Tossing an Oscar Night Party? How to serve and observe

            Oscar Night: Finger Food Fare 

So you’re tossing an Oscar night "viewing" party at your house and you’re excited, but a bit bummed. Deep down you’d like to watch some of the show too – no matter how self-important or indulgent it is sure to be (I’m still rolling my eyeballs at Drew Barrymore’s Globes speech)!  You don't want to be the lame duck who can't chat couture best & worst with the girls the next morning - right? We’re here to show you how you can have your cake and eat it too. 

       Butternut Squash Soup in Demitasse Cups 

Instead of serving a buffet or sit-down dinner, why not serve finger food? When you hit the show's hour mark– right about when the Price Waterhouse accountants meander up to the stage -  jump out of your seat, grab your best girlfriend for some help, and bring out your food platters and scatter them all over the place. You'll be back on the couch before the next winner is thanking his agent's grandma's pool man. Here’s what I did last year and plan on doing - with a few variations -  this year:

*Finger sandwiches – make sure you get great, super fresh bread - can't emphasize this enough. It's the secret to any good sandwich. For filling,  I’m making my friend Erika's brisket recipe the day before. Then right before the guests arrive, assemble the sandwiches. But you don't even have to go to that much trouble. Get some good aged prosciutto and and cheese and be done with it.

*Demitasse cups of soup – I love butternut squash or tomato with a little Tabasco kick. Leave it on warm on the stove with the cups nearby. Guests can serve themselves.

*Warm twisted bread sticks with Parmesan cheese (put these in the oven on warm in foil about 25 minute into the show)

*Tortellini on skewers with drizzled Alfred sauce and topped with grated Parmesan (see these in photo at the top on far left)

*A big Cesar salad - get those wildly big croutons at Trader Joe's - they pack a tasty punch and look festive

 

Bella Cupcake Couture wrappers in Meisha, Olivia and Hannah  

*Buy mini cupcakes or make your own and serve in one of those fun wire/metal cupcake holder tiers. You can get them at most bakery supply stores and I've even seen them at cheapie places like Tuesday Morning and Bed Bath & Beyond. And it's Oscar night, so why not accessorize your cakes with Bella Cupcake Couture little wrappers? The trio above really feels like springtime. My absolute favorite Bella wrapper is the one in the center above - it's called Meisha - with little millinery birds perched up on cherry blossom branches.  But you could also do a black and white style - which feel a little more black-tie!  Here are my three favorite black and white ones from the SheSez store:

Hannah in black & white

 LuLu in black & white     

Olivia in black & white 

   

*Mini bite-sized pies filled with my lemon curd recipe are another great idea (you can get these half dollar sized pie crusts at gourmet grocery or supply stores like Surfas in Culver City).  Grab some lemons off your tree or buy some make lemon curd a day ahead and put in fridge.  Fill crusts just as goofy on-air red carpet hosts are packing it up and being toweled down.

          Fresh Strawberries from Farmer's Market 

* A big bowl of fresh strawberries is a refreshing and simple dessert.  Or you could do my farmer's market strawberry pie.  Strawberries are just starting their season and they are super sweet. If you do a big bowl, rinse well and keep stems on - a little green looks pretty and gives nibblers something to grab on to.

My advice is to keep it simple and light.  Guests are there to watch the show and have fun. The food is way secondary.  Do this and you'll find yourself having time to tune in too. After all you want to be able to see the climax when Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker) beats Ex-hubby James Cameron (Avatar) out for best picture!  Oops, did I say something impartial here?

 

Comments

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