Martie Knows Parties - BLOG - Host an Academy Awards Party!

Friday

Feb252011

Host an Academy Awards Party!

Friday, February 25, 2011 at 12:33PM

Fresh from our article in the Birmingham News with writer Chanda Temple, here's the full party plan for hosting your own Oscar Night Awards Party! Read The News article...

Inspiration: Think Wolfgang Puck meets Rachael Ray. Incorporate all of the signature items Wolfgang includes in his Oscar party menu but with easy, make-ahead and purchase options to make your party prep a breeze!

Set the Stage

Whether you want the party to be casual or glitz and glam, let your invitation set the tone. Ask guests to come dressed red carpet ready or low key casual. Let the party reflect your personality. Evite has several "Oscar" and "Red Carpet" type of invitations to select from and you can get them out fast.

Decorations

Oscar is gold so I used gold for the main design element. I always like to use what I have paired with a few easy to find items to anchor the décor. If your china has a gold band, start there. I found a few inexpensive mix and match items to round out my supplies including some gold plastic platters from Party City; under $3.00. Mixed in with some of your nicer pieces, these look great and won’t break the bank. I got gold stars and helium-filled balloons from Wal-Mart. I tied the stars to the balloons and they looked like they were floating.

Photo: Tamika Moore/The Birmingham NewsSignature Cocktails

Have a signature cocktail ready to welcome guests as they arrive. A tray of drinks at the door or self-serve pitchers or containers will alleviate bartending duties. I made several, including The King's Peach, in honor of The King's Speech, nominated for best picture. Get the recipe...

Entertainment

Offering entertainment outside of the broadcast is essential... you know how looonnnggg those shows can be.

Download the list of Academy Awards nominees and ask guests to vote before the show starts. Here's the official ballot. Oscar also has fun party games you can print for your party; a bingo game and crossword puzzle you can download. They also have 83^rd Annual Academy Awards posters you can download, too.

I like to create a slideshow of stars photos from past award shows and do a little “Joan Rivers” critique session with friends during the commercials…. It’s always fun to dis the fashion!

Create your own movie quote trivia game. Match the quote to the film. "Ditto" (Ghost), "You had me at hello" (Jerry Maguire), "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn" (Gone With the Wind)... you get the picture. Or you can download my Movie Quote game, complete with instructions.

Create a party mix of tunes from your favorite Oscar winning movies…. Most are available on iTunes or you can get a soundtrack CD.

Martie's Oscar Night Party Menu

I wanted to try to recreate Wolfgang Puck's Oscar party menu. I was able to get a preview of everything he was offering guests at the Academy's Governor's Ball. Wolfgang was doing lots of elegant bites set up in stations, perfect for a viewing party since guests will be camped out in front of the TV. You want guests to be able to mix, mingle, and graze easily. I've included lots of make-ahead or purchase options so your party prep will be simple. If you don't want to cook, you don't have to... all of this can be found at the store or by calling your favorite take-out spot. If someone else can make it better than I can, that's what I want to serve!

Make sure to create visual interest by using plates, platters, and pedestals in a variety of sizes and heights.

Photo: Tamika Moore/BHM NewsSushi Station: Sushi is a staple at the Oscar parties and Wolfgang always has a lavish assortment. I am not even going to TRY to make sushi… but everyone loves it! Get high quality take out from a favorite restaurant or quality grocery store. Arrange on a platter and chill until serving time,

Photo: Tamika Moore/BHM NewsPizza Station:Wolfgang Puck is famous for his pizza! Supplement Puck’s frozen pizza from the store with fresh items like arugula, prosciutto, and shaved Parmigianino-Reggiano, etc. A drizzle of good olive oil and some salt and pepper is essential; bake on the wire rack of your oven or on a pizza stone for a crispy crust.

Slider Station: Get slider buns at Whole Foods or cut brioche with a circle cutter to fit. Cut the buns open and spread with a little butter. Then grill the bread. To serve Wolfgang-style, make a remoulade sauce and top with a cherry tomato slice, some arugula, and a cornichon… which is simply the French world for gherkin…. Pickle. Here's the Wolfgang recipe...

Dessert Station:Chocolate Pots de Crème (pronounced po' du cream) is deep, dark, and decadent so it reminded me of the film, The Black Swan. It’s also an easy and elegant dessert to make ahead so it’s perfect for a party. Make a “Faux de Cream” using any store bought chocolate mousse or pudding. But the original is worth the effort. For the Oscar Governor’s Ball, Wolfgang’s pastry chef Sherry Yard is planning a tower of French Macarons. It’s the newest trend for weddings and big events. Sticky, sweet, and delicious!