Parties That Cooks Oscar Party Menu: Recipes Inspired by The 2013 Best Picture Nominees

This Sunday, February 24th, brings the 85th Academy Awards also known as The Oscars. Be excited.

This glamorous awards ceremony featuring iconic gold statues celebrates all things cinema. Along with the highly anticipated Red Carpet, a crucial component of any Oscar night is the assortment of extravagant after parties. But why let celebrities have all the fun? Host your own Oscar party! Whether you invite 3 friends or 300 strangers, (hey, it can happen, right?) this Oscar-worthy menu will make your bash the talk of the town. Paparazzi not invited.

These recipes can be scaled to feed a movie theater full of hungry cinephiles.
The fun part: each dish is inspired by one of the Best Picture nominees.

Amour Go ahead, fall in love with our mini Smoked Salmon Croque Monsieur Sandwiches. You dont need subtitles to understand that these crunchy little sandwiches are delicious! We foresee a long, happy life together.

Argo We bet the Canadian film crew wouldve loved these Middle East Nachos made of Baharat Spiced Beef on Pita Chips with Tahini Sauce. You know, if they didnt have bigger issues on their plates.

Beasts of the Southern Wild Breakthrough actress Quvenzhan Wallis was just 5 years old during filming. Her feisty character, Hushpuppy, deserves a dish that packs a punch: Cornmeal Hushpuppies with Jalapeno Marmalade.

Django Unchained While a Southern dish may have seemed like the clear choice here, we thought wed mix things up with a German nod to Djangos bounty hunting partner in crime (or justice?), Dr. Schultz. Staying true to German tradition, these Sweet Pea and Mint Pancakes are best served with Smoked Salmon and Sour Cream.

Les Misrables They probably wouldve titled this film Less Misrables had the characters been fortunate enough to stumble upon this recipe for Petites Pissaladieres: Miniature Onion and Black Olive Tartlets. YUM.

Life of Pi While I probably wouldnt enjoy being trapped on a tiny boat with a giant tiger, I would love to live a life of pies. Go savory with Mini Apple, Roquefort and Onion or satisfy your sweet tooth with Seasonal Fruit Potpies with Soft Whipped Cream.

Lincoln Lets take it back to the South with Crab and Roasted Red Pepper Beignets with Herbed Aioli. Consider these the perfect excuse to yell, Procure me those beignets!! Youre welcome.

Silver Linings Playbook Dont wake up your parents in the middle of the night. Dont fall prey to panic attacks. Dont become a grieving floozy. Do watch some football. Do take a dance class. Do make these deliciously saucy Philly Cheese Steak Bites.

Zero Dark Thirty Where we found this tasty recipe for Meatballs with Coconut-Mint Chutney is Top Secret. Access classified information by saying the code words: PARSI KOFTA, or just clicking the link above.

Parties That Cooks Valentine Dessert Recipe: Decadent Chocolate Stout Cupcakes

Happy Valentines Day! Your dinner reservations may be set, but remember to leave room for dessert! Boy, have we got the perfect Valentines Day recipe for couples or those flying solo: decadent chocolate cupcakes. With stout in the batter and porter in the frosting, there is no down side. And trust us, making the chocolate bubbles will sweeten your sweethearts day andearn you extra points.

Chocolate Stout Cupcakes with Porter Frosting and Chocolate Bubbles
This recipe can be found in our Dessert Recipe Library!

Ingredients
Cupcake Batter:
1/2 cup stout, such as Guinness (let foam subside when measuring)
1/2 cup unsalted butter
6 Tablespoons unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
1 egg
6 Tablespoons sour cream
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup bitter sweet chocolate chips

24 cup mini muffin tin pan lined with paper liners

Porter Frosting:
1 cup porter, flavored porters work well
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Chocolate Bubbles:
1 cups bittersweet chocolate chips, about 6 ounces
1 x1 piece of bubble wrap, washed and dried thoroughly

Methods/Steps
Preheat oven to 350F.

Heat Stout-Cocoa Mixture: Bring stout and butter to simmer in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Heat until butter is melted. Add cocoa powder and whisk until mixture is smooth. Cool slightly.

Mix Wet Ingredients: Using a stand or hand mixer with a large bowl, mix the eggs and sour cream until blended. Add stout-cocoa mixture to egg mixture and beat just to combine.

Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Add flour mixture to the wet ingredients and beat briefly on slow speed. Add the chocolate chips and switch to a rubber spatula and fold batter until completely combined.

Bake Cupcakes: Line the muffin tins and fill them 2/3 full, about 1 tablespoon. Bake cupcakes until tester inserted into center of cakes comes out clean, about 8-10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from tin onto cooling rack and continue to cool completely.

Reduce Porter: In a small saucepan set over medium heat, bring the porter to a low boil. Reduce the porter to about 3 tablespoons, about 15 minutes. Let cool.

Beat Frosting: With a stand or hand mixer, beat the butter and the reduced porter until it is light and fluffy. Add the powdered sugar cup at a time until it thickens and is smooth.

Melt Chocolate: Bring a pot of water to a boil. Place the chocolate in a bowl or double boiler. Turn off the flame and set the bowl over the steaming water (make sure the water does not touch the bottom of the bowl). Alternatively, place the chocolate into a stainless steel bowl and place into a low oven until melted. Once melted, stir to mix and remove from heat and let cool until cool to the touch but still pourable.

Mold Chocolate: Place the bubble wrap onto a sheet pan or plate that fits into the refrigerator or freezer. Pour the cooled melted chocolate onto the center of the bubble wrap. Using an offset spatula, gently and evenly spread the chocolate onto the bubble wrap. You do not need to fill entire piece of bubble wrap, just spread evenly. Place the chocolate into the refrigerator or freezer until hard. When hard, break the chocolate into 48 bite size pieces (big enough that you can tell it is bubble wrap but small enough to fit on the cupcake and handle as little as possible).

Frost Cupcakes: Frost each cupcake with the porter frosting. Top each cupcake with a piece of the molded chocolate or some chocolate shavings*.

*Chocolate Shavings: Use a vegetable peeler to slice ribbons or strips from a slightly warm block of good-quality chocolate (heat in microwave or warm oven for 5-second intervals, checking after each, until just warm to the touch; do not overheat). To produce tight curls, start from the far edge of the chocolate and move the peeler toward you. You can even shave the curls right onto the frosted cupcake.

Serves/Makes
Makes 24 mini cupcakes

Recipe adapted by Parties That Cook www.PartiesThatCook.com, from Barrington Brewery, Great Barrington, MA

Super Bowl XLVII: Parties That Cooks Top Spots to Watch and Eat

This weekend brings Super Bowl XLVII. While you take a moment to try to figure out what that means, well go ahead and tell you all you need to know. Its time for high-stakes football, expensive commercials and delicious food!! Parties That Cooks San Francisco team couldnt be happier to see our San Francisco 49ers returning to the ultimate American football game since their last visit in 1994. If youre still trying to find the perfect place to watch the game and enjoy great fare, look no further. Weve tracked down some of the hottest places in each of our cities to eat, drink and cheer our team to victory. Below, in no particular order, are our recommendations for spots sure to deliver the full game experience with fantastic food, thirst quenching drinks and plenty of televisions to ensure you dont miss a moment of the action.

Pro tip: Get there EARLY. Come game day, seats (and sometimes even a standing space inside) will be tough to find.

CHICAGO:
1.Division Ale House
2.The Fifty/50
3.Frontier
4.Moonshine
5.Roots Pizza
6.Rockit Bar & Grill
7.Old Town Social
8.DNoche
9.The Anthem

PORTLAND:
1.Spirit of 77
2.Over and Out
3.Claudias Pub
4.Henrys 12th Street Tavern
5.Blitz
6.On Deck Sports Bar & Grill
7.4th Street Brewery
8.Kells Irish Pub
9.Boss Hawgs Bar N Grill
10.Cheerful Tortoise

SEATTLE:
1.Auto Battery
2.Belltown Pub
3.Bottleneck Lounge
4.Brave Horse Tavern
5.Company
6.Murphys
7.Prost! West Seattle
8.Redwood
9.Rookies
10.Sport Restaurant & Bar

SAN FRANCISCO:
1.Kezar Pub
2.Bottom of the Hill
3.KronnerBurger
4.Nombe
5.Presidio Social Club
6.Petes Tavern & Pedros Cantina
7.Jaspers
8.Royal Exchange
9.The Tacoshop @ Underdogs
10.Aurea