The Menu: The Plot
This menu follows the story through the places that shaped its characters. It begins in Vermont, where Evan grew up. Then we travel to Whidbey Island, where Anna was quietly rebuilding her life. Finally, we land in New York City, where everything seems to come together before it starts to fall apart. Each dish nods to the places they’ve been, the lives they’ve shared, and the unexpected turns that bring them closer together.
Drinks
Raise a glass to Jake and Anna’s bittersweet romance with a classic caipirinha. This Brazilian national cocktail is made with lime, sugar, ice, and cachaça, a sugarcane liquor. It’s the drink they shared the night they got engaged, when everything still felt full of possibility. Find the recipe at Brazilian Kitchen Abroad and toast to love in all its messy, complicated forms.
Appetizers
Start things off with a nod to Vermont hospitality, symbolized by the pineapples that decorated the door of Evan’s childhood home. First, try bacon-wrapped pineapple bites from The Cookie Rookie for that perfect sweet and salty combo. Then balance it out with pineapple mozzarella bites from Sprinkles and Sprouts, where charred pineapple meets rosemary and just the right touch of chili oil.
Salad
Next up, give your palate a reset with Seattle’s favorite kale salad from Allrecipes. It’s a bright, hearty mix of kale, red cabbage, fennel, wild rice, and lemon. This one’s callback to Anna’s journey from Seattle to New York, where everything starts to change. If you want to add more depth, sprinkle in some blue cheese or crispy bacon for extra flavor and texture.
Soup
[Spoiler alert] After that, serve up a bowl of green power soup inspired by Anna’s memorable spinach creation, minus the poison, of course. This version from Women’s Health Magazine is packed with greens and skin-friendly ingredients. It’s comforting, nourishing, and just intense enough to keep the suspense simmering.
Side
Pair your soup with a warm, crusty loaf of sourdough, an ode to Anna’s trusty starter that made the trip from Seattle to New York. Add a little cultured butter on the side and pour a glass of red wine, just like Jake did during his final dinner.
Dessert
End on a sweet note with a nod to Evan’s Vermont roots: a rich, buttery maple sugar pie from Vermont Maple. It’s the perfect mix of flaky crust and deep maple flavor, and it’s the kind of simple, satisfying dessert that leaves everyone at the table smiling.
Just like Jake, we’re all writing our own stories—full of big dreams, surprises, and the occasional curveball we never saw coming. Life’s plot unfolds with every choice we make and every challenge we push through. So as you enjoy that last bite of maple sugar pie, take a moment to think about the twists that have shaped your own story—and maybe steer clear of any that involve poison.
