I'm Tasting Stars! Champagne Cocktail Recipes for A Glamorous Oscar Party
Say what you want about the Oscars but I think we need this bit of red carpet glam, fashion, and entertainment now more than ever.
The 94th annual Academy Awards is a frothy escape that you can enjoy at home. So whether you’ll be hosting a party or snuggling solo, you’ll just need your bingo card/Oscar Form Guide (a la Ascot or Santa Anita) and a food and drink menu. I've got your award-winning drink recipes.
After all, the televised festivities kick off at early afternoon for pre-shows; 8 EDT for the Oscar. (check local listings/streaming options). You can spend most of your day – and night, with Oscar!
From a “no-host” ceremony style since 2018 (I offered but I guess the Oscar committee didn’t get my message…) to now a trinity of hosts, I’ll be looking at how these ladies of comedy work their charm.
I’ll also be looking at history in the making. One of my favorite actresses,
Penelope Cruz is up for Best Actress in “Parallel Mothers,” a film directed by her frequent collaborator Pedro Almodóvar (I love him and his films), while her husband, Javier Barden is nominated in the Best Actor category for playing Desi Arnaz in “Being the Ricardos.” I loved this touching perspective about Lucy and Desi ~ a side of the famous TV couple I never knew about. Along with Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons ~ it’s the first time two real-life couples have been nominated for Academy Awards at the same time.
I’m also looking forward to the “Godfather” and “James Bond” tributes ~ classic cinema that deserves a special nod.
Entertaining Performances
I can't wait to watch the best original song nominees (four of five will be showcased) with performances by Beyoncé (“Be Alive” from “King Richard,” written with Dixson), Billie Eilish and Finneas (“No Time to Die,” from the James Bond film), Sebastián Yatra (“Dos Oruguitas,” the “Encanto” song written by Lin-Manuel Miranda. How much do we love Lin-Manuel. Me encanta xox) and Reba McEntire (“Somehow You Do” from “Four Good Days,” written by Diane Warren).
Best Picture
(kdvr.com)
Bill and I have seen every film nominated for Best Picture except CODA, which is only available on Apple TV. Which we don’t have. I think nominated films should be more widely available. But that’s just me.
We just watched “West Side Story” last night ~ I cried so much at the tragic romance. I can’t help it. The dancing is so exuberant and exciting. And Rita Morena is a treasure. I’m listening to the sound track as I write this. Normally, I don’t care that much for musicals but this was different.
We truly loved all the nominated films for Best Picture; If forced to pick, I think we’d say “The Power of the Dog” or “Don’t Look Up.”
Oscar Menu
Here’s a sure-fire, winning Oscar suggestion.
With a menu of Champagne cocktails and an array of snacks - everyone can focus on the cinema stars.
Plus, legend has it that the monk Dom Perignon said, "Come quickly, I am tasting stars!" You can too.
Champagne.
Really, there’s no reason not to celebrate every category, from the fashion to the Best Actor/Actress and Best Picture.
Champagne will take you from early afternoon or brunch ~ think Bellinis and/or Mimosas. You can use cassis, raspberry liquor, Cointreau, or Creme de Violette to top off the bubbly for an added bit of glamour if you don’t go with the more traditional orange or grapefruit juice.
I adore peach Bellinis; you can garnish with a peach slice (we use our homegrown peaches) or an edible blossom such as an elegant orchid.
One can’t go wrong with a case of Chandon. Or lots and lots of splits or half bottles poised seductively in a big silver bowl of ice.
You can also create a beautiful punch.
Get out that glass punch bowl and create a super pretty centerpiece where guests will gather and sip.
Champagne Cocktail recipes:
A recipe from my Art of the Garnish book is Chandon Pink Punch, created courtesy of Chandon.
CHANDON-Pinkalicious Punch
Ingredients:
1 bottle (750ml) Chandon Rose
16 oz. hibiscus kombucha
4 oz. Meyer lemon liqueur
16 drops strawberry-rhubarb bitters
Method:
Pour the kombucha, lemon liqueur and bitters into a large punch bowl. Add ice. Top with Chandon Rose and serve.
Garnish to Punch it Up
Make this punch even better by using blossom filled ice cubes or fill a bundt pan with flowers and water, then freeze for a single, beautiful piece of ice. I’ve made this ring of ice flowers for years and it always adds a special look. As the ice melts, the blossoms float, making the look even better. You can ladle in a flower blossom as garnish too.
(neighborjulia)
Chandon Pink Rose~Pink Crush
Ingredients:
2 oz. Chandon Rosé
2 oz. grapefruit juice
1/2 oz. pink peppercorn simple syrup (see below)*
1/2 tsp crushed pink peppercorns
Method:
Pour the grapefruit juice and simple syrup in a rocks glass. Stir. Add ice and top with the Rosé.
Garnish
Crushed pink peppercorns
* Pink Peppercorn Simple Syrup
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp pink peppercorns
Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and let sit at least 30 minutes. Strain and reserve in a container.
CHANDON~Pink Chandy
Ingredients:
3 oz. Chandon Rose
2 oz. pink lemonade
2 dashes Meyer lemon bitters
1 slice fresh jalapeno and lime
Method:
Pour the lemonade into a rocks glass. Add the bitters and top with Chandon Rosé.
Garnish:
Add the jalapeno slice. lime and serve. Or mint.
The first recipe citation for a Champagne Cocktail goes back to the “The Bar-Tenders Guide” written by Jerry Thomas in 1862 -- way before the First Academy Awards were held in May 1929.
Classic Champagne Cocktail
Ingredients:
Take 1 lump of sugar.
1 or 2 dashes Angostura bitters.
1 small lump of ice.
Method:
Fill the goblet (hey, it’s the Oscars - think Game of Thrones) or use a lovely champagne glass - with wine, stir up with a spoon, and serve with a thin piece of twisted lemon peel.
Some say a man named John Dougherty made this type of drink famous by adding brandy to a Champagne cocktail and winning a New York cocktail competition in 1889.
As the Happy Hour or what the Academy refers to as “The Golden Hour” approaches, you can shake up a few glasses of my
Duchess Martini:
Ingredients:
2 oz LIV Vodka
1/2-3/4 oz Dolin Dry Vermouth
Method:
Mix ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour into a frozen cocktail glass, preferably a vintage one.
Garnish
Lemon Twist draped languidly on the glass rim.
I prefer something salty to snack on while sipping champagne so I often serve very, very good potato chips. In a crystal bowl.
You can also serve up a cheese platter along with excellent salumi, olives, pickled veggies, and very good crackers or slices of a baguette.
You can serve up very good popcorn, served in those colorful bags or boxes.
I have black and red striped ones that look so festive.
Add some artful cocktail napkins, artfully fanned out.
Tea lights and string lights or candles will add a sophisticated ambience.
Enjoy your evening with Oscar. Cheers!