Come On Over
All The Movie-Inspired Food I’m Serving at My Oscars Party This Year
And the winner for best watch-party host goes to…me!
Welcome to the latest edition of Come On Over, Food52 editorial director Julie Vadnal's newsletter that's all about hosting gatherings big and small—without losing your cool. Got company? Sign up here for her emails.
The only thing I enjoy more than hosting an Academy Awards party is watching how other people host theirs. On the Monday morning after, I scroll through IG to see what punny names others used for their menu. (One year I saw a Joaquinoa Phoenix & Corn Salad. Genius.) That’s the thing: An Oscars watch party has a built-in theme that can do a lot of work for you, as long as you’re familiar with the nominees. Here’s what I’ll be serving up next weekend—I’d love to hear your ideas, too!
1. A Witchy Martini ...
Wicked’s ten noms call for this community member’s Wicked Witch Black Olive Martini, which is basically a vodka martini, which means I’ll only need one before I feel like I’m defying gravity, too.
2. …Or Green Jell-O
Nea from our Test Kitchen came up with The Substance-inspired green Jell-O. To avoid college flashbacks, serve yours in grown-up shot glasses, or even cut into neat squares.
3. A Smooth Sipper
Next up? A Timothée Chala-milkshake, named after the A Great Unknown nominee. I’m blending up this banana and cardamom one that can easily be doubled (or tripled) for your crew.
4. An Architectural Cake
Something about the sharp angles and powdered sugar on this donut cake gives me The Brutalist vibes. The squares are good for a crowd, and also for stacking, you architect, you.
5. A Bowl of Pope-Corn
Popcorn, or excuse me, pope-corn—inspired by Conclave, of course—is 90 percent of the reason I even go to the movies. At home, I drench mine in butter and salt, sprinkle on some hot sauce, then serve it up in a massive bowl to pass around.
6. A Plate of Milk
Obviously inspired by Babygirl, and obviously on these perfect handmade plates.
Handmade Tonal Appetizer Plates, Set of 4
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Written by: Julie Vadnal
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Appetizers
Con-clove
Roasted Garlic and Goat Cheese
“Conclave”
Sing Spring
Spring Rolls
“Sing Sing”
Guac-Emilia with Gladia-Tortilla Chips
Guacamole with Tortilla Chips
“Emilia Pérez” and “Gladiator II”
A Complete Oignon
Cajun Onion Dip“
A Complete Unknown”
Soundtrack to a Cru D’eté
Crudités
“Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat”
A-Nori
Nori (Dried Seaweed Snacks)
“Anora”
Main Dishes
The Brat-alist in I’m Still Beer
Beer Bratwursts
“The Brutalist” and “I’m Still Here”
The Sub-Stance
Submarine Sandwiches
“The Substance”
Accompaniments
Wok-ed
Stir Fry vegetables
“Wicked: Part One”
Pickle Boys
Dill Pickle Spears
“Nickel Boys”
A Roll, Plain
Bratwurst Rolls
“A Real Pain”
Desserts
Doone:Tart,Too
Lorna Doone Lemon Dessert
“Dune: Part Two”
M&Magic Candies
M&Ms
“Magic Candies”
1). Every "Best Picture" nominee must have a food
2). There must be a guacamole (though the pun can be from a film in any category)
3) Puns have to be based on film titles, not actors nor themes. But your Pope-corn is good one!
4) These rules do not apply to the beverage menu, which my cohost is responsible for, and which this year included:
* The Cardinal Sin
* The Brew-talist Black Russian
* The Emilia Pear-ez
* The Blui-in in the Wind (based on "Complete Unknown")
* There was a green and a pink house drink, but I can't recall their names -- the idea was Elphaba and Glinda.
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