Dinner and a show: Grit, heart, Texas

Welcome to Dinner & A Show, your weekly movie and dinner pairing for a date night in, or when you are just looking for good ideas for something new.

Every week I’ll share a movie or show suggestion, a meal pairing, and a snack. Because what is watching anything without snacks? And I’m no chef, but I do love good food. I’ll either include specific recipes or give you the general instructions and let you experiment. Also, I encourage you to avoid watching the trailer or reading up on a show in advance. It’s nice to let yourself be surprised and let the story unfold in the way the director intended.

Some will be classics you will want to watch again. Others might be new to you and worth a shot. I’ll include my favourites, and try not to be too obscure, trendy or pretentious.

Thanks for being here. Let’s get to it!

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This week’s pick: Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

Matthew McConaughey gives an incredible performance here. I think it’s his best ever, although True Detective Season 1 is right up there.

It’s the true story of Ron Woodroof. A powerful drama full of human emotion that tackles corporate greed, fear, isolation, acceptance, and compassion. I’ll leave it there. If you want to know more, watch it!

Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, Jennifer Garner, Denis O’Hare, Steve Zahn, Dallas Roberts, Griffin Dunne, Kevin Rankin.

Rotten Tomatoes: 92% Tomatometer, 91% Popcornmeter. 

Awards: 6 Oscar nominations, 3 wins. Best Actor (McConaughey), Best Supporting Actor (Jared Leto), and Best Makeup and Hairstyling. 

Fun fact: the makeup budget was reportedly $250 for the entire shoot. 

Wild commitment: both leads drastically transformed for the roles. McConaughey lost nearly 50 lb, and Leto has said he lost around 40 lb. 

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For dinner:

The movie lives in Texas. So we’re going classic steakhouse. Texas-style ribeye + baked potato + blue cheese wedge salad + Cabernet Sauvignon (in the spirit of Ron Woodroof).

Steak: season ribeye with salt and coarse pepper, cook how you like it (cast iron or grill), then finish with a knob of butter and let it rest before slicing. Want a meatless option? Substitute the ribeye for a grilled portobello.

Baked potato: bake until soft, split, load with butter, sour cream, chives or green onion, salt and pepper.

Wedge salad: iceberg wedge, tomatoes, blue cheese dressing or crumbled blue cheese, bacon if you want.

Cabernet: Go for a Cabernet Sauvignon that’s dry, bold, and not too fancy. You want dark fruit, a little oak, and enough structure to stand up to ribeye.

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For a snack:

Homemade guac & chips. (Less preservatives if you make them yourself).

Homemade tortilla chips: cut corn tortillas into triangles, brush lightly with olive oil, sprinkle salt, bake at 375°F for 8 to 12 minutes (flip once) until crisp.

Guac: mash avocado with lime, salt, cilantro, and diced red onion.

*Serve with water. Yes, water.

Cabernet plus steak plus salty chips is a great night. Water is how you make it a great morning. You just gave your tastebuds what they were craving most. Now finish it off with what your body is craving most.

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Shopping list:

• Protein
  Ribeye steak (or cowboy ribeye, striploin, porterhouse)
  Bacon (optional)

• Produce
  Russet potatoes
  Iceberg lettuce
  Cherry tomatoes
  Chives or green onions
  Ripe avocados (2)
  Lime
  Cilantro
  Red onion

• Dairy
  Butter
  Sour cream
  Blue cheese dressing (or blue cheese)

• Pantry
  Kosher salt
  Coarse black pepper
  Corn tortillas
  Olive oil

• Drinks
  Cabernet sauvignon
  Water (sparkling or still)

*Substitute anything you are not digging. The goal is a great night, not a perfect plate.

Enjoy the show!

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Bonus recommendation: True Detective, Season 1

McConaughey and Woody Harrelson giving two of their best performances. So good.

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Dinner and a show is a weekly dinner and movie pairing newsletter with TV recommendations, date night at home ideas, and easy recipes designed to eliminate decision fatigue. Every issue includes a movie or series suggestion, a simple dinner to make at home, and a snack pairing, plus a short shopping list to make planning effortless. You’ll find cozy comfort meals, steakhouse-at-home nights, quick weeknight dinners, and snack upgrades that turn any watch into a full movie night experience. Whether you’re planning a romantic night in, a solo self-care night, or a low-key weekend routine, Dinner and a show gives you a complete dinner and entertainment plan in one email.

From the creators of Greetings, Earthling