Presto! Pesto! Part of Eric Akis’s Oscar-watching Italian feast
Italian-style feast provides a perfect accompaniment as you enjoy the excitement of the Oscars on TV
The 90th Academy Awards air on Sunday and my wife and I have cooked up a tasty tradition for enjoying the show. Hours before it begins, she finds a comfy spot in the living room, turns on the television and views the pre-Oscar programs, in which movie stars stroll the red carpet, are interviewed and get critiqued on what they are wearing.
Viewing that part of the proceedings is not my cup of tea, so I finish preparing the gourmet snacks we’ll eat when the real show begins. Just before it starts, I set out the food and pour sparkling wine, and we make a toast and say: “Hooray for Hollywood!”
In past years, I’ve fussed around and made fancy canapés, crostini and other decadent finger foods, both hot and cold. This year, though, I’ve decided to make the food a little less formal, opting to create a board filled with antipasto that serves two and combines homemade items with prepared foods.
Antipasto is normally a first course of little bites designed to stimulate one’s palate before the main dishes are served. But in this case, I’ll make it substantial enough to act as dinner, as the Oscars always end well past our normal suppertime.
Here are the foods I plan to serve. Feel free to adjust suggested amounts and make substitutions, based on your taste preferences.
Enjoy the show and buon appetito!