When I set out to put together some Oscar party menus based on this year’s Best Picture nominees, I was mainly thinking about The Help. A food movie if there ever was one.

Fried chicken!

Caramel cake!

Chocolate pie…

But War Horse? Tricky. And I’m still trying to figure out The Tree of Life.

I bet Brad Pitt is, too.

Anyway, here are this year’s menus. Choose dishes inspired by your favorite movie, or mix-and-match based on what you want to put in your belly. (Or, just buy a bottle of Champagne, and take a sip every time someone says “cinema.”)

Cinema.

And if you need more ideas, by all means, loot the Recipe Index!

The Artist (Swanky, Old Hollywood-Style Cocktail Party)

• To Buy: olives, Marcona almonds
• Rosemary Cheddar Crackers
• Shrimp Cocktail (Smitten Kitchen)
• Ham and Cheese in Puff Pastry (Barefoot Contessa) or Spinach in Puff Pastry
• Rib-Eye, New Potato and Portobello Kebabs
• Strawberries Romanov. Inspired by the premiere of “A Russian Affair,” where George meets Peppy.
• Drinks: Champagne, Pomegranate-Champagne Punch

The Descendants (A Hawaiian Throwdown)

• Coconut Shrimp with Pineapple-Habanero Dip
• Barbecued Mahimahi 
• Huli-Huli Chicken
• Island Pork Tenderloin
• Pork Egg Rolls
• Coconut Cupcakes
• Coconut-Pineapple Dacquoise
• Easy Pineapple-Coconut Sorbet
• Drinks: Mai Tai, Blue Hawaiian, Waialua Soda (@World Market), Kona coffee

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (A New York-Inspired Menu)

• To Buy: mini bagels with cream cheese(s), deli platter
• Grandma Pizza
• Hot Dogs
• Meatball Sliders
• The Baked (NYC) Brownie (Brown Eyed Baker)
• Black and White Cookies (Smitten Kitchen)
• Drinks: Dr. Brown’s sodas, Egg Cream

The Help (A Retro Southern Spread)

• Cheese Straws OR Cheddar Biscuits
• Deviled Eggs
• Pimento Cheese (serve as sandwich spread or with crackers, chips or crudité)
• Chicken Salad for Company or No-Fail Fried Chicken
• Caramel Cake (Deep South Dish)
• Chocolate Pudding Pie
• Strawberry Cream Cheese Cupcakes
• Drinks: Alabama Slammer, Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka, Lemonade, Sweet Tea

Hugo / Midnight in Paris (A French-Inspired Féte)

• To Buy: baguette or mini croissants, marinated olives
• Cheese and Fruit Plate
• Sausage-Stuffed Mushrooms
• Savory Palmiers
• Tomato and Goat Cheese Tarts or Tomato, Olive and Goat Cheese Galette
• Almost-Fudge Gateau
• Creme Brulée
• French Chocolate Brownies
• French Yogurt Cake with Whipped Cream and Berries
• Drinks: Champagne, French 75, Sidecar, Wine, Café au Lait

Moneyball (A Collection of Ballpark Favorites)

• To Buy: cotton candy, peanuts in the shell
• Soft Pretzels
• Chorizo, Bean and Cheese Nachos
• Beer Brats
• Hot Dogs
• Cracker Jack (Caramel Peanut Popcorn)
• Drinks: Beer, soda

The Tree of Life (A Retro Midwestern Dinner with Vast Cosmic Consequences)

• Pan-Fried Onion Dip and chips
• Deviled Eggs
• King Ranch Chicken
• Mini Meatloaves and Mashed Potatoes
• Sirloin Sliders with Bacon and Horseradish Mayo
• Strawberry Pretzel Salad. Always room for Jell-O.
• World Peace Cookies
• Drinks: Beer, soda

War Horse (A Menu with European Favorites, Turnips and Haystacks)

• Silken Turnip and Potato Soup Shooters. Oh, those rocky turnip fields.
• Ploughman’s Lunch (Start Cooking)
• Beer Brats
• Vegetarian Options: Fennel and Mushroom Pie, Gardener’s Pie or Lentil Shepherd’s Pie
• Apple Turnovers. C’mon, horses love apples.
• Black Forest Cake
• Buttery Jam Cookies. A tribute to the jam-making grandfather.
• Chocolate Haystacks. Horses love hay, too.
• Drinks: French 75, Shandy (half beer, half carbonated lemonade)

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