The Academy Awards: It's a night that we all remain glued to our televisions, tense with anticipation over which flicks will claim an Oscar and which celebrities will make the Best and Worst Dressed lists. We ogle over the couture gowns, iceberg-sized diamonds, legendary movie stars and never ending glitz and glamor.
Although most of us probably still have memories of our last casual Super Bowl party ingrained in our minds, unfortunately chips and dip aren't going to cut it for this gargantuan night of glamor. Wolfgang Puck is returning for his 16th year to cater the official Oscars' after-party, and you can bet he will be pulling out all the stops to feed the 1,500 A-List guests his finest fare. So instead of copping out with beer and microwave popcorn, try serving up some similar red carpet worthy recipes for your Oscar bash this year.
And the nominees are ...
The Golden Glamor Cocktail: The Oscars wouldn't be the Oscars without some good old fashioned bubbly to toast the winners, but try shaking things up a bit with this cocktail that packs extra punch with vanilla liquor and passion fruit juice. Luxury in a glass.
Tuna Tonnato: Word on the street has it that Wolfgang Puck will be setting up a full sushi bar complete with maki rolls, sashimi and nigiri for the stars to snack on before dinner is served. This super simple recipe is fresh, flavorful and the perfect partner to a cocktail.
Kobe Beef Sliders: A gourmet version of a hamburger, these bite-size crowd pleasers are sure to be a hit at your Oscar party. Chef Puck will be serving them with celery remoulade, but feel free to add whatever toppings you like.
Shrimp Tempura: Keeping with an Asian theme for the hors d'oeuvres, Chef Puck will be serving up a similar version of these crispy fried shrimp with a light-as-air crust that won't weigh you down. Try dipping them in cocktail sauce or spicy mayonnaise for extra flavor.
Chicken Pot Pie: Since most of the attendees at this post-Oscar bash have been dieting or fasting for months, Wolfgang Puck knows that nothing hits the spot like a gourmet version of everyone's favorite comfort food. Word has it that he will be adding shaved black truffles to his, but this recipe will deliver the same flavor without breaking the bank.
Baked Alaska: Another classic comfort food that makes for a sweet finish to this glamor-laden evening, this recipe is the perfect combination of richness and lightness but has A-List flavor. Wolfgang Puck will be using espresso ice cream and chocolate sorbet to fill his version, but you can use whatever ice cream combinations you like.
And there you have it: all the necessary ingredients to host an Oscar-worthy evening all your own (no Versace gown required). Bring on the bling -- this menu is red carpet-ready.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of Wolfgang Puck Catering (wolfgangpuck.com)