Les saveurs du Palais 2012

Adam Markovitz, Entertainment Weekly: A pleasant dramedy inspired by a true story. Read more

Nicolas Rapold, New York Times: A reserved, tres simple tale that raises the occasional smile and tummy rumble but keeps hiccuping because of the drawn-out parallel story about her subsequent tour of duty. Read more

Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: Ms. Frot brings a sympathetic mix of determination and passion to Hortense, who dedicates herself to making dishes that suit the president. Read more

Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times: "Haute Cuisine" has no grand conflict or important message or really anything much that you'll remember past dinnertime, but it has abundant charm and it leaves you hungry, which is all we ask of a food movie. Read more

A.A. Dowd, AV Club: Narrowness of focus keeps the movie from becoming bloated with self-importance, but it also leaves it feeling a little inconsequential-more of a pleasing snack than a satisfying meal. Read more

Ty Burr, Boston Globe: If you love France and food, separately or in combination, you will almost certainly forgive Christian Vincent's workmanlike direction, the tedious score, and the near-total absence of dramatic conflict. Read more

Sheri Linden, Los Angeles Times: If the material lacks a distinctive flavor profile, its restraint is its strength. The focus on a woman's passionate hard work without need of marital-status back story is refreshing. Read more

Jordan Hoffman, New York Daily News: When a movie's high-stakes moment is whether a cream cheese should be considered dessert, it's hard not to motion for the check. Read more

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: Haute Cuisine is an epicurean dream where the dishes conjured up by the characters are as essential to the experience as the characters themselves. Read more

Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle: "Haute Cuisine" is a bonbon, not of a full-course meal. Read more

Bruce Demara, Toronto Star: With a title like Haute Cuisine, one can expect a high degree of gastronomic titillation. On that score, the film delivers. Read more

Stephen Garrett, Time Out: Those with a yen for food porn (especially truffle fetishists) will feast. All others may want to order something else off the menu. Read more

Chuck Wilson, Village Voice: Writer-director Christian Vincent and co-writer Etienne Comar, aided by Frot's quiet intensity, imbue Hortense's quest to pull off culinary miracles with an urgency that's almost absurdly compelling, and all the more entertaining for it. Read more