Kicking off our envelope-pull date night adventure with cupcakes, curry, and a whole lot of loft vibes!
Why Theme Dinner Date Nights?
This is the first of many theme dinner date nights for me and my other half—and honestly, it feels like the perfect way to celebrate nearly 15 years together this November! Over time, between kids, work, and life’s whirlwind, we’ve barely managed a proper date.
After seeing those dreamy Instagram posts of theme dinner nights, I thought: why not us? It’s the perfect mix of indulgent food, trying new dishes, and having fun without leaving home (the introvert in me is thrilled 🛋️✨). Sometimes we’ll dress up, sometimes we won’t. The idea is to treat ourselves, relax, and just enjoy being together.
Here’s the setup: I prepped a bunch of wax-sealed envelopes (yes, I went that extra 🔮), each hiding a theme menu inside. OH picks one blindly, and I take over from there. The food might be homemade, store-bought, or a mix of both—because this isn’t about flexing cooking skills. It’s about flavour, laughter, and memories.
Even the kids threw in theme ideas, so some nights will turn into family date nights too.
And for our very first one? We pulled… New Girl 🎉
The Menu 🍴
I kept it simple, themed, and full of character—just like the show. Here’s what was on our table:
🧀 Starter: Nick’s Bar Nachos
Messy, cheesy, and dangerously addictive—just like Nick Miller’s life choices.
I skipped salsa and jalapeños (not OH’s thing) and instead piled beef mince, onion, garlic, mild chilli powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and a melty 4-cheese blend. Chaotic, hearty, and exactly what Nick would serve at the bar.
🍛 Main & Sides: Cece’s Curry Night
I’m a spice fiend (madras lover over here 🌶️🔥), but for balance we went creamy tikka masala. Served with basmati rice and fluffy naan, it was rich, comforting, and bold enough to give Cece her moment.
🧁💖 Dessert: Jess’s Pink Cupcakes
Because what’s a New Girl night without something pink and adorkable?
I baked vanilla cupcakes, swirled on pink buttercream, sprinkled pink sugar, dusted pink lustre, and topped them with leftover butterfly toppers. A rom-com in cupcake form.
🥤 Drink: Winston’s Mystery Punch
Winston had to be the wildcard.
We went mocktail: cranberry juice, orange juice, a splash of lime, and lime sherbet over ice. Fizzy, fruity, and mysterious enough to make you wonder if Winston sabotaged it.
Decor & Set Up 🎉
Confession time: I don’t actually have a dining table right now (flat life struggles 🙃). So the entire set-up took place on my long kitchen counter – the same one I use for my laptop and stitching photos. Not exactly glamorous, but it worked perfectly for this!
- Fairy lights woven across the counter 🌟
- Faux wildflowers in mason jars 🌸
- A plaid tablecloth—hello, Nick’s flannel vibes 👕
- Printouts of iconic quote moments as mini signs 🖼️
- DIY True American rules booklet for chaos later 🍻
- Custom place cards for each dish 🏷️
The result? Cosy, playful, and pure loft energy.
The Night 🎬
We started with Season 1, Episode 1. His reaction at first? Total indifference (rude 😅). But by the time cupcakes landed, he was chuckling and relating a little too much to Nick.
Meanwhile, I was multitasking like Jess-meets-Schmidt—watching New Girl and playing The Sims during dessert because chaos is my brand.
Want to Recreate It? 🛒
Here’s everything I used so you can recreate the New Girl Theme Night in your own home:
🌿 Decor & Table Props
- 👕 Plaid Tablecloth – Buy Here
- 🌼 Artificial Flowers – Buy Here & Buy Here
- ✨ Fairy String Lights (pack of 10) – Buy Here
- 🫙 Mason Jars (pack of 4) – Buy Here
- 🧣 Paisley Napkins (pack of 20) – Buy Here
- 📸 New Girl Meme Images – (I just used google to print off the images)
- 🪵 Wooden Board – Buy Here
🍽️ Serving & Tableware
- 🍛 Curry Serving Dishes (set of 2) – Buy Here
- 🍋🟩 Lime Sherbet – Buy Here
- 📋 Acrylic Stand – Buy Here
- 🧺 Bread Basket (pack of 10) – Buy Here
- 🍳 Cast Iron Platter – Buy Here
- 🥃 Tumbler Glasses – (bought in-store at Asda but struggling to find it online)
📄 My Printable Pack Includes
- ✅ Menu Card
- ✅ Place Cards (Starter, Main, Side, Dessert, Drink)
- ✅ Drink Recipe Cards (Cocktail & Mocktail)
- ✅ Table & Serving Dishes Ideas (includes blank shopping list for easy planning!)
- ✅ A Printable Version of True American (in case you want to try it!)
👉 Download the New Girl Theme Dinner Printable Pack here to use for free 💻🎉!
Final Thoughts 💭
This was the perfect kickoff—comfort food, pink sparkles, and just enough silliness to feel like a true New Girl moment.
And the best part? There are sooo many more envelopes waiting. Next could be:
- Bridgerton with tea and scandal 🍵👑
- Grand Theft Auto with utter chaos 🚗💥
- ACOTAR with starry cocktails 🌌🦋
- Batman with moody Gotham vibes 🦇
- Queen Tribute Night with glitter + karaoke 🎤✨
- Twilight with broody vampire dinners 🧛♂️
So many themes, so little oven space!
Join In 💌
Have you ever tried a theme dinner night at home? Whether you’re a New Girl superfan, a foodie looking for an excuse to go wild with nachos, or just someone who loves a cosy night in, I’d love to hear your ideas!
Drop a comment below with:
- 🎬 What TV show or movie would you turn into a theme dinner?
- 🍴 What dish has to be on the menu?
- 🌟 Any quirky decor touches you’d add?
If you recreate our New Girl Date Night menu or set-up, let me know! – I’d be thrilled to see your version! Whether it’s a couple’s night, a family get-together, or even a solo “treat yourself” evening, these little themed dinners bring so much joy without ever leaving home.
💖 Until next time,
The Reading Nook 