We love a theme party and the Golden Globe menu is one of our favorites to create. We do a course inspired by each of the twenty best film and television nominees. In past years we've assigned a film or show to each of our guests to design a course for and that is also very fun. But this year the control freak in us wanted to do it all. Here's what we came up with...
AVATAR: Blinis with Caviar and Creme Fraiche
For the most expensive movie ever made, we served the quintessential luxury bite: caviar. Since we didn't have James Cameron's budget, we went for domestic caviar-just as tasty as Russian. Blinis were simply dolloped with creme fraiche, dill and a decadent portion of caviar. If you're feeling especially festive, add a little blue food coloring to your creme fraiche as a nod to the blue creatures.
PRECIOUS: A Bucket of Fried Chicken
Stereotype? Nope. It seems to be Precious' favorite food. We sadly watched her devour a ten-piece bucket leaving an ample amount of grease on her face. For a daintier portion, we offered a bucket of popcorn fried chicken. This is the perfect suggestion for the generous friend who is always asking, 'What can I bring?' It saved a last minute trip and the chicken arrived hot. If you've seen the movie, aren't you relieved I didn't serve boiled pig's feet?
UP IN THE AIR: Warm Nuts
George Clooney certainly does spend a lot of time up in the air--ten million miles worth. Luckily, he flies first class. Free booze aside, my favorite part of riding up front, is the warm nuts so generously offered by the flight attendants. You can go traditional though we find the Barefoot Contessa's 'Warm Rosemary Cashews' irresistible. An extra touch: warm towels.
INGLORIOUS BASTARDS: Nazi German Sausage and Pretzel Bites with Stoneground Dijon Mustard
Our favorite film of the year and we figured, you've gotta go German. These bites are a little time consuming but can be made two weeks in advance and frozen. If you are really short on time, a skewer of sausage and soft pretzel will do in a pinch. And to honor the french? Grey Poupon (even if it is made by Kraft-Tarantino loves a little irony).
HURT LOCKER: Falafel Bomb Mezze Plate
Honoring our soldiers in Iraq with a Middle Eastern mezze plate featuring falafel 'bombs'. Guests made their own mini falafel sandwiches filling pita triangles with tabouli, tomatoes, pickled red onion and taziki.
Nominations and Courses for BEST MOTION PICTURE COMEDY or MUSICAL
JULIE AND JULIA: Beef Bourguignon Skewers
This was a no-brainer. On a lonely Wednesday night last spring, I read Julie Powel's Julie and Julia. The following day I set out to master five Julia Child recipes. By far the biggest disappointment: aspics. So, even though they are featured in the film, we didn't want to burden our guests with them. Instead, the classic. We prepared Julia's traditional version (can be done two days in advance) and then skewered hunks of beef, carrot, onion and mushroom. Reserved the sauce and served on the side as a dip. Bon Appetit!
IT'S COMPLICATED: Complicated Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding
Meryl Streep charmed Steve Martin, as well as us, as she prepared chocolate croissants after hours. Our twist: chocolate croissant bread pudding. Our complication: we've added a touch of Grand Marnier. The only thing that could've made it better? Preparing our entire menu in Meryl's restaurant in that to-die-for kitchen.
THE HANGOVER: Mike Tyson's Tiger Prawns with Bloody Mary Cocktail Sauce
Zach Galifinakis is my boyfriend. He was at my party. We had so many laughs... One of the best tips from Ina Garten is to roast your shrimp for shrimp cocktail. It is such a simple adjustment but adds so much flavor. And to honor our blacked out buddies, we added a little vodka to our spicy cocktail sauce.
(500) DAYS OF SUMMER: Korean Tacos
This movie was just a touch too indie for us, what with all of the quirky bows, awkward gesturing and meant-to-be-adorable dorking around. To support our opinion, we served the uber-hipster food for the uber-indie film: korean tacos! If you live in Los Angeles, you could stand in line at the Koji Truck, or make a friend do it. Waiting in line on the day of a part isn't our style, so we added some store-bought kimchi to our tofu tacos as well as dashes of soy, sesame oil and chili paste.
NINE: Nine Elements of an Antipasto Platter
When in Rome..do as Daniel Day-Lewis does. We made this course easy with a trip to the Whole Foods deli and olive bar and selected our nine favorite antipasto offerings. We liked: prosciutto, fennel salami, lucque olives, hunks of parm, hard ricotta, roasted tomatoes, caper berries, homemade spicy pickles and fig jam. Nine party game: a vote for sexiest leading lady.
So...We get more excited about the feature film nominations but here are some drink, dessert and nibble ideas to represent the ten best television series nominations. Pick a few to represent your favorite shows...How is Top Chef not nominated?
Nominations and Courses for BEST TELEVISION SERIES DRAMA
DEXTER: Blood Orange Mojitos
A nod to the blood oranges featured in the opening credits, as well as the shows locale, Miami.
BIG LOVE: 'Clean-Cut' Crudites with Three Dips
Bill Henrickson has three wives so we had three dips...Assembled a green and white crudite platter with Cilantro Cumin Dip , Roasted Garlic White Bean Dip and a Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Dip.
MAD MEN: Manhattans
Have you seen the show? These boys (and girls) know how to throw back. Enjoy a classic.
TRUE BLOOD: Mini Red Velvet Cupcakes
We admit that cupcakes get a bit too much attention these days, but they are a crowd pleaser, especially the Red Velvets. Plus, they represent the South, as well as the blood. If you completely oppose supporting the cupcake craze, serve True Bloody Marys.
HOUSE: Vicodin
The guys's a pill popper...the real stuff is too valuable to share so we opted for altoids.
Nominations and Courses for BEST TELEVISION SERIES COMEDY
30 ROCK: 'Liz Lemon' Bars
Just enough sweet and tart humor...Now we don't like to admit such 'cheats' to our guests, but we found a dozen lemon bar bites at Trader Joe's in the freezer section for less than the butter and lemons in my basket. So, we put our ingredients back and took the help. Shhhhh....
ENTOURAGE: Spicy Tuna Rolls
Johnny Drama, 'I only go to the valley for sushi row, bro.' We bought sushi-grade tuna and combined with mayo, lemon zest, soy sauce and wasabi paste. To avoid all of the angst involved with rolling our own sushi, we dolloped spicy tuna onto cucumber rounds. Purchasing pre-made sushi would've been even easier.
GLEE: 'Short Bus' Bake Sale Cookie Platter
Glee's group held a bake sale this season to raise money for their schools' short bus. Honoring their efforts, we put out a platter of chocolate chip cookies. The classic Tollhouse recipe is our favorite.
THE OFFICE: Supermarket Birthday Cake Bites
The classic 'office party' go-to treat...we found the biggest slice of cake ever at Pavillion's for $1.50. Our feelings were only a little hurt when it seemed to be sweet-lover David Jone's favorite dessert of the evening...
MODERN FAMILY: Potstickers
Not the most politically correct appetizer but it's Jay's (aka Al Bundy) term of endearment for his newly adopted Vietnamese granddaughter.
No viewing party is complete without a little competition so we always print ballots, create a pool, swap ballots, score and winner takes all.
The Menu
Manhattans - blood orange mojitos
warm rosemary cashews - crudites with three dips
roasted shrimp cocktail with bloody mary sauce
blinis with caviar and creme fraiche - spicy tuna rolls - antipasto platter
falafel - korean tacos - potstickers - sausage pretzel bites
popcorn fried chicken - beef bourguignon skewers
lemon bars - red velvet cupcakes - chocolate chip cookies - cake bites
chocolate croissant bread pudding - vicodin
