The days are getting shorter and there is a chill in the air. You know what that means, friends. Autumn is approaching which means it’s time to crack out the cosy films. First up on the list is a 90s classic. My You’ve Got Mail inspired fall movie night menu is just the ticket to create a food spread worthy of a movie night themed around this Nora Ephron hit.
Contents
- You’ve Got Mail (1998)
- You’ve Got Mail Fall Movie Night Menu
- Act One
- Pizza Bagels Recipe
- Act Two
- Act Three
- Apple Pie Bites Recipe
- Bonus Features
- Iced Tea Recipe
- Epilogue
- You’ve Got Mail Fall Movie Night Printable Menu
You’ve Got Mail (1998)
More often than not, movies are a hit for good reason. Writer and director, Nora Ephron, had a knack for making hit movies. In 1998, she gave audiences You’ve Got Mail – one of the most highly regarded rom-coms of all time.
Tom Hanks plays the big corporate businessman who threatens to put the cutest little bookshop out of business. A shop that is run by an enchanting woman – played by Meg Ryan – who also happens to be the woman that he has anonymously connected with online.
It’s a lovely story and an incredibly cosy film, especially around this time of year. Whilst the film spans across multiple seasons, a large portion of the plot occurs during the autumn and winter seasons. It’s one of the best autumnal movies out there, in my opinion.
“Don’t you love New York in the fall?”
I mean, You’ve Got Mail is a seasonal fan favourite, no matter which season you associate it with.
It has an energy of gentleness to it, making it a great cosy movie to snuggle up with.
I’m talking a hot cup of tea in hand, a blanket over your lap and a couple of subtly scented candles lit for ambience.
Plus, SNACKS. We can’t forgo the snacks.
My You’ve Got Mail themed fall movie night menu brings together food that features directly in the movie, as well as a couple of inspired pieces to really get a flavour for the movie and of New York City, no matter where you are in the world.
You’ve Got Mail Fall Movie Night Menu
Here is the image in text form, in case you prefer to see it in a different format rather than an image:
You’ve Got Mail Inspired Movie Night Menu
Act One
Brinkley’s sidewalk pizza bagels
Act Two
Park bench pretzels & apples
Act Three
“The best hot dogs in New York”
Apple pie bites
Bonus Features
Coffee to go for the indecisive
Iced tea with a lemon wedge
You can find the printable version of the menu graphic at the end of this post!
Act One
During the beginning of the movie, one of NY152’s (Hanks) messages to Shopgirl (Ryan) contains a remark about his dog, Brinkley, and his habit of eating pizza and bagels off the sidewalk. This is the inspiration for the first snack on this cosy fall movie night menu.
Rather than provide both bagels and pizza (although if this is your vibe, go with it), I have combined the two for a lighter snack to start.
Pizza bagels were something I grew up making and a dish that I still think is fun to create – and eat.
As pizza usually is, these pizza bagels are easily customisable, making them an ideal movie night snack!
Bagels are simple to make – see my Everything Everywhere All at Once bagel recipe – but it isn’t necessary to make them from scratch if you aren’t keen.
If you would prefer to simply make pizzas, be sure to check out my Home Alone inspired cheese pizza recipe and simply half the ingredients to make smaller pizzas.
Otherwise, grab yourself some bagels from your local shop or bakery. Here is a quick recipe for pizza bagels below, in case you’re new to this savoury delight:
Pizza Bagels Recipe
Serves: 2 (can be doubled etc. for larger yield)
Ingredients
- 2 bagels
- 6 tbsp pizza sauce or tomato puree
- Cheese of your choice i.e. mozzarella
- Toppings of your choice
- Pinch of dried oregano optional
Method
- Preheat your oven or grill at 200°C [390°F] or 180°C fan. Cut each bagel in half and lightly toast in the toaster first.
- Spread some pizza sauce on both halves, then top with cheese, your chosen toppings and the oregano.
- Pop the bagels on a lined baking tray or straight onto an oven tray and place in the oven or under the grill for about 3 – 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted and is slightly browned.
- Allow to cool a little for a moment, then cut into bite size pieces if desired.
Act Two
What becomes a rivalry miraculously shifts into an unlikely friendship. Joe and Kathleen begin to bump into each other regularly, spending more and more time together. Each time they delve into what NY152’s messages could possibly mean, with Joe in the know and Kathleen in the dark about NY152’s true identity.
One of these meet ups includes a chat on a bench. Joe appears to be eating pretzels and Kathleen is munching on an apple. This is the inspiration for the next addition to my You’ve Got Mail fall movie night menu!
You can absolutely make your own pretzels if you prefer, though most recipes I’ve seen online are for soft pretzels, like this one on Handle the Heat. If Tom Hanks’s crunching during this scene is anything to go by, I’d say he’s snacking on crunchy pretzels.
You can find hard pretzel snacks in the snack section of most larger supermarkets. As for the apples, simply get your favourite kind and chop them up for an easier eating experience.
Act Three
When I think of hot dogs, I think of NYC. Perhaps You’ve Got Mail has a lot to answer for in that respect! Particularly as Joe and Kathleen appear to visit a Gray’s Papaya for lunch and discuss Kathleen’s impending meeting with NY152 in person.
There is a sign outside the eatery that says they are the best hot dogs in New York. This scene is the inspiration behind the inclusion (and the name) of hot dogs.
Now, friends. I love making bread. I find it incredibly therapeutic and rewarding. I’ve already built up a collection of bread-based recipes on Flavour of the Film, including my Big Hero 6 inspired melon pan and my Kronk’s New Groove inspired raisin bread loaves.
You can make your own hot dog buns if you have the time and are wanting to make this fall movie night menu even more personal.
They are simple to make, especially when using recipes like this one by Lola of Chef Lola’s Kitchen.
But, if preferred, you can grab some from your local bakery or supermarket! The same goes for the hot dogs themselves. I mentioned in my Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End inspired menu (linked below) that there are loads of great burger recipes, including veggie ones.
You can use the recipes linked in that post to create sausages if you prefer to make them yourself. Otherwise, get your favourites from the shop – meat, veggie, vegan. Whatever floats your boat.
Finish with your favourite toppings and you’re good to go! I opted for ketchup and fried onions, but the options are numerous.
The other element I have included in Act Two of this You’ve Got Mail fall movie night menu is apple pie bites.
These are entirely optional – I simply wanted to include a little sweetness alongside the raw apples that feature in Act One.
I call them “apple pie bites” because they are essentially all of the elements of apple pie, just miniature! I devised a super easy recipe for them just to add an extra dash of sweetness to your You’ve Got Mail cosy movie night.
Apple Pie Bites Recipe
Makes: 12 bites
Ingredients
- 3 cooking apples i.e. Bramley
- 1 tbsp light brown sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 sheet ready rolled puff pastry
Method
- Preheat your oven to 200°C [390°F] or 180°C fan and line a baking tray. Set aside.
- Peel and chop the apples into small chunks. Place in a saucepan over medium heat and cook for 5 minutes or until softened but are still holding their shape.
- Once cooked, sprinkle over the sugar and cinnamon and mix well. Remove from the heat and leave to cool.
- Cut out 12 squares from your sheet of puff pastry. Do not roll the pastry with a rolling pin as it can diminish the lamination already set in the pastry sheet!
- Place the squares on your lined baking tray. Spoon a small amount of the apple pie mix into the centre of each square.
- Once you have used all of the apple pie mix, bring the corners of each pastry square up and together. Pinch the corners together and gently twist a little to create a dumpling shape. Repeat until you have 12 small dumplings.
- Bake in the oven on the middle shelf for around 10 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed, golden and dry to touch.
- Leave to cool for a few moments before serving. Alternatively, allow to cool completely, then store in the fridge in an airtight container before enjoying them cold.
Bonus Features
No movie night menu is complete without beverages. I say it in every menu post, but hydration is incredibly important. I will always advocate for water to be included (as a given) and/or liquids high in electrolytes like cow’s milk or coconut water.
Especially when a menu such as this one contains salty foods!
As far as themed drinks go, You’ve Got Mail warrants the obvious ones, and you can choose either.
Coffee is a staple in the movie – it even features as the main topic of one of NY152’s messages. He discusses how Starbucks allows the most indecisive people to make six decisions just to order a coffee. This is the inspiration behind the name!
The other option I have listed is iced tea. We first see it when Kathleen and Birdie are having lunch. On the table are sandwiches and iced teas complete with a lemon wedge each.
Iced tea is so simple and quick to make, so I have set out a recipe for it.
I haven’t listed alcohol in this menu, but you can absolutely divulge in your favourite glass of vino if you are of the legal drinking age in your country.
Iced Tea Recipe
Serves: 1 (can be doubled etc. for a larger yield)
Ingredients
- 1 black tea bag i.e. Rooibos or English Breakfast
- 1 fresh lemon
- 1 tsp light brown sugar
- 250ml [1 cup] water
Method
- Place the tea bag in a large glass and brew with a small splash of hot water. Sprinkle in the sugar and stir in the hot water to dissolve. Leave for 2 minutes, then pour 250ml cold water into the glass.
- Remove the tea bag and squeeze the remnants into the glass.
- Cut the lemon in half. Squeeze the juice of half of the lemon into the tea and stir.
- Cut the other half of the lemon into a large wedge. Slice the lemon wedge fruit side mid way in and slide onto the edge of the glass. Finish by putting a few ice cubes in before serving.
Epilogue
There you have it, friends. The ultimate fall movie night menu for a You’ve Got Menu cosy movie night!
As mentioned throughout, a few of the dishes included are customisable, so feel free to make it your own. Don’t forget to light a couple of candles and lay out some blankets for ambience!
For those of you wanting to display the menu alongside your food spread, you can find the printable menu below. Enjoy!
Check out my other themed menus!
- Bridgerton inspired afternoon tea menu
- Lilo & Stitch movie night menu
- Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End watch party menu
- Bluey themed party menu
You’ve Got Mail Fall Movie Night Printable Menu
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