The Party of the Year: Oscars 2020
BY SCOTTIE KNOLLIN
Hosting a fancy party of your own while all of Hollywood dresses to the nines? Take it to the Oscars-calibre level by treating your supporting actors with a smorgasbord of tasty snacks fit for any Leading Actress.
Each year, around the world, millions of people tune in to the biggest night in Hollywood. In between the clanking of champagne glasses and the furious scribbling on prediction sheets, these film fans unite to hold their collective breath with each nominee. Will Parasite become the first International Feature to win Best Picture? Will ScarJo become the first to win both Leading and Supporting awards in the same night? Will Brad Pitt make fun of his singleness like he’s done all awards season? (That’s an easy “yes.”)
Pair your party with these fun, Oscars-themed snacks. Insure a party of paramount heights by incorporating little nods that gold man we all hope to hold in our hands one day. And, save room for delightful cocktails that will make a potential Joker Best Picture win a little more tolerable.
Cheers to the 92nd Academy Awards!
HOW TO WATCH
Want to see the red carpet looks? “E! Live from the Red Carpet” kicks off at 4:00 p.m. Then, tune in to ABC at 7:00 p.m. for the biggest night in Hollywood!
PRE-PARTY CHECKLIST - Start now before it’s too late!
Send invites!
Sure, you could easily make a Facebook event page or send evites, but this is the Oscars! Challenge yourself to inspire the fanciest of evenings in your guests by mailing/delivering handcrafted invitations.
Watch every movie!
This one may be too late to accomplish (unless you’ve already been prepping). Every Best Picture nominee is currently either streaming, in theaters, or available to digitally rent. Seek them out.
Decorations galore!
Black and gold are best for dressing up your home to feel as close to the Dolby Theatre as possible. You can find Hollywood-themed party supplies online and in stores, but the true devotee to the ultimate decor will go the simpler-is-better route with nice, plain gold and black fixings. Remember, the treats and the people are what should shine. Your decor should just enhance the rest of the beauty! (Extra points for a red carpet in your entryway.)
Looks that shine!
If you’re going for glamour, then shoot for the stars and go full-on black tie. If you’re looking for something more casual and fun, encourage your guests to dress as their favorite characters from 2019 films. If you want to go the extra mile, have everyone dress as their favorite classic movie stars!
Predict. Predict. Predict.
Print off nominations lists and have your guests fill them out once they arrive. Have a special prize available for the guest who gets the most correct. Movie tickets and popcorn are a safe, on-theme gift.
ANNOYINGLY RELATABLE FOODS/DRINKS - As seen in this year’s Best Picture nominees.
Pecan pie - One of Marriage Story’s most memorable scenes is when Merritt Weaver’s hands sweat in preparation of serving Adam Driver divorce papers. The store-bought pecan pie was the brevity needed for such a serious topic.
Poached pears - The delicious foods that grace the March’s table in a quintessential scene of Little Women includes this very specific dessert.
Coca-Cola (glass bottles) - Ford v Ferrari features plenty of product placement, including a number of cleverly placed bottles of Coke, with the famous typeface facing the camera
Ice cream sundae - Pacino’s Jimmy Hoffa scarfs one down the same day of JFK’s assassination. If that isn’t a relevant food-in-the-movie scene then we don’t know what is!
Ram-don - You know that scene in Parasite. The family is returning after the rain canceled their plans to camp and they’d like freshly made ram-don awaiting their return. The instant noodle dish is a mixture of jjapaghetti and neoguri. Treat this as an entree or serve as samples.
Red wine - In a seminal scene of Jojo Rabbit, our titular hero, Jojo, hastily listens to his mother (Scarlett Johansson) teach him a lesson about loyalty and respect. She also says she isn’t hungry, despite it being dinnertime, before she decides to “chew on these grapes.”
Kraft Mac & Cheese - Humble and endearing are two words that come to mind while watching Brad Pitt make a classic American family favorite in Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood. Channel your inner Pitt. Add paprika and a sprinkle of shredded cheese to dress it up a bit.
Milk - Some feel like that one scene in 1917 is a little too self-serving, but there’s no denying that milk has a pretty prominent role in Sam Mendes’ war epic. A strange thing to offer guests? Yes. So, maybe come up with a milk-associated snack or beverage to take it to the next level.
THEMED DRINKS - We use the word ‘gold’ a lot here.
Golden Envelope - Honey lemon tequila cocktail.
Combine 1.5 ounces of tequila, 0.50 ounces of mezcal, 1 ounce of honey syrup, and 1 ounce of lemon juice. Shake and strain over ice cubes into highball glass. Add 2 dashes of bitters on top. Garnish with a lemon wedge.
Little Gold Man - Simple gin and tonic.
Add ice to a glass, pour in 2 ounces of Hendrick’s Gin, then 4 ounces of tonic water. Garnish with golden dusted cranberry balls (make with gold flakes).
The Golden One - Raspberry lemon rose sparkling vodka drink.
Muddle four raspberries in the bottom of a mixing glass. Add ice, 1.75 ounces of vodka, 0.75 ounces of fresh lemon sour and 0.24 ounces of rose liqueur.
Have ideas of your own? Share in the comments below!
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