Saturday, February 21, 2009

Drinking Oscar

The most glamorous award show of the season calls for celebrity-worthy sips to enhance your viewing delight. As you’re A-List friends arrive to your red carpet event, greet them at the door with this Oscalicious libation (fyi – this recipe is a sneak peek from my next book due out Fall 2009…)

Oscalisiousness
1/2 ounce Chambord
1/2 ounce St. Germain elderflower liqueur
1 edible hibiscus flower in syrup (could be bought at Whole Foods)
3 ounces very chilled dry sparkling wine

Pour champagne into a chilled champagne flute. Slowly add St. Germain, then gently drizzle in Chambord. Drop in edible hibiscus
. (a raspberry could be substituted if edible hibiscus can’t be found)

Also check out Moët & Hennessey’s signature cocktail:

Red Carpet Fizz
1/2 ounce Pomegranate Juice
1/3 ounce Crème de Peche
1/4 ounce Fresh Lemon Juice
Dash of Campari
Top with Moët & Chandon White Star

And, be sure to have some sumptuous hors d’oeuvres for your guests. Avoid the usual hummus-and-pita chips or salsa-and-tortilla chips. This is the Oscars – not the Superbowl! “Class it up” but stick to a budget at Trader Joe’s (for example) with some easy-to-prepare puff pastry chicken bites; steamed vegetarian dumplings with sweet-n-sour dipping sauce; and a platter of shrimp with cocktail sauce. To me, a perfect cheese platter has at least 3 cheeses: one goat cheese (I like the kind rolled in herbs), a creamy blue ch
eese (a blend of brie and Roquefort) and a Spanish Manchego with a drizzle of honey. Serve that along with a basket full of mixed crackers – wheat, multi grain, poppy seed – and a thinly sliced baguette.

Next, its time to break out some wine. Last year, I received a fabulous bottle of Sterling Vineyard’s Red Carpet Reserve numbered, limited edition wine. I had my own little Oscar celebration and reveled in the decadence of watching the Oscars in fuzzy slippers with a special glass in my hand. This year, they sent me the Gold Standard Reserve Chardonnay, the fourth vintage of a limited edition white wine. The stars will be sipping these wines paired with Wolfgang Puck's famous cuisines. Meanwhile, I look forward to opening up my bottle in time for the show – and toasting my top Oscar picks... (Go Kate Winslet!)

2 comments:

Smith Carrelson said...
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Eric said...

That Oscarliciousness sounds fabulous! I'm going to have to commandeer it for another event!