Spotted Dick. Ha! That would be a good idea.

Pie Lady wrote:Spotted Dick. Ha! That would be a good idea.

When I saw this I thought it was a reference to Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Not that it's Oscar-worthy, but if you haven't seen it, the lead actor lets it all hang out for the first 10 or so minutes of the movie.

I've seen it. I've seen the Reader too. I guess the same dessert could apply.

Pie Lady wrote:Something Middle Eastern (Persepolis (and why the hell wasn't this nominated??), Traitor)

Foreign films have to be nominated by their country, did France nominate it? And I don't think this was a great film - it was very "this happened then that happened" with little or no dramatic tension.

We'll have to agree to disagree on Persepolis, although I see what you're getting at. I'm also annoyed that there are only three songs nominated and two are from the same movie. They couldn't think of two more out of hundreds of releases?

Persepolis was nominated in 2008 (best animated feature), anyway, since it was released in 2007.

Not going to make my own, but your parties sound like a lot of fun. I love any party that can exploit a pun. Haven't seen most of them, but some half-formed suggestions for this years nominees:
The Wrestler: Strip steaks (can you smell what the Rourke is cooking?)
Dark Knight: The Yolker (something maybe with eggs and blood (ketchup or tomatoes?))
Milk: Obvious dairy choices. If you are with some non-PC minded friends who can take a joke, perhaps a fruit milkshake. I suggest this as a proponent of puns, not derogatory terms (which I generally oppose. Generally.)
Wall-E: Garbage salad (I hear it's out of this world)
The Reader: A panzanella you can call The Bread-er (Makes more sense if you are labeling dishes than announcing them)
Man On Wire: Recreation of Alinea's bacon dish. Or, if you could do a flambe or something with Maneshevitz, it could be Man on Fire.

There are options for little dishes between Rachel Getting Married (cliche wedding food?) and Vicky Cristina Barcelona (tapas). I'd say VC Barcelona could be Sex on the Beach cocktails, but only if you can find some way to incorporate something aged that you can only stand in small amounts, like a certain writer/director.

If those cicadas were still around, would have made some good snacking for "Changeling".

Both Benjamin Button and Trouble the Water are based in New Orleans, so plenty of possibilities there. Or you could just serve in a backwards progression, starting with dessert.

gleam wrote:Persepolis was nominated in 2008 (best animated feature), anyway, since it was released in 2007.

Oops, shoulda remembered that. Hooray!

Of course, with Slumdog Millionaire in the running, the food possibilities are immense -- at least if you love Indian food.

After a year's hiatus, I'm hosting a party again. This thread already has lots of great ideas! So far,we only had cheeseburgers (okay, mini sliders) on the menu in homage to Nixon's late night drunk dial call to David Frost in "Frost/Nixon", but just looking at other postings, I think we'll do fine!

the curious case of benjamin button mushroom

How about...

....Sugar cookies that have "Nixon" frosted on them?
....A tres leches cake?

OK..here's what we're having Sunday night:

Slumdog Millionaire
-Samosas
-Chicken curry
Milk
-Milkshakes with add your own fruit (sorry!) and/or protein powder-my husband will photoshop a new label on the powder with Mickey Roarke's Wrestler character endorsing it
The Reader
-Sausage and kraut
Nixon
-Mini cheeseburgers
Wall-E
-Hello Dolly bars (my daughter says they are also a nod to "Frost/Nixon", but that's because "Dick" is one of her favorite movies. I don't plan on adding marijuana to them, however.)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-Cupcakes with candy button decorations
Tropic Thunder
-Tropical fruit salad
The Dark Knight (sorta)
-Heath bar chocolate trifle
Vicky Christina Barcelona
-Sangria
Rachel Getting Married
-Champagne
..and chips and dip, veggie tray, cheese, etc. No particular theme on those.

I'm a little more excited about actually getting some decent ideas on themed food and Hugh Jackman hosting than the actual awards this year. Sad.

jersette wrote:OK..here's what we're having Sunday night:

Slumdog Millionaire
-Samosas
-Chicken curry
Milk
-Milkshakes with add your own fruit (sorry!) and/or protein powder-my husband will photoshop a new label on the powder with Mickey Roarke's Wrestler character endorsing it
The Reader
-Sausage and kraut
Nixon
-Mini cheeseburgers
Wall-E
-Hello Dolly bars (my daughter says they are also a nod to "Frost/Nixon", but that's because "Dick" is one of her favorite movies. I don't plan on adding marijuana to them, however.)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-Cupcakes with candy button decorations
Tropic Thunder
-Tropical fruit salad
The Dark Knight (sorta)
-Heath bar chocolate trifle
Vicky Christina Barcelona
-Sangria
Rachel Getting Married
-Champagne
..and chips and dip, veggie tray, cheese, etc. No particular theme on those.

I'm a little more excited about actually getting some decent ideas on themed food and Hugh Jackman hosting than the actual awards this year. Sad.

What time is the party and what is the address...TIA.

jersette, how are you making/preparing your samosas?

I've been looking at recipes for weeks and haven't decided which one to use - or whether to go up to Devon and get them ready-made. Thoughts?

jersette, how are you making/preparing your samosas?

I had been looking at a bunch of recipes, too..and with everything else, decided I didn't want to make them for the first time and have them turn out not so good.

We ended up getting 18 at a place my husband passes on his commute, Simi Grocers on Quentin Road in Palatine. He ordered them Wednesday and picked them up (still warm) Friday. I taste tested one and thought it was pretty good. We'll probably just warm them in the oven on Sunday.

Hi,

I have always looked forward to the annual updating of this thread on Oscar nominee related foods. If someone is doing something, I know I am not the only one curious on your selections.

Regards,

whiskeybent wrote:jersette, how are you making/preparing your samosas?

I've been looking at recipes for weeks and haven't decided which one to use - or whether to go up to Devon and get them ready-made. Thoughts?

Whiskey, samosas are not at all difficult to make, the only real trick I find is to make sure your potatoes are crushed, not mashed, or you get that awful pasty/soupy filling; I was happy with the results from the recipe atManjula's kitchen. However, I've recently become addicted to the frozen "cocktail samosas" available at Fresh Farms (and I assume at most frozen food purveyors on Devon) They'd be perfect for this situation.

The ones I like come in both potato and channa dal - both are spicy by my standards (read: they have noticeable heat, but most would not consider them spicy - although they do have the creep-up-effect if you eat half a bag like I do) I like the dal slightly more than the potato. I wish I could remember the brand, but they come in an orangey-brown resealable bag, and frying from frozen doesn't seem to have any negative effect on quality.

I have always looked forward to the annual updating of this thread on Oscar nominee related foods. If someone is doing something, I know I am not the only one curious on your selections.

Just got done cleaning up..it was not the most outstanding year for food ideas, but here's what we had, and everyone pitches in:

"Nine"
Nine layer salad..ok, I added celery and cucumber to the standard 7 layers of lettuce, peas, green onion, mayo, sugar, cheese and bacon. Nothing fancy, but people like it.

"Inglorious Basterds"
Reuben dip--with french bread.
Apple strudel with whipped cream

"Avatar"
Jello poke cake with blue jello.

"Up"
Balloon cupcakes

"A Serious Man"
Mini latkes w/sour cream

"The Hurt Locker"
Hummus and pita chips

"The Blind Side"
Fried chicken

"Up in the Air"
I found airline-sized packages of peanuts at Home Ecomomist-- a pound or so for .99. A steal, if you ask me. Served those and mini liquor bottles for mixers from a cart.

Also had mini burgers and the standard snacky things. And I won second place in my pool.

I got lazy this year. I made braised goat, I guess we could say that's for Men Who Stare at Goats. And I got a little drunk, in honor of Sean Young.

It's that time again!

I'm starting to put together a menu, probably making a Sh-sh-sh-sh-shepherd's pie for "King's Speech," and FaceCook(ies) for Social Network. True Grits are a gimme as well.

One thing I'd really like to make but can't quite figure out how yet is an Inception Pop - a dreamsicle inside a dreamsicle inside a dreamsicle. "We have to go deeper!"

You?

Roasted Marrow (Winter's Bones)
Lapin a la Cocotte (The Illusionist, Rabbit Hole)
Some kind of stew with chicken, beef, pork, fish (Animal Kingdom)
Salted caramels, Salted chocolate cookies (Salt)

whiskeybent wrote:One thing I'd really like to make but can't quite figure out how yet is an Inception Pop - a dreamsicle inside a dreamsicle inside a dreamsicle. "We have to go deeper!"

Hi,

I may have a solution to your dreamsicle-dreamsicle-dreamsicle.

I have seen recipes for dreamsicle fudge as well as dreamsicle cake balls. Why not have dreamsicle fudge in the middle of a dreamsicle cake ball covered with dreamsicle ice cream?

I started to watch this movie and stopped after 10-15 minutes. I may start it up later, though not anytime soon.

Regards,

Appletinis (official drink of Facebook) and a rectangular cake loaded with colored frosting (forgot the color) for The Fighter.

I believe it was white with a shitload of blue.

Seeking your witty input; I am tasked with dessert for an Oscars party and would love a cinematic concept, but so far all I have is True Grit blood-orange polenta cake, and that lacks some zing. Is everyone going for the Black Swan cake? Thanks for the ideas!

How about The King's Peach Cobbler?

I was reminded that this thread has yet to be resurrected. Any ideas this year? I'm going to attempt making these:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/91442405/os ... es-1-dozen

Other ideas:
Croissants - Hugo
Mussels cooked over an open fire - The Shore

Skewered Meats, Brazilian-Style - Bridesmaids
Hot Dogs with Ketchup - Shame
Chinese Noodles - Kung Fu Panda 2
Tuna Casserole - Tree of Life
Thai-Style Catfish - Uncle Boonmee
Crisco-Fried Chicken - The Help
Extremely Large and Incredible Roast

Tropical Cocktails - The Descendants
Extra-Thick Milkshakes - Midnight in Paris, to replicate how much this movie sucked
Wedding Cake and Moon Pies - Melancholia
Minny's Chocolate Pie - The Help (thanks Cathy2)
Super 8-Layer Cake

Just about to go shopping for our Oscar party this year:

Devilled eggs (could have done anything Southern for "The Help" but settled on this for starters)

Baked brie in puff pastry (kinda "Midnight in Paris' and "The Artist" simultaneously, a dish requested of me)

Mai tais ("The Descendants," thought about doing spam musubi but I'm probably the only truly adventurous one)

Maxwell St. Polish (I'm sure they don't have these at the A's Stadium ["Moneyball"] but Polish = baseball game to me)

Finishing with some chocolate bark w/Andes mints ("Tree of Life")

...and probably some sort of (Oscar-colored) Golden ale. Finch's sounds good to me right now.

There were a lot of food in movies this year. Jiro Dreams of Sushi...Pirates! Band of Misfits (ham nite!)...Salmon Fishing in the Yemen...Killer Joe...