Eat Pray Love Party

I feel like I am probably the only person who hasn't read Eat Pray Love–and now the movie is coming out this Friday. But for those of you who love to entertain, a movie premiere like this is the perfect excuse to get your girlfriends together. If you are one of the few that has not read the 2006 memoir, written by Elizabeth Gilbert, here is a quick recap: After a divorce and another failed relationship, Gilbert decided that she needed a drastic change, to get out of her depression. She spends the next year of her life traveling to three very different places. She goes to Italy to EAT. She goes to India to try to find her spirituality, PRAY. And to Bali, Indonesia to find balance and search for (you guessed it) LOVE.

If you plan on going to the movie or your book club has read it, get together and enjoy some good food and company, inspired by a movie that seems to have inspired many.

DECOR:

Accent the room with candles, incense holders, pillows or throws in jewel colors, with embellishments.

The Buddha statue and candle holders at right are from Overstock.com. The lanterns and pillow are from Pier 1 Imports.

MENU:

Start by giving each lady a prosecco drink like this one found at epicurious.com

Italian antipasto platter that includes prosciutto-wrapped pretzels, olives, Italian cheeses, fresh mozzarella balls and salami

Finger foods are always best. Here are a few recipes from allrecipes.com.

Pineapple, Lime and Ginger Soup

Indian Samosas

Indonesian Satay

Serve the soup in small porcelein bowls, like the sampler set at right from Pier 1 Imports. And set your food out on pewter trays, like the one at right from Overstock.com.

For dessert, try:

Maharani Cupcakes

Mango

Cream Puffs (a friend told me these are relevant to the story!)

TABLE TOPPERS:

Print out your favorite quotes from the book, attach them to toothpicks and use them to embellish your food buffet. Here are a couple I found:

"Guilt’s just your ego’s way of tricking you into thinking that you’re making moral progress"

"You know how some people look like their dogs? I think maybe you always look like your men"

FAVORS:

If your budget allows, treat each lady to an Eat, Pray, Love bookmark. Dogeared.com has a line of bookmarks (one shown right), luggage tags and jewelry inspired by the book and movie. Click here to see the line of bookmarks.

MUSIC:

Modern sitar music or you could play the movie soundtrack.

Have fun!