The nominees have been set, the red carpet is prepped and on January 11th, the 72nd Golden Globe Awards hits the Beverly Hilton with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler returning as the night’s hosts for the third year in a row. As one of the only Hollywood awards show that doubles as a sit-down dinner, Andrea Correale of Elegant Affairs gives us some tips for planning a themed viewing party for a group of close girlfriends or a chic couples soiree. “After New Years, everyone is partied out and there aren’t any big holidays until the spring,” Correale says. “This is a fun way to get over the doldrums of winter.”
Whether you’re hosting in an Upper West Side apartment or a penthouse in Tribeca, there are a few easy things you could do to make your entertaining space capture the awards show atmosphere. “You can do things like place a red carpet at the entrance or a step-and-repeat for guests to take pictures by when they come in,” Correale suggests. Have a party based on a golden globe-nominated film.
Menu
“You can get really creative with the food and its presentation,” says Correale. “Food stations are the way to go.” Strategically placing a number of food stations around your home to create more of a “sampling” menu makes for a fun, engaging and interactive experience for your guests, especially when executed with a bit of creative flair.
A “Jack and the Bean Stack” hummus station with a selection of black, white, pinto and red hummus with various breads for dipping combined with “Cow White as Milk” Steakwich mini sandwiches with Vegetable Slaw and Chive Aioli serves up well for a heartier choice. A “Hair Yellow as Corn” Charred Corn Salad with tomato and basil also make for a fun accompaniment. For a sweet and colorful touch, have some “Cape Red as Blood” Red Velvet Whoopie Pies or cupcakes.
Birdman
What better way to pay homage to the secret winged superhero than with a tray of, well, wings? “Doing a Wings Bar is easy and there are so many different dipping sauces you can make or try. There are literally thousands,” Correale advises. Some of her personal favorites are Thai Sticky Wings, Chocolate Cherry Balsamic Wings, Lemon Garlic Oregano Wings with Parmesan Dust, Chili Glazed Hot and Sweet Wings and the ever-popular General Tso’s Wings.
For a Taste of Budapest, set up mini bread bowls with Beef Gulyas (Goulash) and a tray of Rantott Sait, which are simply fried Cheese Triangles. “Pulling ideas from cultural cuisine is another easy way to come up with unique food ideas to make each themed station stand out,” Correale adds. To help your guests shake the winter chill off, hand them a mug of Halaszle, the Famous Fisherman’s Bisque of Fisherman’s Bastion in Budapest.
Pride
Inspired by another cultural cuisine menu, which sets as the backdrop for this movie nominee, crate a Welsh-inspired station that features hot Welsh Lamb Cawl with Glamorgan Vegetarian Sausages. For an added authentic feel, get an assortment of Welsh dessert cakes and cheeses for fun finger food, many of which can usually be found at local markets, bakeries or cheese shops. “Sometimes finding that small touch of authenticity makes all the difference,” Correale advises.
St. Vincent
This is the fun table! A surefire hit with your guests, this table is all about kids’ favorite junk foods, reflecting the special friendship this touching movie depicts. Unleash your inner child and create colorful snack foods like Frankfurter Bacon Cheese bits, Grilled Cheese Bars with Alphabet Soup Sips. This can also serve as the candy table, littered with Cracker Jacks, mini candy bars, and colorful candies displayed in clear glass bowls. Homemade ice cream sandwiches add a sweet final touch.
Whichever ways you decide to go when designing your Golden Globes party, it’s important to plan ahead, make it personal and be creative. “Don’t be afraid to delegate either,” Correale adds. “Planning a party is a lot of work. If you feel it’s too much, request some of your guests to bring something specific for one of the tables or make something for the evening, potluck style.” Encouraging your guests to dress up also adds to the ambiance, creating a glamorous backdrop solely with the evening’s attire and reflects the dazzle of the Golden Globes. “It’s all about the little details,” Correale says. “Perfecting the small things can turn something ordinary into something extraordinary.”
Entrepreneur and celebrity caterer Andrea Correale is the President and Founder of Elegant Affairs Caterers. Her premiere catering and event planning company serves Manhattan, the Hamptons and Westchester. Her team works with luxury businesses producing custom-designed events ranging from intimate, to extravagant. Andrea’s expertise further includes working as a food and entertaining contributor for prominent outlets such as Hamptons Magazine and was even named the entertaining expert for L’Oreal Paris Academy, Ehow.com, Sam’s Club, Celebrations.com (a subsidiary of 1-800 Flowers) and most recently Lenox China. During her career, Andrea has worked with some of the world’s biggest stars including Mariah Carey, Russell Simmons, Jimmy Fallon, P. Diddy, L.A. Reid, Donald Trump and more. www.elegantaffairscaterers.com
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