Philly's La Peg's Winter Film Series

The cult-classic Danish-language film, which earned an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1988, is a must-see for food and wine lovers, and Chef Peter Woolsey is delighted to serve the extravagant meal that Babette prepared for her guests onscreen. Tickets, which include the film, the sumptuous meal, rare and prized drink pairings, tax and tip, are $400 per person, and are extremely limited; reservations are required, and can be made online (click to reserve).

Babette’s Feast tells the story of a 19th-century French immigrant, Babette, who arrives at a bleak religious colony in Denmark’s Jutland. Penniless, she agrees to serve as a cook for a pair of aging spinster sisters for free, holding out the faintest of hopes for an annual lottery that she eventually wins. Rather than return to Paris, she utilizes the winnings to prepare a bountiful French meal for 12 guests; the legendary scene cost producers $8,000 to create, with a chef and two assistants on set for two weeks. The crew went through 148 quails for the third course alone, and actress Stephane Audran, who played Babette, famously drank real wine in the kitchen scenes because, as the director said, “She insisted on it, saying she was not a good enough actress to pretend with apple juice.”

At La Peg, each course will be paired with rare, prized wines from the producers featured in the film, though the vintages will be different (1860 Veuve Clicquot, for example, being impossible to come by today).

The full menu, identical to the sumptuous feast prepared by Babette, will include:

• Potage a la Tortue, turtle soup, paired with Emilio Lustau Solera Reserva Los Arcos Amontillado Sherry NV
• Blinis Demidoff, buckwheat pancakes with caviar and sour cream, paired with Veuve Clicquot Champagne NV
• Cailles en Sarcophage, quail in puff pastry shell with foie gras and truffle sauce, paired with Domaine Bertagna Clos de Vougeot Premier Cru Red Burgundy 2005
• Endive Salad
• Savarin au Rhum avec des figures et fruit glacée, rum sponge cake with figues and candied cherries, paired with Veuve Clicquot Champagne NV
• Assiette des fruits et fromage, assorted cheese and fruit plate, paired with Chateau Les Mingets Sauternes 2013
• Coffee and a snifter of J. Dumangin & Fils Vieux Marc de Champagne

The dinner-and-a-movie series at La Peg will continue monthly throughout the winter:

Wednesday, January 11: Silence of the Lambs

Friday, March 31: Better Off Dead

Wednesday, May 17: Eraserhead

For the above films, screenings will begin at 8 p.m., inside the FringeArts theatre, with a small bite (such as La Peg’s instant-classic tacos or another tasty appetizer) included in the ticket price of $20; a satellite bar will be set up inside the theatre, so that filmgoers can order drinks without stepping out into the restaurant.

Wednesday, February 22: Goodfellas

The screening will begin at 7 p.m., at long, shared tables inside the FringeArts theatre, with a multi-course Italian meal served family-style during the film. Tickets are $85 per person, and include the meal, wine pairings, the film, tax, and gratuity. Guests can expect red-and-white checkered tablecloths and other décor evocative of the iconic film, and tickets are limited to 60 guests.

Wednesday, April 5: The Triplets of Belleville

The screening will begin at 7 p.m., at long, shared tables inside the FringeArts theatre, with a multi-course French bistro meal served banquet-style during the film. Tickets are $85 per person, and include the meal, wine pairings, the film, tax, and gratuity. Tickets are limited to 60 guests.

Also See,,

• Philly's Dinner & A Movie at La Peg at FringeArts
• La Peg at FringeArts New Menu and Concept
• Ocean Prime's Extended Private Holiday Dining Options
• Philly's Fishtowns Bottle Bar East Brunch
• 2016 Philly Holiday Festivals and Events Guide