17 Dishes Inspired By The Oscar's Must-See Nominees

Nominated For: Best Picture, Cinematography, Director, Film Editing, Production Design, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Adapted Screenplay

Arrival is the quiet monster in the Best Picture race. It tells a scarily relevant story of what happens when aliens arrive and the world has to work together to find out what they want. When Amy Adams attempts to communicate with the new arrivals, I know I wasn't the only one in the audience that thought, "Oh, so they look like giant squids." Feast on the dream that countries might actually listen to each other in the near future with these irresistible baked calamari—the only squid that's welcome at my table. 

Get the recipe from Kirbie's Cravings.

Nominated For: Best Actress, Costume Design

This was a tough one. Florence Foster Jenkins is not my favorite of the movies being honored this year. I thought it was just fine. Maybe it's because I don't think listening to Meryl Streep sing badly for two hours is a good time, but to each his own. That said, I was happy we came up with Frog-Eye Salad for this movie. And while Meryl doesn't necessarily sound like she has a frog in her throat, the singing is pretty bad. But she doesn't care. She is what she is, and people love her for it. Kinda like this regional favorite. 

Get the recipe from Delish.

Nominated For: Best Actress, Original Score

Jackie is a weird movie. It's definitely not your standard biopic, but it becomes something great because of Natalie Portman. The accent, the clothes, the put-upon smile—she nails every aspect of what we think we know about Jackie Kennedy and then gives us something even deeper. The fury that must have been inside the First Lady as she lost her husband, had to move out of her house, and lose all her power in an instant is palpable. In the film, we see her dealing with her grief and anger in an incredibly relatable way: by getting drunk and wandering the White House in her fancy dresses. While technically not a "dish," this vodka gimlet is a period-appropriate way to channel your inner Jackie this Oscar season. 

Get the recipe from Delish.

Nominated For: Best Supporting Actor

While Amy Adams plays a fancy art dealer in Los Angeles, the story within the story —written by her on-screen ex-husband (Jake Gyllenhaal) — tells a brutal tale of rape and murder in the middle of West Texas. I don't blame her for not being able to sleep (or put the story down), but if I were her, I'd need some fuel to get through those sleepless nights of reading. These breakfast quesadillas are just the kind of thing that would make me feel better after such a dark book. That, and Supporting Actor nominee Michael Shannon's awesome mustache. 

Get the recipe from Delish.

Nominated For: Best Original Screenplay

And the award for quirkiest movie nominated in a major category definitely goes to The Lobster. Colin Farrell plays a man who must either find a partner or be turned into a lobster. It's so wonderfully weird, funny, and for this single person, a bit too close to home, that we didn't want to go super strange with the food and recommend you make an entire lobster for your party. These lobster rolls will do the trick and be much more party friendly. 

Get the recipe from Just a Taste.

Nominated For: Best Picture, Director, Actor, Editing, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing

Yeah, okay Andrew Garfield's character is a religious pacifist war hero who is also a vegetarian. But from the second I saw him in the film's trailer I couldn't believe how ridiculous his Southern accent was (he's actually British). To counter that, I decided to go with an equally ridiculous Southern favorite: our chicken fried steak bowl. 

Get the recipe from Delish.

Nominated For: Best Picture, Actor, Original Screenplay, Editing

The sleeper hit of the Best Picture race, Hell Or High Water actually came out way back in the summer of 2016, but I'm so happy people (and The Academy) didn't forget about it. Jeff Bridges' lawman is doggedly pursuing bank-robbing brothers played by Chris Pine and Ben Foster. Sounds simple, but this take on a modern western is full of surprises. My favorite? This moment in a diner where a Texas waitress who has clearly seen it all tells Bridges and his partner that the only thing worth ordering is a T-Bone steak and baked potato. Luckily, we made a party version of that classic that will make you happier than seeing Chris Pine in a pair of perfect Levis.

Get the recipe from Delish.

Nominated For: Best Picture, Supporting Actress, Adapted Screenplay

The bad ass ladies of Hidden Figures are the unsung heroes in the history of the space program. The movie tells the story of how three women (of many) were the brains behind some of the most complicated math that eventually brought men to space. Math makes my head hurt, which means ice cream. And when we're honoring these out-of-this-world cool ladies, only galaxy ice cream will do.

Get the recipe from Some of This And Some of That.

Nominated For: Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Editing, Original Song, Original Score, Production Design, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Costume Design

No movie in recent memory made me swoon and smile like La La Land. It could be the music, the dancing, Ryan Gosling's vests, Emma Stone's perfect waves—or it could be the combination of all that and more. In one memorable scene Gosling's Sebastian talks about his dream of owning a jazz club called Chicken On A Stick, as a tribute to Charlie Parker. Stone's Mia strongly disagrees, but we're with The Gos. Chicken on a stick—like these chicken and waffle sliders—make us wanna dance among the stars.

Get the recipe from Delish.

Nominated For: Best Picture, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Original Score

A true story about an adorable little Indian boy who gets separated from his family, gets adopted and then uses Google Earth to find his way home—Lion is just a lovely addition to the Best Picture race. When little Saroo grows up into Slumdog Millionaire's Dev Patel, we see flashbacks of his home come racing back into his head, including a memory I obviously could relate to: food. As a kid, all Saroo wants is some jalebi—an Indian dessert similar to funnel cake. Tasting it as an adult makes him realize how much he wants to find where he came from, and we'll bet tasting it will bring you all the feelings too.

Get the recipe from Playful Cooking.

Nominated For: Best Picture, Directing, Actor, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Original Screenplay

Man, Manchester By The Sea is BLEAK. I don't think I cried harder at a movie in recent memory. Casey Affleck is a Boston janitor who, after his brother dies, returns to his hometown to care for his nephew.  We learn the devastating reason he moved away and witness an incredibly emotional reunion with his ex-wife, but in the middle of all the tears there is pizza. Pizza is always there to see anyone and everyone through their grief, and these mini deep-dish pies are ready to make you feel better no matter what happens on Oscar night.

Get the recipe from Delish.

Nominated For: Best Picture, Director, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Original Score

As much as I love La La Land (and I've seen it four times), my actual pick for Best Picture is Moonlight. Watching Chiron go from curious little boy to scared teen to hardened adult—all while wrestling with his sexuality and some serious bullying—is heartbreaking and illuminating. One of the most powerful scenes is when grown-up Chiron (aka Black) goes to visit his old friend/love Kevin at Kevin's diner. With incredible care and precision, Kevin makes Chiron some arroz con pollo that I simply haven't been able to stop thinking about. Just like the rest of the movie, the scene (and the longing for his dish) stays with you long after it's over.

Get the recipe from Yellow Bliss Road.

Nominated For: Best Visual Effects, Sound Mixing

What better way to toast the biggest movie of the year than with CHEESE. As the story of the mission to steal the plans for the Death Star, Rogue One does have some stunning visuals. But I don't think I saw anything as beautiful as this cheese ball. As my coworker Candace said, this is the app with the power to destroy all other snacks.

Get the recipe from Delish.