Ilana Kaplan's Delulu Dinner Party

The Nora Ephron-inspired dinner party of our dreams!

This Halloween week, I’ve recently discovered the magic of blueberry iced coffee. Something for which Sally from When Harry Met Sally would read me to absolute filth. 

It’s the canonical time of year to watch the autumnal films of writer-director Nora Ephron, whose ratatat monologues and enviable knitwear game defined a generation of romantic comedies. 

Culture writer and Ephron historian Ilana Kaplan has just published the definitive, illustrated guide to her work, with her new book Nora Ephron at the Movies, available for purchase today, October 29th. The monograph includes sumptuous imagery, detailed criticism, and exclusive interviews with Ephron’s key collaborators. 

Food is not only essential to Ephron’s filmography in works like Heartburn and Julie & Julia, but Ephron herself was lauded for her dinner party prowess. So much so, that she even had dinner party guidelines! (They work best with round tables, and should always serve a meat, a starch, and a vegetable, with one unexpected fourth element). 

To celebrate the launch of Nora Ephron at the Movies, I invited Ilana to share her dream, Nora-inspired Delulu Dinner party with us. It’s going to make you feel FOMO for something that doesn’t exist. 

To start, which actors or characters from the Nora Ephron universe are you inviting to your dinner party? 

Kathleen Kelly from You’ve Got Mail. Vinnie, the larger-than-life mobster from My Blue Heaven. And Meryl Streep’s Julia Child from Julie & Julia — we’d get to enjoy her classic cooking and her amazing voice. 

For a Nora Ephron themed party, what’s the dress code? If you could wear any outfit from one of her films as the host, what would you pick? 

For the dress code, everyone needs to wear bowler hats, chunky knit sweaters, and mom or dad jeans. 

For me personally, my Nora style icons are Kathleen and Sally. I love a good cardigan, a little jumper, a little turtleneck. And I love a fisherman’s sweater. 

Which Nora Ephron movie soundtrack(s) are you playing in the background? 

Definitely Carly Simon, because she scored Heartburn. If we’re going more modern, a little Phoebe Bridgers and Bon Iver. I’d also want some Stevie Nicks, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, and The Cranberries mixed in. 

This party definitely needs a signature cocktail. What are you serving? 

A mulled wine, or maybe an apple cider sangria. 

In your new book, Nora Ephron at the Movies, you discuss the role food and food writing plays in her work. What Nora-inspired meal is on the menu tonight? 

We would have to have a salad with the famous salad dressing from Heartburn. And the spaghetti carbonara, which is what Meryl and Jack have after they have sex. 

We could do a beef bourguignon for Julie & Julia. Oh, and Nora also had a favorite meatloaf — it’s not in any of the movies, it was from a restaurant. She’s probably the only person who could make me want to eat meatloaf. 

Part of what makes Ephron’s films so rewatchable is the witty dialogue and emphasis on the power of conversation between friends. What are some go-to ice breakers, topics, or games you would deploy to keep your guests entertained? 

Definitely charades, because that’s very When Harry Met Sally. I wouldn’t want Vinnie to be my charaders partner, though. I’d have to go with Kathleen. 

As you’re clearing the plates, your celebrity crush barges in and professes their love to you in a charming, witty, and slightly self-deprecating plaudit. Who is it? 

Adam Brody. 

In When Harry Met Sally, Sally has very specific requirements for a slice of diner pie. In that spirit, what are you serving for dessert, as specifically as possible?

A classic brownie always needs a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. And a dash of fudge that’s not too syrupy — you want the right ice cream to syrup ratio. 

Once all your guests leave and you can finally relax, which Nora Ephron movie are you throwing on before you go to bed? 

You’ve Got Mail. 

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Nora Ephron At The Movies is available to purchase NOW TODAY. You can follow Ilana Kaplan on Instagram. 

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