flipOscars after-party 'animal style' cheeseburger
Oscars after-party 'animal style' cheeseburger
Why this dish? On February 24, 2013, Anne Hathaway won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for Fantine in *Les Misérables*. The post-ceremony parties (Governors Ball, Vanity Fair party) are famous for serving burgers — often those from the California chain In-N-Out. After months of drastic dieting for the role, the after-party burger is the joyful symbol of release and celebration.
A generous California-style cheeseburger: seared beef patty, melted cheese, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato and a tangy creamy sauce, in a butter-toasted brioche bun. The uninhibited feast following the tension of a big night.
I'm not going to lie to you: for Fantine, I deprived my body of almost everything, and my mind thought of only one thing once the statuette was in hand. At the after-party, when they handed out the little hot burgers on their trays, I thought I heard angels sing. I ate it in my gown, not caring who was watching, and it tasted like freedom regained. Believe me: a burger you've truly waited for, there's nothing like it.
- •Ground beef patty — 1 per burger (protein heart)
- •Melting cheese like cheddar — 1 slice (umami melt)
- •Onions — pan-cooked until soft (caramelized sweetness)
- •Lettuce and tomato — to taste (freshness)
- •Brioche burger bun — 1 (support)
- •Tangy creamy sauce — 1 spoonful (acidic binder)
Oscars after-party 'animal style' cheeseburger
A generous California-style cheeseburger: seared beef patty, melted cheese, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato and a tangy creamy sauce, in a butter-toasted brioche bun. The uninhibited feast following the tension of a big night.
Why this dish? On February 24, 2013, Anne Hathaway won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for Fantine in *Les Misérables*. The post-ceremony parties (Governors Ball, Vanity Fair party) are famous for serving burgers — often those from the California chain In-N-Out. After months of drastic dieting for the role, the after-party burger is the joyful symbol of release and celebration.
I'm not going to lie to you: for Fantine, I deprived my body of almost everything, and my mind thought of only one thing once the statuette was in hand. At the after-party, when they handed out the little hot burgers on their trays, I thought I heard angels sing. I ate it in my gown, not caring who was watching, and it tasted like freedom regained. Believe me: a burger you've truly waited for, there's nothing like it.
Ingredients (period version)
- Ground beef patty — 1 per burger (protein heart)
- Melting cheese like cheddar — 1 slice (umami melt)
- Onions — pan-cooked until soft (caramelized sweetness)
- Lettuce and tomato — to taste (freshness)
- Brioche burger bun — 1 (support)
- Tangy creamy sauce — 1 spoonful (acidic binder)
Ingredients
- Ground beef 15-20% fat — 150 g per patty (protein heart)
- Cheddar slices — 2 slices (umami melt)
- Yellow onion — 1 large, sliced (caramelized sweetness)
- Iceberg lettuce leaves — 2 (fresh crunch)
- Tomato — 2 slices (acidic freshness)
- Brioche burger buns — 2 (support)
- Homemade sauce (mayo, ketchup, chopped pickle) — 2 tablespoons (tangy binder)
- Butter — a knob (toasting)
Method
- Slice the onion and gently cook in a pan until golden and sweet; set aside.
- Mix mayonnaise, ketchup and chopped pickle for the sauce.
- Shape thin patties, season with salt, and sear over high heat 1 to 2 minutes per side; place cheddar on top at the end to melt.
- Toast the buns cut-side down in a little butter.
- Assemble: sauce, lettuce, tomato, patty with cheese, caramelized onions, top bun. Serve immediately.
How it was made : The hamburger became an American emblem in the 20th century with the rise of fast food and the automobile on the West Coast. The tradition of serving burgers at post-Oscar parties is real and widely reported by the press: a deliberate contrast between the luxury of galas and the comforting simplicity of national 'street food'.
The contemporary twist : Serve in mini 'slider' form on a silver tray with a small gold flag: a nod to the evening's glamour while keeping the casual spirit.
Anne Hathaway · Charactorium
