THE NIBBLE » Academy Awards

TIP OF THE DAY: Oscar Party Tasting

admin — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:45:54 +0000

Instead of generic “wine and cheese,” serve
different wines (or beers) in the same
category and turn your event into a “tasting.”
Photo courtesy Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.

Last week we proposed 10 “Best Picture Cocktails” as party fare for your Oscar party.

But what if your friends prefer wine or beer?

Instead of making a random selection at the store, focus on selecting bottles for a beer or wine tasting.

Pick up to a dozen different kinds of a single beer (amber ale, IPA, stout, chocolate beer and ale) or wines from a particular region (New Zealand, South Africa) or a particular grape varietal (zinfandel, shiraz, semillon).

Guests not only enjoy the Academy Awards, but discover new favorite beers or wines in the process.

What cheeses should you serve with the beer or wine? See our Beer, Wine & Cheese Paring Chart.

If you’d rather focus on the cheese, here’s how to host a cheese-tasting party.

ENTERTAINING: “Best Picture” Oscar Cocktails

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:52:10 +0000

Still pondering how to make your Oscar party a standout?

The Hilton Chicago/Indian Lakes Resort has an easy solution. Their mixologists developed cocktails in honor of the Best Picture nominees, styled to complement the theme of the film.

The cocktails are very easy to make, leaving you all the time you need to focus on the Academy Awards.

It’s no surprise that the aqua-blue cocktail in the photo is for Avatar. But you won’t want to miss the Inglourious Jager Monster or the Hurt Locker Cherry Bomb, either.

See all of the cocktail recipes.

Or if you’re in the Chicago area, just hang out at the Indian Lakes Resort on Oscar night.

Find many more cocktail ideas in our Cocktails & Spirits Section.

Avatar fans can show their support with this
colorful cocktail. Photo by Ivan Mateev | IST.

ENTERTAINING: Oscar Party Ideas ~ Part 2

Editorial Assistant — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:39:35 +0000

Red Carpet Fizz.

The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences has your Oscar Party planned for you, from cocktails to food to pre-broadcast fun. Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck is the official chef of the Academy Awards’ official dinner. Get his recipes for a formal dinner of:

- Smoked Salmon Blinis
- Butter Lettuce Salad with Mandarin Oranges
- Slow Braised Short Ribs
- Pan-Roasted Chicken with Whole-Grain Mustard and Port
- Spring Risotto
- Molten Lava Chocolate Cake

For cocktail hour, offer guests:

- The Red Carpet Fizz
- The Ultimate Accolade
- The Golden Rush
- Plus Non-Alcoholic Beverages

And, there are party planning tips, shopping lists and games, Oscar ballots, Oscar Trivia and other games. Oscar Bingo, anyone? http://www.oscars.org/partykit

RECIPES: Oscar Party Cocktails

Editorial Assistant — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:30:49 +0000

Need some special recipes to make your Oscars party more memorable? 10 Cane Rum has come to the rescue, with these contenders for your vote. 10 Cane is a light rum with enough complexity to be sipped straight, like a fine spirit. So those at your party who don’t like mixed drinks can enjoy it straight up, or on the rocks as they watch the Academy Awards.

Slumdog Millionaire Mojito

- 1-1/2 ounces rum
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup
- 1 ounce fresh squeezed lime juice
- 8 to 10 mint leaves
- Splash of Champagne or other sparkling wine
- Garnish with mint sprig

Directions: Place simple syrup and mint leaves in the bottom of a tall glass. Press gently with a muddler. Fill with cracked ice. Add rum and lime juice. Stir gently and top off with Champagne. Garnish with a mint sprig.

Revolutionary Road Rum

- 1 ounce rum
- 3/4 ounce blood orange puree
- 1/2 ounce citrus-infused simple syrup
- Garnish with lime-mint foam, or sprig of mint and lime wheel

Directions: Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass. Add ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Top with lime-mint foam. Created by Anna Kimball, Rum Socialite, Chicago .

Benjamin Button’s Age Reverser

- 2 ounces rum
- 1 ounce pomegranate juice (see our favorite pomegranate juices)
- 3/4 ounce fresh-squeezed lemon juice
- Dash simple syrup
- Garnish with pomegranate seeds or lemon peel twist

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass, combine. Add ice and shake vigorously. Strain into martini glass. Garnish with pomegranate seeds or lemon twist.

Harvey’s Rum & Milk

- 1-1/4 ounces rum
- 2 ounces pineapple juice
- 1 ounce coconut milk
- 1/2 ounce orange juice
- 1/2 ounce dark rum

Directions: Combine rum, pineapple juice, coconut milk and orange juice into a mixing glass. Add ice and shake vigorously. Pour all contents into a highball glass. Top with a float of dark rum.

Best Cocktail in a Supporting Role

- 2 ounces rum
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 tablespoons honey

Directions: Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass. Stir until honey has dissolved completely. Pour into a rocks glass filled with ice.

TIP OF THE DAY: “Diet” Oscars

Nibble Editors — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 12:32:46 +0000

It’s too easy to pile on the calories over a long evening of watching the Oscars. So eschew the nachos and feature some healthy snacks. For a “diet” menu, start with crudités and a nonfat yogurt and spinach dip (mix thawed, drained frozen spinach with dry vegetable or onion soup for seasoning). Move to chicken skewers with lots of mushrooms, peppers and onions. For dessert, get a jumbo fruit basket from Edible Arrangements: it’s great taste and glamour, all-in-one. Read our review of Edible Arrangements, and find other gourmet diet products in the Diet Nibbles section of THE NIBBLE online magazine.		An Edible Arrangements fruit basket.

ENTERTAINING: Academy Award Nominee Cookies

Nibble Editors — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 12:24:28 +0000

Who wouldn’t want to take a bite out of Johnny Depp?		Invite the Best Actor and Best Actress nominees to your Oscar party—at least, in cookie effigy. Every year, we spring for these cookies from Eleni’s, a New York City bakery that specializes in hand-decorated cookies in every conceivable design. They outdo themselves with their Academy Award cookies, creating a set of Best Actor and Best Actress cookies with great likenesses of the performers. The only downside: 16 of these cookies are about $60, plus shipping. But, sometimes fun doesn’t come cheap. Read our review of Eleni’s Cookies, and find our other favorite cookies and brownies in THE NIBBLE online magazine.