So I recently went to see Eat, Pray, Love with my sister and some friends at the Cinebistro!  The only movie related dining experiences I remember prior to this are the ones that included big greasy buckets of popcorn and large fizzy drinks that make you have to pee during the most important part of the movie. 

I also remember as a small child we’d go to the old-time theater in town which had a very large, velvety, maroon curtain covering the screen! Right before the movie, the lights would dim, the intro music would start and this curtain would rise in gathered scallops!  About halfway through the movie there’d be an intermission and the cigarette girls would come around selling ice cream Cornettos!  I wonder if they still do that? Hmmmm?  Anyway I digress… back to the Cinebistro! 

We arrived a half hour early as instructed and we’re seated in lovely plush armchairs with little swing around tabletops!  My sister and I were well chuffed as you can or maybe can’t  tell by this very poorly taken cell phone picture. *grin*

We were treated like royalty by waiters and waitresses decked out in tuxedo shirts who brought us Menus and cutlery wrapped in black cloth napkins! Feeling right posh my sister and I decided to share a Chicken BLT sandwich and sweet potato fries that were so yummy! 

 Our food was served to us as we sat in the big comfy seats, we could even order a wee drinky poo if we wanted!  After we finished our meal our popcorn was brought out to us in a lovely ceramic looking bowl!   It was fabulous and I would recommend everyone try it at least once! 

The movie was fantastic and parts of it were very nostalgic for me, like when Julia went to Italy!  As a child I was lucky enough to live in Naples, Italy for two years.  So seeing some of the sights, the  food and the hand gestures in the movie reminded me of my time spent there.  Especially the hand gestures!  I remember my Italian babysitter Lucia used to bite and shake her hand whenever her son Edwardo and I did something we weren’t supposed to!  The kissing and grabbing of cheeks (face of course) was very big over there too!

My sister and I loved Julia’s take on eating pizza and buying big girl pants!  We had a chuckle when Julia and her friend tried in vain to zip up their pants in the changing room after gorging on pasta and pizza!  I think we could definitely relate, we’ve had many a giggle in department store changing rooms.

It was definitely one of those movies that left me with warm fuzzies and made me want to head out to the nearest budhist temple to chant and go on my own personal quest for life.  I loved all the different characters and how each taught Julia a different lesson in life.  Overall, for me, a great movie!

After the movie we headed over to the hotel where my friends were having a little party and staying overnight.  They’d decorated the room to match the movie.

They’d even set up a little area  for chanting “Nam myoho renge kyo… Ommmm!”  🙂

 And there was food from all the different regions in the movie.

I unsuccessfully tried to sneak away with the espresso brownies!  Not that I need the extra poundage!

All in all though it was a top night with great friends and I think a fun time was had by all!