The Most Iconic Food Moments In TV History

Food and television  — like peanut butter and chocolate, it's a match made in heaven. In fact, whether it's commercials, product placements, or food-based storylines, TV and food have gone hand in hand for nearly a century. From appearances in countless fictional TV series, to the multitude of food-centric networks and cooking shows, TV and food have always maintained a close-knit association.

Which makes perfect sense! After all, a large reason why televised entertainment exists in the first place is to reflect human life, and very few things play a more vital role in human existence than food. The prominent place that food has in TV's landscape is only natural, mirroring the role that all things food-related have in our everyday lives.

Given the innate connection and long standing relationship between food and TV, it begs the question: what are the most iconic food moments in television history? There's no shortage of options –- even if you focus solely on fictional moments, as we'll do here –- but it's a fun task to consider. So let's see what makes the cut, and highlight those eternally iconic food moments that have been etched in TV lore.

While the "Soup Nazi" may get more publicity, it can't top the character-driven ridiculousness that unfolds as George Costanza (Jason Alexander) attempts to replace a loaf of bread in "The Rye" (Season 7, Episode 11). Based on a real incident from writer Carol Leifer's life (via Vanity Fair), the episode adds layer upon layer of absurdity as it progresses, starting with an aggrieved Frank Constanza fighting for the social grace of being served cake as a guest.

Discovering his father spitefully stole back the titular marble rye he'd brought to a party ("but you gave it to them!"), George concocts a plan to replace the stolen loaf while his future in-laws (the parents of his ill-fated fiancee, Susan) are out of the house. What seems foolproof –- Jerry buys the bread, while Kramer (Michael Richards) distracts Susan's parents with a horse-drawn carriage ride – quickly devolves into an organically silly mess.

First, Jerry arrives too late to purchase a marble rye, and, in desperation, resorts to mugging an old lady for the bread like a common thief ("shut up, you old bag!"). Then, after Kramer feeds his horse cans of Beefareeno ("what a delicious cuisine-o!"), the horse becomes unbearably flatulent, cutting the carriage ride short. This leads to the episode's iconic final shot, and crowning moment: George using a fishing rod to reel up the enormous bread through the window, then proudly holding the line like he'd caught an award-winning trout.

Walter White (Bryan Cranston) may have been the one who knocked, but if the person on the other side of the door didn't answer? Well, he was prone to lash out impulsively –- even if the only victim at his disposal was a gigantic pizza.

In a series chock full of memorable moments, few may be as iconic as an angry Walt frisbeeing a pizza onto his roof in a white-hot rage (pun intended). Featuring a restaurant that doesn't cut their pizza –- then they "pass the savings on to you," Badger (Matt Jones) later explains –- the uncut pie was crucial to the scene's success, ensuring it landed on the roof in perfect condition.

Beyond the astounding fact that the pizza flies and lands so elegantly, the scene from "Caballo sin Nombre" (Season 3, Episode 2) may resonate because it captures Walt in a nutshell: assuming he can outsmart everyone, and charm his way into anything. His belief that a halfhearted peace offering of fast-casual Italian food ("I got dipping sticks!") can wipe away the recent revelation that he'd become a drug dealer was laughable -– and heartbreaking.

The scene proved so popular that fans have eagerly attempted to recreate the feat at the actual house in Albuquerque since its original airing. However, the pizza prank's frequency became such a nuisance to the home's owners, that none other than Vince Gilligan had to step in and implore fans to stop (via Time).

Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) loved waffles, as much as –- and, potentially, even more than –- her friends (as long as "work is third"). Her adoration for waffles was one of the character's defining traits, something perfectly illustrated in "Flu Season" (Season 3, Episode 2), beginning with the revelation that she had spent more than $1000 on waffles alone the previous year at Pawnee's famous JJ's Diner.

The episode that renowned TV critic, Alan Sepinwall, called the one he'd recommend to someone who'd never seen the show, it includes showcase moments for every major character. But as one of the earliest indications of the budding romance between Leslie and her future husband, Ben Wyatt (Adam Scott), it stands above all other waffle-based moments from the show.

After Leslie is hospitalized with the flu, she sneaks out against all medical advice, and delivers a passionate and successful sales pitch for the upcoming Harvest Festival (in a performance Ben likens to a "flu-ridden Michael Jordan" during the NBA Finals). She returns to the hospital afterwards, where Ben brings her a container of his family's homemade chicken soup, and a takeout container with waffles from JJ's. Leslie snubs the soup, of course, leading to the iconic image of her housing a waffle with her bare hands.

There's no denying how close the main characters were on "Friends," and no scene may demonstrate their collective bond better than their reactions to Rachel's trifle in "The One Where Ross Got High" (Season 6, Episode 9). Between Rachel's (Jennifer Aniston) oblivious eagerness to show off her baking efforts, and the group's incredible willingness to pretend the dessert is actually good ("it tastes like feet!"), the episode remains iconic because it stays true to who the core group was.

Rachel's struggle to overcome her spoiled childhood was one of her defining characteristics, and her desire to establish true independence drove much of the character's journey. This is evident in her decision to make the "only" dessert for that year's Thanksgiving meal, as well as the almost-incomprehensible way she naively follows a cookbook's bizarre recipe -– which, thanks to pages being stuck together, is actually a combination of an English trifle and shepherd's pie.

The pride with which she explains her ingredients ("beef, sauteed with peas and onions") is almost too much to handle. Ditto her friends' efforts to simultaneously spare her feelings and avoid eating the nasty dessert, complete with over-the-top yummy mannerisms taught by Joey (Matt LeBlanc) -– who, of course, actually did like the odd dessert ("Custard? Good! Jam? Good! Meat? Good!"). The episode remains a classic Thanksgiving-themed episode, even inspiring a trifle recipe in tribute (via Food Network) -– sans the savory components.

The characters may have rapidly grown since we first laid eyes on the Hawkins, Indiana party in 2016. But the sight of a bald-headed Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) devouring Eggo waffles may still be the first thing that springs to mind for many fans. The connection between Eggos and "Stranger Things" is so immense that the circular breakfast treat played a prominent role in the mobile game, "Stranger Things: 1984," where players had to collect eight Eggos in order to unlock Eleven (via All Gamers).

While it's difficult to dispel the notion that Eleven and Eggos is little more than a modified version of "E.T." and Reese's Pieces, the character's obsession with the processed food still resonated in many ways with fans (via Food & Wine). And one scene in particular, from "The Monster" (Season 1, Episode 6), best displays what makes the telekinetic girl's love for frozen, processed waffles so iconic.

When a dirty, ravaged Eleven ("El, for short") goes to a store, and confidently grabs several boxes of Eggos from the freezer, it's the moment she truly breaks free from her lab-hidden past. Embracing her new friends (calling a store employee a "mouth breather," a la Mike), and autonomy over her powers, she confidently struts out of the store without paying for the Eggos –- leaving a trail of exploding glass in her wake as she wipes a drop of blood from her nose.

One of the defining sketches from the original Not Ready For Primetime Players run, Dan Aykroyd's silly, satirical take on the uniquely charismatic Julia Child, as "The French Chef," remains just as funny in 2022 as it was when it first aired (Season 4, Episode 8). A lovingly gentle impersonation of a true American icon –- whose personal kitchen is on display at the Smithsonian -– the sketch not only delighted comedy fans across the country; it was loved by the chef herself, who "thought it was terribly funny," according to the book, "The French Chef in America" (from an excerpt via My Little Bird).

Based (somewhat) on a real-life incident where the famed chef did, in fact, cut her hand on TV, the famous sketch doesn't mock the titular "French Chef" as much as exaggerate her quirky mannerisms. The first half of the sketch includes some goofy wordplay ("spread it on a sa-hall-tine"), and a long-winded endorsement for saving the liver (which comes back several times throughout the sketch). But what most people remember, of course, is the slight cut when deboning a chicken ... that just keeps gushing and gushing.

Dan Aykroyd was never better than when he flops around stage, hopelessly trying to stem the bleeding. Eventually, having lost buckets of blood, Aykroyd-as-Julia keels over –- imploring, one last time, to "save the liver!" before passing out.

It may not have been the type of lesson that required the services of a certain one-armed man, but that's probably because no one needed to be taught that you don't touch the cornballer. The telltale burns left by the kitchen appliance –- that was illegal everywhere but Mexico (where it was also banned, but still sold by George Sr.) –- were lessons enough for the extended Bluth clan.

An essential tradition of the Bluth family, the cornballer made appearances in eight episodes throughout the show's run (via NPR), beginning with its first one in "Bringing Up Buster" (Season 1, Episode 3). In a scene that establishes the cornballer's myth and monumental danger (each illustrated during the flashback to a cornballer infomercial co-starring Richard Simmons), the dangerously hot, iconic deep fryer leaves its mark by scalding Michael (Jason Bateman) –- twice -– and Tobias (David Cross).

Proving its inherent danger and comedic potential, the cornballer left a lasting impression on viewers. From the Spanish-dubbed infomercial version ("Soy loco por los cornballs!") to Michael screaming at the machine ("cornballing piece of ... !"), the cornballer was the gift that kept giving laughs – and scars.