Join us, and our friends from the Ceres Food Film Festival, for an intimate evening exploring the complex world of taste and flavor where we'll dive into the cultural stories behind some of food's misunderstood and beloved elements.
We will be screening two films:
MSG: Mysterious Savory Grains (Dir. Kyle Finnegan, 12:50 runtime) To share his culture through food, Chef Tim Ma must defy monosodium glutamate's unsavory reputation. This short documentary explores the cultural shift in how Americans discuss MSG and the role of activists and chefs in changing the conversation around this misunderstood ingredient.
pb&p (Dir. Eleanor Galloway, 5:36 runtime) Based on Dwight Garner's book The Upstairs Delicatessen, filmmaker Eleanor Galloway captures the magic of an unlikely pairing—the peanut butter and pickle sandwich. Both unexpected and reliable, this film speaks to the power of food to challenge and connect us all.
Following the screenings, stay for our panel of filmmakers and experts as they explore the themes of taste, flavor, and cultural perception. The panel will be moderated by MOFAD’s president, Nazli Parvizi.
Ticket includes access to Flavor: The World to Your Brain from 6 to 7 PM, and the famous peanut butter and pickle sandwich featured in the film (courtesy of Jacob’s Pickles), along with other taste-forward bites and beverages.
Now in its 9th season, the Ceres Food Film Festival is one of the leading international documentary film festivals dedicated to spotlighting films about our shared food issues. Through thoughtful curation of films and discussions, Ceres connects filmmakers, food industry leaders, and mission-driven organizations to spark meaningful change. This year’s festival runs October 16–19, 2025, in NYC.
Jacob's Pickles is not just a restaurant, it's a community. We specialize in southern comfort food with a focus on beer, biscuits, and PICKLES. Pickling things from cukes to carrots, beets to green beans, there's no cuke and brine combination we won't try!