Oscars Viewing

When creating a beautiful buffet for your Oscars viewing party, don't skimp on dessert! The stars will be devouring shortbread and chocolate truffles at the Governors Ball, so take a cue from Sherry Yard — the event's pastry chef — and make your own variations. Cut classic, buttery shortbread into Oscar shaped cookies. Arrange store bought chocolate truffles on pretty plates next to chocolate caramel sandwich cookies. For the recipes to these bite sized decadent desserts, read more

Instead of serving a sit down dinner at your Oscars viewing party, offer a smörgåsbord of snacks like Wolfgang Puck does at the Governors Ball. Provide a hearty mix of homemade and store bought appetizers. Have a cheese plate with several different types of cheese, crackers, flatbreads, crostini, and grapes. A platter of salumi — salami, proscuitto, chorizo, etc. — with olives compliments the assortment of cheeses. Order a couple of sushi platters from your favorite sushi restaurant. Supplement these grocery store goodies with easy to make dishes: smoked salmon pizza, blue cheese popcorn, smoky chipotle hummus, and gingery chicken satay with peanut sauce.

For the recipes, please read more

The Oscars are less than a week away and while the stars are busy deciding what gowns to wear, I'm busy planning my annual Oscars viewing party. Watching the Oscars is super fun, especially if you are surrounded by a group of friends and platters of delicious food. All week I'll be featuring ideas to help you host an Oscars watching party at your home. As always let's start with the invitation. To see how I made the golden invite shown here read more

Normally I don't write a Come Party With Me on Saturdays, but seeing as the most extravagant party in Hollywood is happening this weekend, I felt it was time to bring it on. Everyone likes to feel loved, special, and like a super estrella (translation: star in Spanish) once and awhile, so why not do a little something extra for your guests? The invitations have been sent (if you have not mailed the invites you better personally call all of your friends to inform them of your fete today!), the menu planned, the drinks concocted, the decor arranged, and the music compiled. To see what surprises I have in mind (and they're good ones!), read more

Lights, camera, action! It's almost showtime for my Oscars watching party where I'll dish on the best dresses, recap the most heart warming speeches, and enjoy the show in the comfort of my own home surrounded by my friends. If you follow my extensive party plan, you too can entertain during the Academy Awards. Start by mailing hand made invitations with gold foil Oscars. Next plan a menu using recipes Wolfgang Puck will serve to the stars at the Governor's Ball (such as bruschetta, pizza with caviar, and lemon bars). Serve Departinis and champagne. Decorate your living room with gold tones, white flowers, and roll out a red carpet. You may be thinking, wow she's made this so easy for me by thinking of it all... but not so fast, there is one more step in this equation: the music. To see my soundtrack for the ultimate Oscars viewing soirée, read more

As the stars are busy in Hollywood pre-partying and buffing up their beautiful bods, I am busy planning my Oscars Viewing party. I want this to be one glamorous party so I am paying special attention to all of the tiny little details. I've sent my guests a gorgeous gold invitation, cooked up an elaborate menu using Wolfgang Puck's after-party recipes including crispy appetizers, mouth-watering mains, and delicious desserts, and practiced mixing my fun best picture nominee inspired cocktails. Like an award winning film, no memorable party is complete without a fabulous backdrop to set the scene. To see my recommendations on how to transform your living room with chic, simple decorations, read more

As you may realize, I plan a party each and every week. What type of party am I helping you host this week? Well, duh, an Oscars watching party. The awards show of the year is this Sunday and I am planning a little shin-dig to celebrate. I made beautiful gold Oscar invitations, and created a three course meal with appetizers, pizza and salad, and a fantasy dessert extravaganza using recipes that Wolfgang Puck will serve to the stars at the Academy Awards after-party. No soiree is complete without a dazzling array of delicious drinks, so to see what Oscar inspired cocktails I have up my BCBG sleeve, read more

All day today, I've been tempting you with Oscar worthy dishes that will be served at the Governor's Ball after the show on Sunday and during the show in your very own home. That's right you read me correctly, at your very own home! I'm helping you host an Oscars Viewing dinner party and here's what you can check off of your to-do-list for the party. Invitations? Done. Menu? Done. Ok well almost done. I've told you what to make for appetizers and the main dish and I've kept you waiting on the edge of your seat for the dessert (just like they do at the awards shows for the most important awards!). To see what I suggest you make for dessert, including Wolfgang Puck's recipe for Oscar's Chocolate Box with Oscar's Chocolate Mousse (one of the treats that will be a part of his Oscar's Sweet Extravaganza, read more

In case you haven't noticed, this week's obsession revolves around the Oscars. I'm planning a big viewing party where we will discuss the stars, the movies, and most importantly the dresses(!). Yesterday I made golden, elegant invitations and today I'm figuring out what I will be serving. Since Wolfgang Puck caters the Oscars after party every year I am making a meal that consists of real dishes that the stars will be eating (think about it: Leo and I could both be popping garlic aioli bruschetta in our mouths at the exact same moment!). This is the second installment of this menu, for the delectable dessert that you certainly do not want to miss come back later this afternoon. To see what I'm cooking up as the main dish (yes it does involve caviar!) for the dinner, read more

Over the past few years Oscars viewing parties have become as commonplace as the Super Bowl and St. Patrick's day celebrations. You may not be an award winning celebrity but that doesn't mean you can't host your own fabulous Oscars party this Sunday. The Oscars are the biggest awards ceremony because in the past they were the only televised awards show. This is the 79th year that the Academy will present its little golden statues to the year's stellar performances. The Oscars start at 5 and no meal is served during the show. The official after party, the Governor's Ball, is where the stars are invited to eat a meal created by Wolfgang Puck. I've done a little investigating and I've put together a light dinner menu for you to serve at your Oscars viewing with dishes that will actually be served at the Governor's Ball! This is the first installment of an extravagant three part menu. You've already seen the invitations now take a peek at the appetizers and read more