Every year a group of film buff friends and friendly neighbors start checking out as many movies on the Oscars nominations list, while some even do Oscar movieathons to get ready for our yearly tradition of Oscar watch party. Oscar movie nominations – http://oscar.go.com/nominees are the main inspiration for each year’s academy award watch party.
The excitement is not limited to the movies. According to the nominated Oscar movies we make a menu inspired by these movies. Each of our friends, besides being movie enthusiasts, enjoy and make good food. The culinary adventures start with each one learning and making wide range of cuisines according to the nominations. Texts are swapped, emails are exchanged, cooking processes snapped and shared, ingredients are passed over the fences, all working for the dazzling Hollywood style Academy awards Potlock watch party.
Here’s a few ideas from our experiences. Party planning and entertaining for the Oscars Watch party involves a small list of to-dos:
Red Carpet setting:
Create a setting worth to celebrate with stars. Roll out the red carpet and have paparazzi to take pics of guests walking in; decorate creating theatrical look and feel with red swags and glittering gold stars and ornaments. Light candles to create a star glow; Besides décor think comfort and make everyone comfortable with enough seating on sofas, chairs or pillows on the carpet; Dress vibrant to match the celebrities yet comfortable to sit long hours and be fashion police to the stars;)
The Award goes to:
Before the show begins, each one makes their own predictions. Print out downloadable Oscar nominated ballots and let everyone foretell their own Oscar awards. Compare and score their lists as and when awards are given and see who is the best critic and judge of the evening.
Make an A-List movie inspired menu:
This year we had a wide range of cuisines inspired by the movie nominations- http://oscar.go.com/nominees – Texan, Southern, British, Middle Eastern, Asian, Hungarian…
Oscar Menu
Glitzy Appetizers and Hors d’oeuvres
• Boyhood- Queso and Tortilla chips (We too can eat Queso all night like Boyhood’s Mason Jr did in Austin’s 24-Hrs open, Kerby Lane. )
• Birdman – Smoked Chicken Wings ( Chicken is a bird though it may not fly)
• American Sniper- Mediterranean Spinakopitas
• American Sniper – Hummus, Pita chips & Zatar
• The Grand Budapest Hotel – Brie Cheese, Crackers and Olives ( Hungry for Hungarian food!)
• Iconic Movie Popcorn ( Movies,Popcorn and soda, we have to have it all…)
Best Movie Entrée’s and celebrity sides:
• Boyhood- Beef Chili ; Texas Spicy Signature Chili ( we had two kinds of Chili this year, each one made differently one with beans and one with just rib eye steak , each uniquely delicious.
• The Grand Budapest Hotel – Hungarian Beef Goulash with Gnocchi ( We also had two kinds of Goulash one with hand made Gnocchi and one with out; we were experiencing the world in our own kitchen)
• Birdman- Grilled Tandoori Chicken ( our friends love Indian cuisine, we sneak atleast one recipe in every year, fitting it with the theme;) )
• American Sniper-Morasa Pilaf- Iranian Jeweled Rice ( was sure shot success)
• Big Hero 6 / Tale of Kaguya- Regional Japanese Chicken Noodles garnished with Sea weed
• Theory of everything- Egg Curry- ( We are still trying to solve the theory- if the egg came first or the chicken!)
• Whiplash Pizza
Star-studded Desserts:
• The Grand Budapest Hotel -Cream Pastry puffs, macaroons, Russian tea cakes,
• Big Hero 6 / Tale of Kaguya Japanese candy or Anime cookies ( the green tea and strawberry flavored cookie sticks were fascinating)
• Whiplash -Whip cream dessert
• Imitation Game – Fudge ( oh the fudge was good, a bite of sweet fudge and the salt of popcorn was a divine taste)
• Boyhood- Pecan Pie ( when our local Whole Foods, of Austin,TX makes such excellent pecan pies, we skip making it at home)
• Imitation Game- Apple Pie
Set out the food and enjoy watching the red carpet glam and Oscars awards ceremony while nibbling on the outstanding menu and celebrate the evening. Some of our favorite movies, actors and actresses win the Oscar but everyone goes happy since it’s the experience of the movies, celebrities, the friendly camaraderie and award winning line up of cuisines which makes the evening a blockbuster success.
