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Today’s 30 Oscar Worthy Recipes post comes to us from our resident movie fanatic / FoodieCrush contributor / queen of the Academy, Hayley Teater, who every year schemes over Academy Award fétes with the same passion that Southern belles plot and plan their dream wedding. On with the show…
While many people were getting wrapped up in Super Bowl Sunday mania, I was busy scheming over the menu for our annual Academy Awards dinner. It may be un-American of me to say it, but I just can’t seem to get myself pumped up over the Super Bowl. The Academy Awards on the other hand? That’s my Super Bowl.
Ever since I can remember I’ve been obsessed with movies. I’d find one I liked and watch it over and over again and was equally fascinated with celebrities and everything having to do with them—particularly awards shows, and even more particularly, the Academy Awards.
I’d stay up as late as I was allowed on a school night to see them, as we’d camp out across the living room floor with a blanket and some dinner. I’d watch, mesmerized, and savor every red carpet interview and every sentimental, teary-eyed speech.
About seven years ago, my family started having special Oscars dinners, with a menu centered around puns on the Best Picture nominees (like “Into the Wild Salmon,” with “Crashed Potatoes,” or “The Wrestler’s Mussels, ” and a “Winter’s Bone-in Pork Chop” with “The King’s Peach Compote”).
Still today, we have just as much fun planning the menu as we do watching the awards. And of course, plotting the party…
We cram as many people we can get into our little house and get our friends involved in the cooking.
We dress up fancy, organize a ballot contest (the winner gets a homemade pie of their choice), and we even roll out a red carpet for some pre-show photos. It’s pretty awesome, and the Awards themselves are just the cherry on the sundae.
How to Party with Oscar
- Decorate. No dinner party is complete without decorations!
- We love these cuteinvitationsand ared carpet is a must! Purchase some red fabric from your local crafts store and cut to size, or pick up a pre-made red carpet from Party City. A velvet rope would totally put it over the top.
- Serve popcorn in these adorable black and white (so chic) downloadable popcorn boxes.
- Add a few gold men to the table (these DIY statuettes are so hilariously chic), and include a menu at each seat, so everyone can admire all the puns you’ve cooked up for them.
- This table setting and glammed up party sceneis totally award winning.
- Play. Before the awards start, sip on some bubbly just like the stars. Then test your luck at Oscar Bingo, blocking off events of the night when “Someone trips and it isn’t Jennifer Lawrence,” or “Ellen wears a bow tie.” Then really prove your prowess (and see who actually has seen Philomena) with these Oscar ballots to place your bets for the night’s big winners. Pick up boxes of microwave popcorn, movie ticket gift cards, or a life size cutout of Matthew McConaughey and some bongo drums as prizes for the winners.
- Dress the part. The stars aren’t the only ones who should be shining. Try these glam party looks, here and here, on for size.
- And the Oscar goes to… Send your guests home with a little something to remember all the fun they had. Since Leonardo Dicaprio isn’t available, you’ll have to try one of our suggestions instead. It could be that homemade pie for the ballot winner, orthesecrafty Oscar Party Swag gift bag ideas. TheseRed Carpet Tuxedo Cake Popsare also pretty darn adorable, and someAwards Night Sugar Cookieswould definitely be a clever party favor for your guests.
The Oscars, with the gold, the glitz and the glamour, my how the nominees take themselves so very seriously.
Until we replace them with kids.
You may find yourself drawn to a particular favorite flick, so what follows is a thematic approach to meals that represent each of the Best Picture nominees.
Don’t fret if you haven’t seen them all, these menus explain enough for you to still impress your friends and take home the golden kitty. Boy, Oscar is getting old!
American Hustle
The Flick // This fun con-medy by David O. Russell stars Amy Adams, Christian Bale, Jennifer Lawrence, and Bradley Cooper. The highly entertaining and partially true story follows a cunning couple who make a career out of telling lies. The late 70s are alive and well in this film, complete with discos, perms, and pantsuits (oh my, how the ladies rock those plunging neckline, classic looks) and one of the most elaboratecomb-overs in cinematic history.
The Menu // One of the central characters is Camden, NJ Mayor Carmine Polito (played by Jeremy Renner, who could easily give Joe Pesci a run for his money). With references in the film to chicken piccata and clams casino, this menu is a tribute to Polito’s strong Italian roots. Salud!
Negroni
This smooth operator of a co*cktail (and essential Italian tipple) from Two Tarts will put you on top of the table, instead of under it.Recipe here.
Clams Casino with Bacon & Garlic
You’ll feel like you’re enjoying a night on the town with the Mayor himself when you try these juicy little morsels from From Away.Recipe here.
Chicken Piccata
Mayor Polito declares this sizzling main feature (from Red Shallot Kitchen) “the Piccata of the gods!”Recipe here.
Cannoli Bites
These sweet Cannoli Bites from Culinary Couture will hustle you for all you’re worth.Recipe here.
Captain Phillips
The Flick // This intense action-drama starting Tom Hanks is about a true 2009 hijacking, where a gang of Somali pirates attacked an American merchant mariner’s ship and held him hostage on the Indian Ocean. Who’s the captain at the table now?
The Menu // This menu features Somali and Ethiopian dishes as a nod to the pirates’ native region.
Captain’s Graduation
Aye aye, one too many of these tropical badboysfrom Bird and Cleavermight steer you in the wrong direction. Don’t say we didn’t warn you about the pirates, mate!Recipe here.
Ethiopian Spiced Collards(Gomen Wat)
Take everything you know about your granny’s collards and throw it overboard, because you’re not in Alabama anymore. These collards from Will Frolic for Food are bursting with Ethiopian spices, and are guaranteed to make your enemies submit.Recipe here.
Crispy Berbere Chicken with Ethiopian Lentils
If the Somali pirates and Tom Hanks were able to set aside their differences and have a dinner party on that boat, they’d likely nosh on this crispy chicken from Feasting at Home.Recipe here.
Her
The Flick //Spike Jonze’s semi-futuristic love story is set amid smoggy LA high rises and a technology-obsessed, high-waisted-pants-wearing society. It follows a lonely man named Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix), who falls in love with his OS (played by the elusive Scarlett Johansson). Move over Siri, you have some serious competition.
The Menu // This menu, obviously, is meant for one.
Rusty Nail co*cktail
Disconnect from it all and wither away those lonely nights with this very appropriate (single) malt scotch co*cktail,from Outlander Kitchen.Recipe here.
Cacio e Pepe
Don’t fret over what to do with all those leftovers of this Cacio e Pepe from A Cozy Kitchen, because you won’t have any (it’s perfect for one). Also, it’s best enjoyed in front of your TV (obviously).Recipe here.
Single Serving Cocoa Puff Treat
Finish off your dinner for one with this bachelor-friendly throwback to that awesome sugar-laden cereal from your youth. You’ll go coo-coo for these puffs from Steph’s Bite by Bite, and isn’t chocolate always the best antidote for heartache? Recipe here.
Nebraska
The Flick //Alexander Payne’s black and white dramedy stars veteran actor Bruce Dern who plays Woody Grant—an elderly, cranky man traveling to Nebraska with his estranged son in order to collect a million dollar sweepstakes prize. Where do I sign up?
The Menu//Beer is Woody’s poison of choice in the film, so a beer co*cktail is definitely in order. Runsas are a Nebraskan specialty, and corn is the quintessential state crop, starring in an unassuming dessert in this Cornhusker state menu.
Golden Ale Beer co*cktail
Woody Grant would surely approve of this beer-focused co*cktail from The Beeroness. Have one too many though and you may find yourself a little disoriented.Recipe here.
Runsas (Nebraskan Beef Buns)
These Runsas (Nebraskan Beef Buns), from A Lovin’ Forkful are just the ticket for a winning meal. Recipe here.
Sweet Corn Ice Cream
We’re pretty corny and so is this ice cream from Scoop Adventures, (starring this prized state crop). Recipe here.
Gravity
The Flick//The term “thriller” is taken to a whole new level in this film, which evokes a visceral fear that is sustained throughout. Directed by Alfonso Cuaron, the suspenseful sci-fi-thriller stars Sandra Bullock as medical engineer Ryan Stone, on a rookie space shuttle mission. BTW, how gorgeous does she look at the sweet age of almost 50? Gravity isn’t taking its toll on her by any means. When a series of unexpected (and terrifying) events unfold, she is completely left alone to survive and navigate her way back to earth. We’re having a panic attack just thinking about it.
The Menu // The Penne alla Vodka and White Russian recipes reference the stash of Russian Vodka Ryan finds in the International Space Station. If that were me in that movie I know I could use more than just one drink.
Sugar n’ Spice White Russian
Now that you know where the Russians keep their vodka, you can take the edge off with this spiced up White Russian, from Waiting on Martha.Recipe here.
Penne alla Vodka
Fuel up on this pasta dish from Deliciously Declassified, and count your lucky stars.Recipe here.
Moon Pie Pie
This dreamy dessert from Sugar Hero is conjures that nostalgic confection you may have grown up eating—only it gets a makeover here. Just one bite and you’ll feel like you’re over the moon with bliss.Recipe here.
Philomena
The Flick // Based on the heartbreaking true story of a young nun who is forced to give up her newborn baby, this comedy-drama stars Judi Dench as the endearing and determined Philomena, and Steve Coogan as journalist Martin Sixsmith. It follows Philomena’s 50-year quest to find her son, and her unexpected friendship with Martin. That’s some dame.
The Menu // This menu plays homage to Ireland—where a young Philomena is sent to by her father (after becoming pregnant out of wedlock), and to Philomena’s affection for omelets, American salad bars, bacon, and croutons—which Philomena describes as “little pieces of toast.”
Sooooo, that’s where this toast craze all started!
Warm Brussels Caesar with Bacon Ciabatta Croutons
We love this spin on the traditional Caesar Salad, from How Sweet It Is. The trifecta of lettuce (well, in this case brussels), croutons, and bits of bacon sums up Philomena’s adorable fascination with all three.Recipe here.
Greek Quinoa Dinner Omelets with Feta and Tzatziki
Give Philomena a hotel omelet station for breakfast, and she’s a giddy gal. This colorful one from Half Baked Harvest has gone Greek, making it far more exciting than something you’d find at a Holiday Inn.Recipe here.
Chocolate Stout Cake with Whipped Vanilla Bean Frosting
If you can drink wine while you cook, why not sip some suds while you bake? Crack open a cold one and live on the edge a little. We couldn’t resist this tall, dark cake from Sweetapolita, made with Ireland’s beloved national beverage.Recipe here.
Dallas Buyers Club
The Flick // Jean-Marc Vallee’s film stars Matthew McConaughey as Ron Woodroof—a Dallas electrician and rodeo cowboy who became an activist after he was diagnosed with AIDS in 1985. The film is based on the true story of Woodroof, his battle with AIDS, and his buyer’s club, where he sold unauthorized drugs to other HIV-positive patients. And still, McConaugheylooks good regardless.
The Menu // This menu is all things Texan, a tribute to Woodroof’sLone StarState. Now, excuse me while I look for Jared Leto.
A nice Cabernet would help wash this meal down just fine (Ron orders it with his and Eve’s special steak dinner).
T-Bone Steaks with Hotel Butter
Little else says cowboy better than a fat, juicy steak. Ron could easily make a meal of this t-bone from The Pioneer Woman Cooks. Recipe here.
Texas Caviar Rice & Beans
This Texan-inspired dish from A Nutritionist Eats is perfect for a hard-livin’, rodeo cowboy.Recipe here.
Texas Sheet Cake
Life is short, eat dessert first. If Ron and Eve would have ordered a dessert at the end of their dinner, this cake Texas Sheet Cake from My Baking Addiction would have sealed the deal. Recipe here.
12 Years a Slave
The Flick // Steve McQueen’s somber adaptation of an 1853 memoir is not an easy film to stomach. Chiwetel Ejiofar plays Solomon Northup—an African American man who was born free in New York, and later kidnapped in D.C. and sold into slavery.
The Menu // This southern inspired menu is reminiscent of Solomon’s dixie milieu. The presence of blackberry alludes to a scene in the film where Solomon crushes the berries, using their juices to write a letter that might save him.
Blackberry Crush co*cktail
As an act of desperation, Solomon crushes blackberries, in hopes of using their juices as ink, to write a letter to his family. There couldn’t be a drink more symbolic of that than this Blackberry Crush co*cktail from Pixels and Crumbs. Recipe here.
Pork Chops with Vanilla Apples & Shallots
This skillet dish from Tastes Lovely re-imagines (and romanticizes) plantation cuisine. Recipe here.
Bacon Fat Cornbread
All southerners know bacon fat is the key to a truly transformative cornbread. This one from Beth Dunham does Dixie proud. Recipe here.
Blackberry Cobbler
It doesn’t get much more old-school Southern than this blackberry cobbler from Chez Us. Recipe here.
The Wolf of Wall Street
The Flick // Martin Scorsese’s latest film is based on the raunchy memoir of former stockbroker turned financial con-man Jordan Belfort (played by Leonardo DiCaprio). The film follows Belfort’s wild (and illegal) climb to wealth, his inevitable downfall, and the many excesses along the way. Including the record for most excessive use of the “F” word in a movie. Oh, frick frack.
The Menu // This menu is full of decadent, over the top dishes that are just as rich as Belfort. The dirty martini shooters are a specific reference to an early scene where Belfort sits down to an endless martini lunch with his boss, played by Matthew McConaughey, who gave a great performance, albeit too brief of one (he’s everywhere these days)!
Dirty Vodka Martini Shooters
You could say the corruption all began with a few martinis. A nod to Leonardo Dicaprio and Matthew McConaughey’s lengthy martini lunch, these dirty vodka martini shooters from Ode to Awe are the perfect blend of deceit, greed, and debauchery. Recipe here.
Oysters Rockefeller
These succulent canapés from Tide & Thyme are the epitome of luxury; something Jordan Belfort was quite acquainted with. Named after John D. Rockefeller—once the wealthiest man in his day, these oysters exude a richness of their own.Recipe here.
Four-Cheese Truffle Mac-and-Cheese
A proponent of the motto “more is more,” this mac and cheese from Yes to Yolks oozes with decadence, much like Jordan Belfort’s lifestyle. Recipe here.
Millionaire’s Bars
Aptly named for “The Wolf’s” millions, these bars from Eats Well With Others are so good , you might feel like you’re doing something illegal. Recipe here.
As always, it’s just an honor to be nominated.
But really, who’s your bet for Best Picture? As always, the fun starts in the comments below and we’d love to hear from you.
This recipe round-up was lovingly curated and created by FoodieCrush contributor Hayley Teater
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