Remy, the son of the rat clan's leader, has a gift. He is blessed with a passion/talent for cooking. When his gift is abused by his clan, Remy is forced to rely on humans to help develop it. Remy is separated from his clan one day and discovers that he has been living in Paris all his life, near a restaurant called Gusteau's, which was once a fine dining experience but is now a laughing stock. Remy's career takes off when he meets a clumsy but determined young boy named Linguini, an employee at the restaurant. Can the two work together to redeem the good name of Gusteau's?

Recap
_____________________________

     Remy, a young gray rat, is rummaging through some garbage with his plump brown brother, Emile. Remy notices a piece of food and rushes over, closing his eyes and distinguishing its contents. Emile, overhearing, gushes effusive praise at his brother talents. [Voice over, Remy says that his brother is easily impressed.] But his father, who also happens to be the leader of the rat clan Remy is citizen to, reprimands him and tells him to get back to work. However, Remy's gift quickly proves its worth as he saves a rat from eating poison, able to identify its scent. Impressed with his son's talent, Remy's father appoints him poison checker, and Remy, looking awfully bored, is forced to spend his days sniffing food when he really longs to cook.
     Remy sneaks into the human's quarters of the house he and his clan live in. There he witnesses the prowess of a chef, Chef Gusteau. He begins making annual trips, following the chef's tips and using the human's spices to create recipes. Emile, his best friend as well as brother, is Remy's only supporter in his secret dream. However, even he is reticent when Remy suggests they break into the human's house to use her saffron. He then sees Gusteau on TV, and his horrified by what he hears. Gusteau's restaurant was once 5 stars, but a harsh food critic (Anton Ego) knocked down a star, devastating Gusteau and leading to his eventual death. The human, an old woman armed with a gun, awakes and spots the two rats, then shoots at them. Soon she has mistakenly shot the rat clan down and they evacuate. Remy is separated and discovers he has been living underneath Paris all his life.     
     Gusteau continues to appear throughout the movie as a figure of Remy's imagination. Through his guidance, Remy fixes a horrible tasting soup. However, he is captured by a young man named Linguini, who receives orders to exterminate him. In the end, Linguini, who proves to have no cooking talent, cannot bring himself to kill the rat and comes to realize Remy's ability to communicate with him. He agrees to release Remy on the condition that he help him remake a delicious soup. Remy agrees, but upon being freed, flees, snickering. However, when he sees Linguini's heartbrokenness, he returns, and lives with him. Linguini's home is broken down, and 'not much', but Remy makes himself comfortable in an oven mitt and a bird's eye view of Paris. The two bond and Linguini calls him Little Chef. They discover that Linguini can be controlled by tugging on his hair, and use the method to help him in the kitchen. Linguini eventually gains feelings for the only female chef, Colette.
     Meanwhile, the owner of the restaurant, Skinner, discovers that Linguini is Gusteau's son, and the rightful heir of the restaurant. Desperate to preserve the secret from Linguini, he hides the proof-which Remy finds and through a heroic effort shows Linguini, who then fires Skinner for his cruelty. Anton Ego, the critic that condemned the restaurant so long ago, sees its fame return and comes back to review it. Meanwhile Skinner discovers Remy, and reports a rat infestation with a health inspector. Remy is reunited with his family, who strongly disapprove of his friendship with the now wealthy Linguini. Remy defends his friend, promising to visit often. Remy's dad tries to convince him otherwise, but Remy is firm. Meanwhile, the fired Skinner discovers that Remy is Linguini's secret to success and hatches a plot to capture the rat. However, when he gets too full of himself and almost ruins Linguini's relationship with Colette, Linguini is angered and tells him to cool it.
     Remy retaliates, leading his clan in for a raid. Linguini apologizes, but then expels Remy and his clan when he sees they are stealing. Remy, guilty, abandons the raid. However, upon his departure, Emile follows him, and accidently triggers a trap. Skinner then kidnaps Remy and blackmails him into servitude using the threat of death. Remy is later rescued by his clanmates, and they proceed to serve Ratatouille, winning back the 5 stars. However, the restaurant is shut down due to the rat infestation, and Anton, who lost his credibility, becomes a changed man, dealing in investment. Remy and Linguini, who has finally found his talent as a roller-skating waiter, open their own restaurant, for both humans and rats, called La Ratatouille, and are now closer than ever.