Kung Fu Panda

I'm thrilled to showcase the beloved animated classic that started the concept of Foodie Moovies: Kung Fu Panda! Reflecting on the journey, it's hard to believe that Foodie Moovies began with a film I had little interest in watching, accompanied by pizza and popcorn. Fast forward three years, and what started as a casual movie just to spend some time with my boys has blossomed into a cherished tradition that the entire family eagerly anticipates each month.

If you're curious about the origins of Foodie Moovies and how it all came to be, I invite you to visit the About page, where you can dive deeper into the story behind this unique concept.

I’m excited to present a special menu that is not tied to a specific movie but is versatile enough to complement any of the Kung Fu Panda films—be it the original, the sequel, or the third installment. This menu is designed to enhance your viewing experience, allowing you to indulge in delectable dishes that resonate with the themes of adventure, friendship, and culinary delight found in the films. So gather your loved ones, get comfortable, and prepare for a fantastic night filled with great food and even better company as we honor the journey of Foodie Moovies together!

Kung Fu Panda: INSPIRED MOVIE MENU

Panda Rice Balls, Liquid Ch'i, Dragon Warrior Noodles and Mochi Dumplings

Movie Inspired Appetizer: Panda Rice Balls

Aren't these adorable! My kids loved them and they were very easy to make, however you will have to purchase a 3D baby rice mold set. I decided to purchase it because my kids love any and all rice balls so I will definitely be using it again. They look small but are actually a lot of rice. I only needed to make 2-3 pandas per kid and they almost didn't want to eat them because of how adorable they are! Check out the video at eatsamazing for step by step directions on how to make these.

NOTE: Serve these with some snow peas or broccoli and a teriyaki sauce for dipping.

Movie Inspired Drink: Liquid Ch'i

In traditional Chinese culture, qi or ch'i is believed to be a vital force forming part of any living entity. Qi translates literally as "air" and figuratively as "material energy", "life force", or "energy flow". Qi is the central underlying principle in Chinese traditional medicine and in Chinese martial arts. Kung Fu Panda 3 is all about ch'i and in the movie it was represented by a very bright green Jade stone, carved to look like the characters likeness. I was trying to look for a drink that also had this beautiful bright green color. I came across a green apple soda (delicious by the way) made by the company Jones. This soda is so bright it looks hazardous! but that's also what makes it look so cool. You can find these at any grocery store and are usually in the refrigerator section.

Movie Inspired Main Dish: Dragon Warrior Noodles

Po's dad (Mr. Ping) owns a noodle shop, in the 2nd movie he rebranded to take advantage of his son's new found fame but regardless which movie the noodles are the same, beef broth and noodles. I researched and bought a lot of noodles and ramen broth to try and find one that I could recommend to taste as close as possible as the real thing but to be honest it was those 99cent ramen packs that my kids and I found tasted the best. Obviously going to a ramen shop is ideal and that's usually where you'll find the best tasting Ramen but for a super easy, super cheap option you can't go wrong with Maruchan.

Movie Inspired Dessert: Mochi Dumplings

I know what you're thinking, how could I create this menu without those dumplings that Po loved so much. I was torn between dumplings and ramen for the main course but I figured out how to keep them both, mochi! This delicious dessert at least the vanilla flavor looks a lot like dumpligs! trust me your kids will love them. My favorite are the Trader Joe's brand and just in case your thinking, "Isn't mochi Japaneese?" Actually, mochi itself is a traditional Japanese food, Mantou finds it's roots in China. Eventually, it made its way across the East China Sea and Japan made it their own. The mochi dough in manju is often flavored while the center is traditionally a sweet bean filling. The flavors and history of mochi go way back!