Love the Oscars! When I lived and worked in NYC many moons ago, I worked in the film publicity business. I worked on two films that went on to win the Best Foreign Language Film award. I even got to walk around midtown with an Oscar—remember that story?! LOL!!!
About this time in all the build-up, we start getting bombarded with stories of the fancy meals that famous chefs are cooking up for the Governor’s Ball following the ceremony. Lots of expensive, exotic food served in small, well-presented portions. This coverage has always baffled me. Why do you cover the food that none of the skinny actresses will eat? It seems like no one in Hollywood ever bothers to eat regularly anymore…they’re all so super stick-thin skinny. I wonder if they honestly believe they look attractive?
Oh well. I picked up a copy of the Assistance League of Southern California’s Add a Pinch of Pizzaz at one of my favorite used book stores last year. I was too busy looking at the recipes on the pages that I completely overlooked the very interesting artwork on the inside front cover.
It’s the dinner menu for the awards banquet for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences on May 16, 1929.
It reads:
Hors d’oeuvres Varie
Celery Olives Nuts Rolls
Consomme Celestine
Filet of Sole Saute au Buerre
Half Broiled Chicken on Toast
New String Beans Long Branch Potatoes
Lettuce and Tomatoes with French Dressing
Vanilla and Chocolate Ice Cream
Cakes
Demi Tasse
Quite a difference between that menu and the Wolfgang Puck extravaganza of today, huh? How do you even pull off a half-broiled chicken on toast anyway? This is dangerously close to what the hubby calls a “peanuts and mint” reception! Doesn’t it seem so basic? I wonder how many millions they spend on chefs and food for the ones now?
Do you care about the stories on what they're serving at the Oscars? Do you bother with a big food spread to rival the Big Game extravaganza? Or, do you pop up a huge bag of popcorn for everyone--wait a minute, that seems like a good idea! Then I can throw the popcorn at the screen if the "interpretative dance" for each Best Song nominee returns this year.