Lady, a pampered cocker spaniel from a posh part of town, meets Tramp, a roaming mutt from the wrong side of the tracks. A romance begins to blossom between the two, yet their many differences, along with happenings at Lady’s home, threaten to keep the two dogs apart.

Early in their courtship, Tramp takes Lady out for what is undoubtedly the most romantic food moment captured on film. The two canines dine at Tony’s Restaurant – “the very place for a very special occasion” – and share “the spaghetti special, heavy on the meatballs.”

The duo dine by candlelight al fresco while being serenaded with the charming melody, “Bella Notte” by Tony and Joe. Of course, what makes this magical moment even more dreamy is the iconic spaghetti kiss Lady and Tramp share. The two canines, distracted by the romantic serenade, end up chewing opposite ends of the same spaghetti strand and unintentionally nibble their way into a kiss.

This whimsical scene is certainly one of the most memorable food moments in film, and therefore, I would be remiss if I did not include an entry for Lady and the Tramp (1955) here on food & a film. Since this particular scene is so classic and emblematic of the film, there was no other possible food pairing to consider aside from spaghetti & meatballs.

However, there are a couple of other small food moments in the film. The first is a breakfast scene at the Darling’s residence where Lady is given coffee and a doughnut. The second is a scene where Tramp, after waking up, goes to find breakfast. He walks past Bernie’s Grill, then rules out Francois Pastries citing “too much starch,” before deciding on Tony’s Restaurant, where he is given a large bone by Joe.

For my vegan version of spaghetti & meatballs, I chose to make my own marinara sauce and to purchase pre-made meatless meatballs.

Marinara Sauce:

• 1 tablespoon good olive oil
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 splash of white vinegar
• 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Heat the olive oil in a large sauce pan. Add the garlic and cook over medium heat for about a minute. Add a splash of white vinegar before stirring in the tomatoes, parsley, salt, and pepper. Cover, and simmer on low heat for 15 minutes. Once you have completed preparing the marinara sauce, combine it with cooked spaghetti and meatballs before garnishing with basil.

For the place setting, I tracked down a white and red plaid tablecloth, as well as a wicker wrapped bottle to use as a candle holder, and a crock to fill with garlic breadsticks.

Lady and the Tramp contains one of the most iconic food moments in film; however, it will certainly not be the last classic food scene recreated here on food & a film. Thanks for reading – until next time!