Welcome to Shangri-La, a lush paradise hidden high in the mountains of Tibet, where there’s no war, endless resources of gold, and no aging whatsoever. It’s also the theme of our next dinner party!
We are all familiar with the concept of Shangri-La, but I’m guessing few of us know the history behind it. Don’t worry, I did some sleuthing. Courtney McBroom, P.I. is on the case.
You might already know that James Hilton coined Shangri-La in his 1933 novel, Lost Horizon. You might also be aware that shortly thereafter, Lost Horizon was adapted into a film by the same name. Directed by Frank Capra, it was nominated for several academy awards, including best picture, thus cementing Shangri-La into our psyches as the ultimate lost utopian ideal.
That’s where it ends for most folks, but we are not most folks. Hilton didn’t pull his Shangri-La concept out of thin air (even though, technically, the air is VERY thin in the Tibetan Himalayas). He almost certainly based it on the ancient myth of Shambala. Like Shangri-La, Shambala is a lost Tibetan paradise, first recorded in India in 962 AD. It is a land of peace and harmony that is completely isolated from the outside world. It’s inhabitants are enlightened and have preserved all the wisdom of humanity. They await a time when the world is ready for peace, and they’re gonna be the ones to deliver it. Here is an extremely interesting documentary about all of this, if you care to go deeper: In Search of Myths and Heroes Ep 2 - Shangri-La
Some believe Shangri-La exists physically on this Earth, but it is yet to be found. Others say it exists only as a place within the mind. A third opinion is a hybrid of the two - there is a physical gate to Shangri-La, but once you enter, you’re in a new world. A heaven that is not part of this earth. Really, it doesn’t matter. Whether it’s physical or mental, Shangri-La offers an escape against the horrors of our world. It was true when Lost Horizon came out, just after WWI, and perhaps even more true now. The state of humanity has always been precarious. Our current issues are nothing new - assholes and their agendas have been around since the beginning of time. Shangri-La couldn’t exist without them. You can’t have heaven without hell; otherwise, how would we recognize it when we found it? We need something to measure it against.
It is the entire meaning and purpose of Shangri-La. Look at the world today. Is there anything more pitiful? What madness there is! What blindness! What unintelligent leadership! A scurrying mass of bewildered humanity, crashing headlong against each other, propelled by an orgy of greed and brutality. A time must come my friend, when brutality and the lust for power must perish by its own sword. For when that day comes, the world must begin to look for a new life. And it is our hope they may find it here… a way of life based on one simple rule: Be Kind!
- James Hilton, Lost Horizon
The thing is, we don’t find Shangri-La- it finds us. It comes in whispers, in those fleeting moments when everything clicks into place. If you try to hold on to it, it slips away. It slips away even if you don’t. So, the goal of this dinner party is not to create Shangri-La, but to build a canvas for Shangri-La to paint on. We’ll provide the cocktails, party favors, and snacks. The mysteries of the universe can do the rest. Speaking of snacks…
A note on Tibetan Food
We simply cannot throw a Shangri-La themed dinner party without Tibetan food. Lucky for us, Tibet is home to some of the best dumplings in the world. They’re called momos and they are freakin’ delicious. Before we go any further, though, I need to point out the obvious - I’m not Tibetan. I’ve never been to Tibet, or anywhere in the Himalayas, for that matter. Thus, I am making no claims of authority on Tibetan food. I am also not going to write out an authentic Tibetan menu. My only goal is for the food to be delicious and to honor the ethos of Shangri-La with a nod to Tibetan cuisine. In order to do so, I did a ton of research. Interestingly, I noticed that many of the ingredients used in Tibet are famous for their anti-aging properties. Coincidence? I THINK NOT. I’ll be sure to point them out when I post the recipes.
The cool thing about Tibetan food is it’s a bit of a mashup between Chinese and Indian, which makes sense, as both countries border Tibet. Approximately 78% of the population of Tibet is Buddhist, and even though Buddhists are typically vegetarian, this is not the case here. Due to the extreme weather and terrain, it’s hard to grow vegetables, so Tibetans eat a meat and grain-centered diet, and yak is the star of the show. Every part of the yak is used - meat, milk, butter, and hide. When it comes to grains, barley is king. It’s used to make tsampa, a roasted barely flour and a Tibetan staple. The food is also quite spicy. They use tons of chilis and Sichuan peppercorns, (which they call yerma, or emma). It’s truly some of the best food in the world. It makes sense that paradise would be located within it’s borders. And this is where my spiel on Tibetan cuisine ends.
Recipe for a Shangri-La Dinner Party
fun for 6-8 people
To throw this party, you’ll need the following: a menu, wine suggestions, invitations, a playlist, decorations & games, Up for Discussion conversation starters, recipes, a grocery list, and a prep plan. You’ll find the menu and wine suggestions below. The invitations, playlist, decorations, and convo starters will come in the next newsletter. The recipes, prep plan, and shopping list will follow in the newsletter after that.
The Menu:
Like I said, Shangri-La is a lush paradise where there’s no war, endless gold, and halted aging. Our version will also include a Fountain of Vermouth Spritz Bar, Never Ending Dumpling Resources, Verdant Greens and Golden Milk Rice Pudding.
Print this menu on 8 x 10 card stock.
Wine suggestions
You’ll start with the Fountain of Vermouth, but eventually, you’ll want to switch to wine. (Some crisp, light beers would also pair perfectly!) I asked my friend Erin Sylvester of Sylvester Rovine Selections for wine suggestions. Here’s her picks:
TDaniel & Bianka Schmitt "Pinot Sekt Brut Nature" 2019, Rheinhessen, Germany. I would imagine that at the entrance to paradise, bubbles are served on arrival. Start your journey to Shangri-la with an elegant sparkling wine of Weissburgunder and Spatburgunder. There's some lovely tropical notes of kiwi and papaya and also some cherries and most definitely beauty and wealth hiding in there too.
Domaine Jean Baptiste Senat "Amalgame" 2021, Minervois, France. What goes better with momos and greens than a chillable juicy red from the South of France? The answer is absolutely nothing! This co-ferment of red and white grapes together, primarily Grenache Noir and Grenache Gris, is light on its feet and refreshing while also earthy and grounded. Now the only question is, how many dumplings are you going to eat?
If your wine merchant doesn’t carry these particular bottles, ask if they can bring them in, or to recommend something similar.
Thanks for coming through! Follow Ruined Table on tik tok and instagram for more, and stay tuned for the Shangri-La dinner party playlist, conversation starters, and decorations & game ideas, all coming in the next newsletter, in 2 weeks.
Stay messy,
McBroom