* * * ½

(All about food & family bonding)

We love movies about food and family as much as we like food and family.

Actor/director Jon Favreau combines the two in a lovely little film about a passionate chef who quits his job at a high-end restaurant, renovates an old food truck, bonds with his young son, and travels cross-country selling his “to die for” Cuban sandwiches. That’s about it. A simple story, told with love and caring, and hitting all the right buttons to please the audience.

Favreau plays Carl Casper, a talented chef who is frustrated when his boss (Dustin Hoffman) insists that he stick to his “greatest hits” menu when the powerful food critic shows up. The critic (Oliver Platt) gives him a bad revue, and Casper quits.

His ex-wife (Sofia Vergara) takes Carl and their adorable son (Emjay Anthony) to Miami, where she convinces him to buy an old food truck and make Cuban-style food.

His sous chef (John Leguizamo) and his son join him in the venture, and they travel from Florida to California, drawing huge crowds as they stop along the way in New Orleans, Austin, and other cities on their way to L.A.

What makes the movie so likeable are the relationships. Carl and his wife are divorced, yet they are still good friends. They care for their son and behave well around him. Carl’s problem is that his profession calls for long hours that make “quality time” difficult.

The long road trip provides a time for bonding, as father teaches 10-year-old son his cooking skills and son teaches father the intricacies of the Internet.

There’s a very satisfying ending in this lovely little movie that will make you smile and cheer the likeable characters on. And, oh, the food!

Rated R because of the profanity that occurs in most restaurant kitchens. Don’t let that stop you.