Published: 07:00 AM, Sun Mar 07, 2010
How to throw a smashing Oscar party
Tonight, Hollywood will salute its biggest stars with a star-studded gala.
Do it up at your own home by hosting an Academy Awards viewing party.
Lorna Ricotta of Ethos Creative Group, a special event planning firm in Fayetteville, suggests choosing a theme for your soiree. The rest of the details will fall into place, including party games, music, food and decor. Theme ideas can vary from hosting a vintage Hollywood night where guests dress like the stars of yesteryear to celebrating one of the "Best Picture" nominees. To toast "The Blind Side," for example, you might want a menu of Southern cuisine.
"You can go in so many different direction with an Oscar party," Ricotta says. "You can have lots of fun with this. It doesn't have to stuffy."
Traditional Oscar night colors are gold, black and silver. You can decorate your table using that color scheme and use miniature Oscar statues to set the scene.
Decorate your home with movie posters from this year's list of Oscar nominated films. The Cameo Art House Theatre on Hay Street sells movie posters. Nasim Kuenzel, one of the theater's co-owners, said the theater has a collection of 500 to 700 posters from a variety of films, including mainstream and indie flicks. Posters range in price from $2 to $15.
"It's first-come, first-serve," Kuenzel said.
If you want to go all out, Ricotta recommends rolling out a red carpet in front of your home's entryway for guests to walk on. Any type of inexpensive red material will do.
Once your guests enter the home, Ricotta suggests having them pose for pictures in front of a blown-up photo of the Oscar statue. You could entrust one of your friends to be the "official" Oscar party photographer or hire a professional if your budget allows.
A party wouldn't be complete without its own awards. Give out "Best Costume" Oscars to your guests, if you asked them to dress up, or "Best Covered Dish" if you have a potluck. Ask guests to make their Oscar predictions on a ballot and give a prize to the person who guesses the most winners.
The Academy Awards Web site has a downloadable ballot that you can print for guests as well as an Oscar Bingo game for you and your guests to play during the telecast. Categories include a "Standing Ovation," a "First Time Winner" and "Winner Thanks Mom & Dad."
When it's time for your guests to leave, Ricotta suggests giving them a goodie bag. The stars receive goodie bags for their big night, and you can treat guests to party favors, as well.
Remember the evening is whatever you want it to be, Ricotta said. "You can do it as casual or as fancy as you like," she said. "It can be popcorn and beer or have guests show up in formal attire."
'Best Appetizer: Prime mini burgers with cheddar cheese and remoulade
FOR BURGERS
3/4pound prime ground beef
Pinch of kosher salt and ground black pepper
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
12 small slices of cheddar cheese
12 mini sesame brioche buns
Arugula leaves
6 cherry tomatoes, sliced
3 cornichons, sliced
FOR REMOULADE
3/4cup thousand island dressing
2 tablespoons barbecue sauce
Red onion, diced
Preheat grill or grill pan. Put the ground beef in a bowl and season with a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Mix together with your hands to combine.
Take a small amount (about 2 tablespoons worth) of the ground beef and roll it in the palm of your hand like you are making meatballs. Flatten the top slightly and put the mini burger patties on a side plate.
Drizzle the burgers with oil and season the tops with salt and pepper. Turn the burgers over and season the other side.
Place the burgers on the hot grill. Cook for 3 minutes, then turn them over with tongs. Place slices of cheddar cheese on top of the burgers, allowing it to melt.
To make remoulade, combine thousand island dressing, barbecue sauce and onion.
While the burgers are cooking, toast the buns.
To put the burgers together, put the toasted buns on a platter. Top each with a small spoonful of remoulade. Put the burger on top (cheese side up), followed by an arugula leaf, a slice of tomato and a slice of cornichon.