside the malls, there are other food shops outside, including coffee shops.
There are also theatres where you can order coffee and have it delivered inside. And the seat comes with a side table. Perfect!
Either way, cinema snacks will always play an integral part in movie-watching. It may have changed through the years, just like the movies, but the added joy it gives is a constant.
However, some people prefer not to eat inside the cinema. They can concentrate more without the food distraction.
How about you, what’s your preference? Do you bring food inside, and if you do, what food do you eat inside?
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