Oscar-Winning Movie Menus

(Best Visual Effects Nominee, 2013)

Recipes: Beef Chuck Eye Roast (pictured)
Roasted Potatoes with Fresh Herbs
Popovers

Before Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) sets out on a quest to help reclaim Erebor for the Dwarves, he needs a bit of convincing. A quiet meal at home turns into quite the gathering when twelve dwarves, Gandalf (Ian McKellen), and Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) arrive to discuss the upcoming quest. The dwarves pull all of the food out of the pantry and dine on a feast of warming comfort foods. Meats, breads, potatoes, cheeses — everything a hungry quester needs before a long journey!

(Best Supporting Actress, 2012)

Recipes: Rosemary Fried Chicken (pictured)
Collard Greens with Bacon
Minny's Chocolate Pie

Based on Kathryn Stockett's best-selling novel, The Help centers on the lives of white women and their African-American maids in Mississippi during the 1960s. While some of the interactions between the women may make you grimace, most of the food showcased will make you salivate. Imagine crispy fried chicken, savory collard greens, and other fantastic Southern fare. There is one dish that's more of the stomach-turning variety: Minny's (Octavia Spencer) chocolate pie. Luckily our recipe leaves out her special ingredient.

(Best Costume Design, 2011)

Recipes: Calming Herbal Tea (pictured)
Apricot, Ginger, and Walnut Tea Bread
The Very Best Vanilla Cake

When 19-year-old Alice (Mia Wasikowska) takes another trip down the rabbit hole, there are plenty of "Underland" adventures to be had. During her quest to end the rule of the Red Queen, Alice once again encounters a magical slice of cake responsible for increasing her size. During a visit with the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), Alice is forced into a teapot to hide. We prefer some splendid tea in our teapots, served with tea bread and cake, of course!

(Best Actress Nominee, 2010)

Recipes: Herb and Lemon Roast Chicken (pictured)
Potato Gratin with Gruyère
Apple Tarte Tatin

In the movie and in real life, Julia Child and her superfan, blogger Julie Powell, share a love of eating and cooking French food. Although Meryl Streep didn't win the best actress statue for her representation of Julia Child, these French classics still deserve top honors.

(Best Picture, 2009)

Recipes: Indian-Spiced Chicken and Spinach (pictured)
Gingery Chickpea and Tomato Stew
Grilled Tandoori Fish and Chips

India swirls with lush colors as Jamal Malik recalls the story of his life in Mumbai, from hard-luck orphan to game-show contestant poised to win 20 million rupees. We imagine the rich tapestry of flavors, sights, and smells, and crave the spicy curries, seafood, and coconut for which West Central India is famous.

Roasted vegetables add a rich, savory taste to this classic Italian fare.

Recipe: Ratatouille Rigatoni

(Best Original Screenplay, 2008)

Recipes: BLT Burgers (pictured)
Oven Fries
Macaroni and Three Cheeses

Aside from orange Tic-Tacs and a jumbo jug of Sunny Delight, this quirky film about pregnant teen Juno made us want to eat junk food and plenty of it. The hamburger phone and fast-food lunches make us crave burgers, while Juno's assessment of Paulie —"he is the cheese to my macaroni" — sends us straight to the starch.

(Best Actress, 2007)

Recipes: Ham, Pepper-Cheese, and Apple Tea Sandwiches (pictured)
English Tea Cakes
Scottish Shortbread

Helen Mirren won best actress for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II as she tried to reconnect with the British public after the death of the popular Princess Diana. Though food was not a main focus of this political family drama, scenes of Buckingham Palace and Balmoral Castle whet our appetites for classic English tea.

(Best Costume Design, 2007)

Recipes: Mini Dark Chocolate Bundt Cakes (pictured)
Red Fruit Napoleons
Blueberry-Kiwi Tarts

Just a naive Austrian teen when she married King Louis XIV, Marie Antoinette became the symbol of wanton royal extravagance, which ultimately led to the French Revolution. Popular lore said she uttered, "Let them eat cake," after learning the French peasantry had no bread to eat. The gorgeous lace, silk, and pastel costumes conjure images of endless cakes, pastries, and tarts.

(Best Director, 2006)

Recipes: Grilled Lamb Skewers (pictured)
Honey-Baked Beans
Skillet Biscuits

This hauntingly spare movie set in the early 1960s details the heartfelt romantic relationship between two cowboys who meet while herding sheep across the mountains of Wyoming. Their simple, rustic lifestyle includes days spent roaming the high grasslands and meals cooked over an open fire with a tipple or two of whiskey to wash it down.

(Best Adapted Screenplay, 2005)

Recipes: Pomegranate Duck (pictured)
Grilled Artichokes with Creamy Butter Dip
Herbed Garlic Bread

If we learned one thing from Sideways, it's this: Pinot noir is where it's at. The main characters, one a philandering actor and the other a wine-obsessed writer with a tender heart, spend a weekend touring the vineyards of Southern California and indulging copiously in their wares. The best friends become regulars at a local restaurant, The Hitching Post, where they indulge in grilled meats as one meets the girl of his dreams.

(Best Original Screenplay, 2004)

Recipes: Salmon Teriyaki (pictured)
Avocado Sushi
Miso Noodle Soup

Two lonely souls, a married aging actor (Bill Murray) and a rudderless young wife (Scarlett Johansson), find comfort and friendship with each other while on a trip to Tokyo. As they navigate the quiet luxury of their hotel and the crowded, overstimulating streets of the city, we are treated to an intimate glimpse of life in Japan for both foreigners and natives.

(Best Picture, 2002)

Recipes: Bean and Butternut Tacos (pictured)
Sichuan-Style Tofu with Mushrooms
Gingered Cranberry-Pear Cobbler

John Nash (Russell Crowe) may have been born with a brilliant mind, but some of us need a little help staying sharp. Fortunately, eating foods that are rich in iron (beans, soy) and antioxidants (fruit) can help improve brain function, getting us a little closer to learning the secrets of higher math and code breaking or just remembering our best friend's birthday.