WRITTEN and directed by Jon Favreau, this uplifting confection works to a tried and tested recipe of triumph against adversity, and taps into the rising popularity of food trucks as a lunchtime hangout for famished American office workers.

The culinary wizard responsible for this raging hunger is Carl Casper (Favreau), who is the star attraction at a Los Angeles restaurant owned by Riva (Dustin Hoffman). For prestigious food critic Ramsey Michel (Oliver Platt) Carl is talked out of trying a new tasting menu with sous chef Tony (Bobby Cannavale), line cook Martin (John Leguizamo) and sassy hostess Molly (Scarlett Johansson).

As a result Carl publicly quits his job. Ex-wife Inez (Sofia Vergara) invites Carl to accompany her and their young son Percy (Emjay Anthony) to Miami and the chef transforms a worn-out vehicle into a mobile eaterie par excellence with help from Percy and Martin.

Favreau and Anthony are an adorable pairing, and Robert Downey Jr injects ribald humour to his fleeting scenes as Inez’s germ-phobic first ex-husband. Heartfelt scenes