This morning, mid-blizzard, I trekked over a few (avenue!) blocks to the St. Regis hotel for a photo op of the five desserts — based on the Best Picture nominees — created by pastry chef Sandro Miceli in preparation for the Academy’s New York Oscar Night Celebration. The fancy concoctions are pictured, left, on a plate surprisingly devoid of my gushing stream of drool. Arlene Dahl, ’50s film starlet, co-chair of the Oscar Night Celebration, and mother of Lorenzo Lamas, insists the treats have "no calories, of course!" No, why would they? Only ice cream makes you fat! So here they are:
Little Miss Sunshine
Lemon Chiboust with Coconut Bisquit
Babel
Chocolate Cremeux Tower with Praline Rice Crispies
The Queen
Royal Blueberry Clafoutis and Crown of Chocolate
Letters From Iwo Jima
Rising Sun Raspberry Chocolat Millefeuille (A.B.’s note: LOL!)
The Departed
Smokin Gun Caramel Chocolate Fondant
How do they taste? I didn’t stay for the press lunch, so I couldn’t sample them (hence the drool — more generates if there is extra longing involved). But how hilarious are these? Iwo Jima is a serious, challenging film so it gets French words and no e on Chocolat? Is The Queen filled with blueberries because she was sad — simply bursting with emotion, and berries, but beneath a sheen of semi-sweet glaze? Is The Departed trying to shoot The Queen off the plate, or is she somewhat invisible, making Scorsese’s a direct shot to Eastwood? Actually, The Queen‘s placement is so appropriate, because she can move in any direction, and must be protected by the other pieces, possibly excluding that "smokin" gun. My one amendment, if I had my way? Incorporate waffles and/or ice cream into Little Miss Sunshine. Just a single slab of chocolate ice cream-dipped waffle cone would do the trick, and class things down a bit.
If you’ll excuse me, it’s almost time to uncork the two bottles of wine — created exclusively for the Academy by Sterling Vineyards — we made out with from the event. Slezak’s gonna dance on the conference table singing Dreamgirls. It’ll be awesome.
What other desserts would be appropriate for some more of this year’s films?
Frankly, I think that Popwatch needs to provide pictures of this event. I start a petition right now! WHO ELSE WANTS PICTURES?
Ummm…yes, please! Pictures of Mr. Slezak dancing on a table, esp. if removing articles of clothing would pretty much make my V-Day!
I want pictures of Slezak!
But I also want to try the “Marie Antoinette” — a white chocolate dipped strawberry skewered on a razor and served on a silver platter)
I’m not sure I understand the Babel one
PICTURES. I want pictures
“Actually, The Queen’s placement is so appropriate, because she can move in any direction, and must be protected by the other pieces”
genius, annie!
love this post!
Fatima, I think its because of the Tower of Babel. But i could be wrong, i never saw the movie.
Tower of Babel makes sense.
I think if I would have actually read the description I would have got that. I just looked at the dessert and thought “What is that!?”
I am rather disappointed that they didn’t have a cup of strawberry Jell-O for “Blood Diamond”, especially given the rather Inconvenient Truth that it WOULD, in fact, be the only no-calorie dessert on the menu? And how do you know the Illusionist is not on the plate? You honestly might just not see it…isn’t that the point?
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