Trolley Stop Chef Josie Rector's Oscar Party Menu Ideas
The Martian
- Red Planet Potatoes: roasted new potatoes with harissa, goat cheese crema and chives
- Jack and Jeff Daniels BBQ Bites: roasted potato rounds with cheddar, BBQ pulled pork, sweet pickled peppers and sour cream
-Solitary Sweet Potato Stacks: roasted sweet potato rounds with blue cheese, bacon and pineapple chutney
Mad Max
-Barter Town Bread and Beans: Brioche crostini with cannelini, rosemary and wild mushroom ragout
-Val-challah Bites: Gruyere grilled cheese with grilled onions, roast beef and blackberry mostarda on challah bread
Bridge of Spies
-Coen Knish: with potato, Boursin cheese and caramelized fennel
-Potsdam Pierogi: stuffed with spinach, onion, and potato, topped with beurre blanc
Straight Outta Compton
Eazy E Macn'Cheese Bites: Asaigo, gruyere and white cheddar macn' cheese bites baked and crusted with panko and sprinkled with paprika
Beets by Dre: Crostini with Boursin cheese, roasted beets pickled egg wedge and chives
Inside Out
Inside Out Fruit Pizza: with sugar cookie crust, pineapple, blueberries, kiwi fruit, strawberries, and plums
Creed
Firecracker Philly Bites: Crostini with dill cream cheese, radish, cucumber, and spicy grilled salmon
The Big Short
Gosling Eggs: Deviled Eggs with bacon and chive garnish
Pitts and Pigs: Medjool Dates stuffed with goat cheese, wrapped in bacon
Carol (The Price of Salt)
Melon balls with Pink Salt
Salted Scallops with Cherry Mostarda
Blanchett Broccoli Salad with roasted cashews, red onion and prosciutto
The Revenant
Leo de Caprio-cola Bites: Cappicola cups with melon, port wine cheese and fresh basil
Hugh Glass Noodles: Sweet Potato glass noodles with shrimp, green onions, cucumber, carrots and spicy sesame ginger sauce
It is almost time to go all Hollywood, at least for a couple of hours.
The 88th annual Academy Awards take place at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 28 in Hollywood's Dolby Theatre.
Jennifer Gilman, director of marketing for Prime Time Party Rentals at 5225 N Springboro Pike, said there is enough glitz for those partying here and there.
People party at their own pace.
(Photo by Mark Garber / Photography and rental decor from Prime Time Party Rental.)
For some, she said an Oscar party means a group of friends sitting around the living room judging other people’s outfits while munching on pizza.
“We do have others who like to kick it up a notch and get as glammed up as the people at the Oscars,” she said. "Even going simple, it is nice to avoid the paper plates and the plastic tablecloths.”
Like other area rental stores, Prime Time offers a variety of items that could make your Oscar-themed party a blast – plates, photo booth backdrops, 3-tier silver trays, red carpets, "velvet" ropes, chocolate fountains, wall lighting, and more.
Gilman said Instagram and Pinterest have changed the face of party planning by having brides and theme party hosts search for creative ideas.
Don't overdo it, though.
“You get some great ideas, but sometimes they taunt you into going a little far,” she said.
Insider's tips
My husband and I throw an annual Oscar Party for friends. It started 19 years ago, when he and college buddies got together to watch the show in a house our friend Angi rented.
It has grown into a silly dress up party for friends. We sometimes even collect donations for charity.
Here are a few things we've learned:
Plan ahead
The last thing you want is to not to enjoy your party because you saved everything for the last minute. Don't stress out. Do as much as you can ahead of time. No need to overdo it whenever you start. It is your party, and can be as big or small as you want it.
Theme that food, or have someone theme it for you
You can make all of your own dishes, but remember you don't have to. Read below for the crave-worthy menu Trolley Stop Chef Josie Rector came up with for our Oscar Party. She let her creative juices flow in a way that won't break our modest budget.
Having an event catered doesn't have to be expensive. And it doesn't have to be fancy, either. A taco bar we ordered a few years ago from Taqueria Mixteca blew everyone's mind.
Trader Joe's and Dorothy Lane Market are great places to find pre-made appetizers, too.
Be sweet
Oscar Party candy bars can be as big or small as you want to make them. (Photo by Amelia Robinson)
Seriously, who doesn’t like candy?
We build a candy bar each year because people love snacks. A popcorn bar is also an option, as is a rented chocolate fountain.
Strut the red carpet
Rented a red carpet, or make your own. A long piece of heavier red fabric might do the trick. It is also fun to have someone play Joan Rivers, and maybe even the paparazzi.
Make it a game
Oskens are a fun project for an Oscar Party. You can personalize them. (Photo by Amelia Robinson)
Make the show interactive by allowing your guests to vote for who they think will win or should win Academy Awards. A list of Oscar nominees is available at oscar.go.com/nominees.
There are several other ways to let your guests win in categories. Don’t forget to award winners with a trophy, doodad or knickknack. Swing by your nearest party supply store for inspiration.
We hand out Oskens – Ken dolls sprayed painted gold and glued to cat food cans – for best dressed, most correct Oscar winners picked, and best guest acting. The guest that picks the least number of winners get the worst movie of the year. There are plenty of contenders for worse movie this year.
Give them what they came for
Some guests are there for the party, while others seriously love watching the awards show. Make sure seating is situated to accommodate both groups. This could be tricky in a small room.
Pin it
Gilman wasn't kidding when she said Pinterest is filled with awesome Oscar Party idea. There are pins on everything from free and printable Oscar Bingo cards to instructions on how to make bow ties from napkins.
About the Author
