Like Water for Chocolate

Tita de la Garza is born in the kitchen of the family hacienda amidst a torrent of her own tears. After years apart, Tita is reunited with Pedro, her childhood sweetheart, as teenagers still in love. He, transformed by his studies, wants to change the world. At the Centennial Ball, Pedro declares his love for Tita and plans to ask for her hand, but both ignore the plans of Mama Elena, Tita's mother and matriarch of the hacienda. To overcome maternal opposition, Tita devises a plan for Pedro to offer a valuable gift. However, when he asks for her hand, Mama Elena says: "Tita will never leave this house". Meanwhile, family secrets are revealed. Finally, Mamá Elena announces: "Pedro will marry Rosaura", frustrating Tita and Pedro's love.

Tita, hurt by Pedro and Rosaura's wedding, senses a secret in Mama Elena. Rosaura questions the decision of her mother, who argues the need to secure the hacienda. In the Muzquiz hacienda, a conflict leads to the eviction of the Alejandrez, a family of farmhands, friends of Pedro. On the eve of the wedding, rebels storm the hacienda, but Pedro avoids bloodshed. During the wedding, Tita's tears in the cake spread sadness to the guests. Nacha dies after tasting it. Mama Elena accuses Tita of ruining the wedding. After Nacha's funeral, Pedro confesses to Tita that he married to be near her. Tita kisses him but refuses to be his lover. Rosaura takes out some letters from Pedro to Tita that she stole, revealing her love for him.

Tita, now the cook of Las Palomas, avoids Pedro but secretly desires him. Rosaura and Pedro have not consummated their marriage. Nicolás, the foreman, leaves the hacienda with several farmhands after demanding higher wages. Pedro commits himself to the Revolution. He gives roses to Tita, who uses them to cook quail in rose petals. The dish awakens intense sexual desire in everyone, except Rosaura who refuses to eat. Gertrudis, inflamed by carnal desire, escapes from the hacienda with Juan Alejandrez to go with the rebels. Mama Elena gives her up for dead and demands that Rosaura consummate her marriage. Tita visits Gertrudis in the rebel camp, who encourages her to seek her own happiness. Inspired, Tita proposes to Pedro that they run away together, but discovers that Rosaura is pregnant.