Enjoy the a little of the glitz and glamour of the Hollywood’s biggest night in your own home by throwing a viewing party on a budget.
Start the night with low-carb snacks and drinks. Nothing says the movies more than popcorn. It is high in fiber and low in calories, so you can enjoy several servings without consuming a lot of carbs. Use an air popper to avoid all the calories associated with butter and oils. To dress it up, sprinkle on some parmesan cheese for great flavor to go with the crunch.
If you want to offer snacks with a little more substance, just focus on high protein finger foods with visual appeal. Expect oohs and aahs when you present your guests with an array of succulent jumbo shrimp. Amp the flavor by adding reduced fish stock and complementary herbs, such as rosemary, to the sauté pan. Another option is to buy rosemary skewers and thread the shrimp onto the stalks. You can “grill” them (here are two choices, at low and high price points). Want a slice and serve option? Garnish sliced salmon with dill and serve on cucumber spears, radicchio, or wrapped around frisée. Alternatively, order sashimi and feed a crowd in the time it takes to arrange your serving dishes.
If you or your guests don’t care for fish, opt for beef carpaccio or Epicurious’ Seared Steak Lettuce Cups. These options are also easy to prepare and store ahead of time so that you don’t get stuck in the kitchen during your own party.
Trying to stay away from alcohol and all those empty calories? Sparkling water is a great base for a special drink. You can dress is up with just about anything. From combinations of lemon and rosemary to strawberry and basil, there are plenty of great recipes for tasty mocktails.
A little competition never hurt. Printable ballot sheets are a fun way to see which of your guests can pick the most winners and cheer for your favorite movies, actors and directors. Not sure of who was nominated for the foreign films this year? Check out the New Orleans Times-Picayune’s predictions. The ‘crafty’ fan can create a little golden statue; the rest of us can gift a month of Netflix or a pair of movie passes as an award for whoever has the ballot that comes closest to the actual results.
Decorations can take a big bite out of any party budget. But don’t worry, you can transform your living room without breaking the bank. The key is to choose a simple color palettte. For such a sophisticated night full of style, black, white and gold form the perfect combination.
Spray paint gold stars from the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Stage your own red carpet and add velvet ropes.
Put out disposable cameras so your guests can be the paparazzi.
There are plenty of cost-effective options that will encourage everyone to have fun and create just the right ambience for a movie themed party.
Don’t miss a minute of memorable acceptance speeches. With the right atmosphere and a little planning, you and your guests can all feel like stars. If you’re walking someone else’s red carpet on the big night, remember to tuck CharcoCaps® into your evening bag. You’ll be ready for the buffet and your close-up!