5. Dinner & A Movie

Eat Pray Love is a movie speaking through the perspective of a woman named Liz. In the beginning of the movie it gives us a background of Liz's life. She just got divorced from her husband and now is trying to forget about committing into relationships that are never going to work out, rather she is going to travel to different places to define who she is and do something she loves which is eat. The first place she went was to Italy. Where they were famous for their pizza and spaghetti. Liz wanted to learn the Italian language and thought it would be an essential for when she speaks to people living there. After she had stayed at Italy for a couple of weeks enjoying everything they had to offer like ice-cream at her favorite bakery. After she had left Italy she experienced severe depression that caused her to loose a ton of weight. One of the ways she could reduce it was to get meditation. As it is India is considered the best destination for treatment. And so Liz went to India to practise silent meditation at Guru Ashram's so she can relieve her stress from her seperation from her husband. Her last trip was to Bali, Indonesia. Through her stay she drew affection towards a Brazilian man named Felipe. Surprisingly to know he was also divorced like Liz. The plot of the story is that Liz is actually in love with Felipe, but she is scared to admit it and scared about her future that she runs away from him. On the way she meets up with Ketut her friend that Liz helps learn how to speak english. Ketut explains to her that you don't need an equal balance between life and love. After having a wise conversation, she returns to find Felipe and he awaits there with a boat at a beautiful sunset.

The main message that I thought was present in this movie was that Liz had to let go of all the things that has hurt her in the past, and experience a whole new different thing. It is said do something you love and enjoy it rather then doing something and not having any joy in it. In the case of the movie, Liz thought that she would love having a husband and thought about the responsibilities she would have to take in the future, and discovered this isn't actually what she wants to do all her life. Instead she decides to re-invent herself and have a fresh new start to her life. 

The overall rating I would give this movie is a 3/5. The reason I gave this rating is because I honestly thought it would be a good movie, not that it wasn't, it was just kind of boring. Before I watched this movie I read many movie reviews and it seemed good. But like for example, in the case of India I imagined that it would be more exciting since they have many things like elephants and cows roaming around on the streets. But I never seen any of those things. My favorite destination that Liz went to had to be Italy. The reason I would say Italy is because there was so many delicious foods that I have encountered like; ice cream, cake, spaghetti, etc. It caught my attention through the food. As for Indonesia it was also a fun part to watch because that it was where Liz fell in love again and it showed how changed of a person she has become after all the sorrows she experienced in her past life.

The overall inspiration I took from this movie was majorly because she was in my favorite and most desirable destination I want to go one day. Since it was I thought about some very famous dishes that were commonly served in Italy. Dishes included; risotto, spaghetti, pasta and such. I decided to do spaghetti, but I never did the normal type with just tomatoe sauce instead I made a special type of spaghetti called, "Spaghetti Carbonara". This consisted of paramesan cheese, bacon, egg, and pepper. It was so delicious. I wanted to try something unique instead of the ordinary normal pizza. Another reason I chose to do spaghetti is because my aunt that died from breast cancer when she was 30 used to make me this when we were little at her house. I never ate it for a couple of years now and so I decided to make this so it can bring back my childhood memories I had. For my starter I made baked Italian wedges which consisted of olive oil, basil, garlic, potatoes, and cheese. This was also inspired from the movie since it was set in Italy. Not only that I also wanted to incorporate something in the dish that I loved. I just loved potato chips so I had to find a recipe that had many potatoes in it. And this is what I found. The whole inspiration I took from the movie to incorporate in the dinner and movie meal for a special someone all came from Italy. 

Menu

Starter - Baked Italian Potato Wedges

Baked potatoes sauteed with olive oil, basil and garlin all finely toped with white cheddar cheese
 
Main Meal - Spaghetti Carbonara

Delicious spaghetti accompanied with crisp bacon stirred in egg and sprinkled with black pepper and white cheddar  cheese for extra topping of amazement.

Starter - Baked Italian Potato Wedges

Ingredients:
3 potatoes
2 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tablespoon dried basil
1/2 tablespoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
2 1/2 tablespoons fresh white cheddar cheese or pramasen, grated 

Directions:
Step 1 -  Preheat the oven to 425 degrees

Step 2 - Cut each potato in half length wise and then quarter each half to make potato edges

Step 3 - Arrange the wedges on a baking tray with the skin side down

Step 4 - In a bowl mix together the oil, herbs and garlic salt

Step 5 - Brush the oil mixture onto each potato wedge or just dip it if you don't have a brush

Step 6 - Sprinkle the grated cheese over the wedges

Step 7 - Put in the oven and bake for about 25 to 35 minutes or until done depending on the thickness of your wedges and Serve! :D

Meal - Spaghetti Carbonara

Ingredients:

7 ounces dry spaghetti
5 ounces bacon, cut into small pieces
5 ounces grated Parmesan cheese or white cheddar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
black pepper 

 

Directions:
 

Step 1 - Cut bacon into small pieces

  

Step 2 - Boil water with salt, then add spaghetti

 

Step 3 - Put the bacon in a pan without oil and cook over medium-low heat slowly until the fat will become transparent. Then increase the heat and let it skip a few minutes to make it crispy.

 

Step 4 - In a large bowl, beat the egg, egg yolk and add half the Parmesan and plenty of black pepper chopped at the time. 

Step 5 - When everything is ready place to cook spaghetti, salt water and when they are ready drain (save a bit 'of water) and pour immediately into the bowl with the eggs, stirring quickly. 

Step 6 - Serve immediately spaghetti into the egg, yolk and cheese and stirr. 

Serve the carbonara completing the courses with more pepper and white cheddar cheese.