Tuesday, January 27, 2015

I'm Hungry! Best Food Delivery in Queens

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So the New York Tri-State area has been hit with another snowstorm. Uggg. Well, what can you do. It's winter time in New York.  The temperature is in the low teens, the snow is high and slippery, the wind chill is blistering and frigid. It's a total headache. After a long day of travels, you're finally home, hungry and not in the mood for pizza or Chinese food. So what is one to do? Well I have complied a list of the Best Food Delivery restaurants in the five boroughs. Now, I have not ordered from all these establishments myself. However, the fabulous people on Yelp.com and UrbanSpoon.com have provided some excellent useful reviews.  When we can't go to the best, we want the best to come us! So happy ordering and bon appétit! 


Queens 

1.  Henricas Restaurant   - Caribbean/ Chinese - Rosedale

I ordered food from this restaurant for first time today and it was De-Lish! I learned of Henricas from a review on Yelp and I am glad I listened. I ordered from the lunch menu and the food arrived in 30 minutes as stated by the phone operator. I was timing it. lol.  I ordered the Jerk Chicken Pasta Alfredo and Brown Stewed Salmon.

The Jerk Chicken Pasta was truly a sensational ride of flavor. It had just the right amount of jerk spices. The sauce was rich and creamy with a great mix of chicken, pasta and crunchy bell peppers. The Brown Stewed Salmon was ok. However, its counterparts of rice and peas with mixed vegetable were very delightful. Both meals were generous portions and came with complementary slices of Red Velvet cake. I was quite surprised and excited when the cake slid out of the bag. The cake was light and moist with a fluffy cream cheese frosting. It was simply superb!

I truly enjoyed the food and look forward to ordering from Henricas in the future.


Jerk Chicken Pasta Alfredo

Brown Stewed Salmon

Red Velvet cake

 

2. Tandoori Hut - Indian Food - Ozone Park

Lauren L :

" One of my fav delivery spots in the restaurant wasteland that is Richmond Hill/Ozone Park.

Their chicken tikka masala is the best in the area: sharable portion of chicken in a puddle of super delicious sauce. I also love their aloo gobi and szechaun cauliflower (Indian/Chinese fusion is awesome!)

Service is wonderful, the owner is kind and attentive, I definitely order from here at least once a week."
  Read more 

 

3. Village Grill - Greek American, Richmond Hill

Kevin C:

"Solid local Greek place in FH. Delivery is usually fast and the food is yummy.  But eating the food fresh out of the kitchen at the restaurant is so much better. They really use fresh, quality ingredients and you can tell from the first bite. Also, their service is very very friendly and efficient."  Read more

 

4. Bella Caracas Cafe - Venezuelan, Middle Village **This place is Delicious!**

 J.B:

"So happy that Middle Village finally has a Latin restaurant option!  Overall, great service and excellent food!  I would eat here again or order delivery without a doubt!

We had the special for the night, the Carne Salteado, and two arepas: the Vuelvo a la Vida (seafood mix) and the Falcon (Venezuelan cheese, avocado, sweet plantain).  Everything was great - the Falcon is outstanding.  We also tried the Tostoncitos as an appetizer which came with a delicious sauce and the Coconut Milkshake.

The flan is made on the premises and is delicious as well! "
Read more

 

5.  CJ's Cafe - Sandwiches,   Fresh Meadows

Sue S:

"This is by far one of the best sandwich places I ever ate from. I never went in their restaurant but I ordered numerous times from seamless. Delivery is on point and the sandwiches are wrapped neatly and the prices are actually a bit high for me. But I think it's worth it. They make delicious spreads for their sandwiches and they have different types of breads to choose from. This place is also like a convenience store you can buy snacks if you want. I ordered from their breakfast menu and its great. I ordered chicken fingers, cheese fries, and sweet potato fries for my daughter. But one of the few things I think their not good at making is the sweet potato fries but everything else is great. I love their smoothies also!!!! I'm so grateful that they are one of the choices I have on seamless."

Amazing frozen vanilla latte! Obsessed! & really great pressed turkey, cheddar, bacon, cranberry spread sandwich. Tried the recommended chicken avocado sandwich but it was just alright. Tasty hearty soups as well! Try the Italian wedding soup (hard to find!)" Read more



6. Sushi Akio   - Japanese, Sushi Bar - Forest Hills

Maxine S:

"SO GOOD!! This review is based solely on their food.  I've ordered delivery from here twice but I've never actually been to the restaurant.

The ginger salad, miso soup, gyoza and rolls are delicious.  Everything is so fresh.  You can actually taste the difference because of the freshness.

I need to actually go by and dine in sometime soon. 100% recommended for delicious sushi." Read more


   

7.  Seoul Fusion Eatery  - Koren, Astoria 

Kim L:

"It's a relief to finally see a Korean place in Astoria. The place is run by a kind family, and dishes made by none other than grandma. Some of the staff doesn't speak Korean, but grandma and definitely son does. So don't fret, the food is made by Korean people!

I lived in Korea for 3 years so my standards of Korean food are high. Some of the dishes are good (i.e. the odeng soup), but some are just whatever (the kimbap). My biggest pet peeve is that none of the dishes were made with sesame leaf (a staple in Korean food). Also, the food is good, but not FANTASTIC, meaning there needs to be an extra kick of gochujang or something added. However, if you're just looking for a local Korean fix, the eatery is good enough.

The kimchi is pretty on point. Even in Korea, cheap restaurants won't serve kimchi like this place.

Delivery is a plus too, as very few Korean places will deliver."


 

 8. Mister Chicken To Go  - Fried Chicken,  Woodside

J.E:

"Wow I'm very impressed. I ordered here for delivery last week and it was great. I had low expectations but when the food arrived it was amazing. I got chicken fingers deliciously seasoned and tender. I had fried chicken as well it was still crispy when I ate it which is hard to find when you order for delivery. The Mac and cheese and roasted beets again very impressed and I'm rarely impressed with restaurant Mac and cheese. I will order again! Love it!" Read more


9. Burger Club   -  Burgers, Astoria

"I've partaken in Burger Club's offerings twice (once delivery and once in the restaurant), and I've been a fan both times. I'll definitely be back / ordering again!

FOOD: their burgers are simply TASTY. Cooked well, with a quality bun, and they do all the toppings (or specialty burgers) really well. They cater to your requests, and the outcome is an awesome burger. If you're like me and good with a plain old fashioned cheeseburger, the base burger starts at $7.75 and then whatever additional charge for the cheese of your choice. Me likey. Also, the house fries are delicious. What really got me about Burger Club, and convinced me to come in, was that when I ordered from Seamless, it was both fast and the bun was not at all soggy (as often happens with delivery). Color me impressed.

SERVICE: as I said, the delivery was fast, and the service we received on Tuesday night was great. Server was nice and attentive, and they didn't seem to mind while I waited for about 20 minutes for the person I was meeting to show up (train delays).

Overall, definitely a place I could see myself becoming a regular at. Backward sign and all.Read more


10.  New Shanghai Restaurant  -  Chinese, Japanese - Kew Gardens

Eva C:

"Funny thing is I've never been to the place, don't know where it is BUT my boyfriend and I ordered from New Shanghai 2-3 times a week !!! We typically order their Sushi Regular, Sushi Deluxe, Chicken Katsu dinner or eel rolls and combos.... ALL of them are very good.  I guess we consistently order from here because of their service and quick delivery.  The lady answering the phone is super nice and already knows what i want just by calling in !" Read more



Next Brooklyn....

 

 

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Top Yummy Left-Over Treat Ideas

The holiday season has ended, sadly. The presents have been opened, the family and friends have returned home, and although the fridge is slightly empty, there are still remnants of the holiday season lingering around the kitchen. Left over eggnog, half used cookie batter perhaps. What is one to do? That's when creativity comes into effect! So before the New Year's gym resolution goes into full effect, try out these yummy left-over treat ideas for the final holiday hurrah!

 

1. The Ultimate Cookie

My cousins and I tried this recipe this holiday season. There was left over holiday cookie batter in the fridge. So instead of deciding the freeze the batter, we wanted to experiment. Oh what a tasty experiment it was.


 To prepare this cookie we used short bread batter, chocolate chip cookie batter and a mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.

To make you need:
  • Mini cupcake pan
  • Short Bread cookie batter prepared ( or the batter of your choice)
  • Chocolate chip cookie batter prepared ( or the batter of your choice)
  • Mini Reese's Peanut Butter cup ( or another candy bar of your choice)
  • Mini cupcake wrappers
 1.  Pre-heat oven to 350
 2.  Place the mini cupcake wrapper in the cupcake tin
 3. Use a teaspoon to scoop in shortbread in the mini cupcake wrapper as the first layer.
 4. Place the mini Reese's Peanut Butter cup in the center.
 5. Scoop in the final layer of chocolate chip cookie batter.
 6. Bake in oven for 12 - 15 minutes of until golden brown.
 7.  Cool for 5 min and enjoy the ultimate treat.


This is also great as gift for the last minute folks you forgot to add to your Christmas list. It can be a New Year gift.




2. Eggnog Pancake

I love to prepare this meal every year. I love eggnog! So I make sure there is left - over so I can enjoy eggnog inspired delights during the month of January. Eggnog pancake is easy and quick to prepare. You use the same ingredients as you would to prepare normal pancakes. However, instead of milk, you would add eggnog to the batter. I like to include a little cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla to the batter to really turn up the eggnog flavor of the pancake.



 

3. Eggnog Hot Chocolate

Hot chocolate is the official drink of the winder season. This sweet treat warms the body and comforts the soul. I look forward to hot chocolate during the winter months. I especially look forward to combining it with eggnog for the holidays. I will admit, this year I cheated and purchase a cup at Second Cup  in Toronto, ON. I heard how yummy the eggnog hot chocolate was there, so I had to indulge. I had the Eggnog Vanilla Bean Hot Chocolate.  It was delightful. It also came in an Eggnog White Chocolate option.  If ever in the Greater Toronto area during the holiday season,  you must have a cup. If decide to prepare this yummy drink at home, simply replace the milk with eggnog.




4. Chocolate Liquor 

This last treat is not a left-over idea. However, it was so yummy I had to share. I came across this jewel during my stay in Brampton, Ontario. This is Chocolate Strawberry Wine. Now, at first I was a little reluctant to try this libation. I was sure it would taste like chocolate covered cherries, which I am not a big fan of. However, after being tempted and encouraged by the lovely workers at LCBO  (the liquor wholesale market in Toronto), I decided to give it a try. It was simply a delight. It had a smooth taste with the right blend of chocolate and strawberry.  It is a great complement with dinner or sweet ending with a nice dessert.





Tuesday, June 10, 2014

My Sweet Jamaican Adventure - Hip Stip, Montego Bay

My recent roaming adventure lead me to the beautiful island of Jamaica. Being a native of the island, I always jump at the opportunity to return to and explore the jewels of my country.

Jamaica is divided into 14 parishes - Cornwall County : Hanover, Saint Elizabeth, Saint James, Trelawny, Westmoreland; Middlesex County:  Clarendon, Manchester, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint Mary; Surrey County: Kingston Parish, Portland, Saint Andrew, Saint Thomas. On this trip I was able explore 4 parishes, Saint James, Trelawny, Manchester and Kingston Parish.

My adventure began in Montego Bay, St James.  Montego Bay is the capital of the parish of Saint James. It is the second largest city in Jamaica and the fourth largest by population after Kingston, Spanish Town and Portmore. Montego Bay is a popular tourist area. I stayed on the Hip Strip located along Gloucester Ave. The Hip Strip is a long road with hotels, beaches, shops and attractions.



Some of the Hip Strip attractions include Margaritaville ,   Acropolis Gaming & Entertainment Centre , Doctors Cave Beach and local free beaches. 
 
Free Local beach on the Hip Strip
Free local beach on the Hip Strip
Going to the beach is a must in Jamaica. The clear blue waters and beautiful sun rays make for a perfect day everyday in Jamaica. 


Along the Hip Strip you can find beautiful hotels, restaurants and craft vendors. 












Margaritaville was a delicious, exciting and entertaining experience. Now, normally when I return to my island I prefer to eat native foods. However, this time my pallet craved something different. I explored the tempting menu and was truly pleased. Each dish was prepared exquisitely. Although the entrees were familiar, each was prepared with Jamaican spices and flavors which created a unique twist.

margaritaville, Montego Bay, Jamaica



margaritaville, Montego Bay, Jamaica
Jimmy's Jammin' Jambalya


Jimmy's Jammin' Jambalya was an extraordinary dish loaded with plump shrimp, chicken and succulent Jamaican andouille sausage simmered in a spicy (Jamaican styled) Cajun broth. Served on a fluffy bed of white rice. De-Lish!

Margaritaville,Jamaica
Combo Platter
 The Combo Platter was one of my favorites. This beautiful dish was comprised of half a rack of finger-licking baby back ribs, zesty blackened chicken and crispy, deep fried with rich flavor, coconut shrimp served with golden french fries. The dish came with two dipping sauces, tangy bbq and a spicy pepper sauce.

margaritaville, Montego Bay, Jamaica, Hip Strip
Cheeseburger in Paradise
 The Cheeseburger in Paradise  was exactly as described. I was definitely in paradise indulging in this scrumptious cheeseburger. It was a basic cheeseburger that I opted to have with crumbles of bleu cheese on top. What made the dish more delightful and fun was the guitar shaped platter it was served on. How cute and clever!

Cheeseburger in Paradise



margaritaville, Montego Bay, Jamaica
Honey Mustard Chicken Sandwich
 The Honey Mustard Chicken Sandwich was a marinated chicken breast topped with smoke applewood bacon, Swiss cheese, creamy avocado ( known as pear in Jamaica), lettuce and tomato presented in between a soft pretzel bum. I love the concept of pretzel and bread combined. Delicious!


margaritaville, Montego Bay, Jamaica
B.O.B
 This mamma jamma of a burger was a piece of beefy heaven.  The Bacon, Onion, Bleu cheese burger known as the B.O.B was a juicy full-flavored burger layered with smoked applewood bacon, onion rings, drizzled bleu cheese dressing, lettuce, tomatoes and topped with Gorgonzola cheese crumbles served on a buttery brioche bun. I know...that was a mouthful. A big savory, finger-licking mouthful!


Jolly Man
 The Jolly Man is a fruity concoction busting with awesome flavor. It was a great companion to the delicious burgers.

margaritaville, Montego Bay, Jamaica, Hip Strip
Bananarama
 Bananarama  was a scrumptious delectable dessert. It is stamped as the Caribbean Favorite so it a must have when you visit Maragritaville.   This glorious dessert was made with a perfectly ripe banana rolled inside a tortilla shell, fried crisp, topped with luscious chocolate sauce and served with a scoop of rich vanilla bean ice cream. Added as an extra special tasty treat were the freshly made banana chips and whip cream that garnished the dessert. Simply irresistible!

margaritaville, Montego Bay, Jamaica


margaritaville, Montego Bay, Jamaica, Hip Strip

After a extraordinary meal, the fun adventures can begin. Margaritaville has a wild 120ft water slide that winds its way from the rooftop terrace and shoots you out into the beautiful Caribbean sea below.  In addition there are two giant water trampolines and a huge water slide. 

picture courtesy Margaritaville.com

picture courtesy of  Margaritaville.com

picture courtesy of Margaritaville.com

margaritaville, Montego Bay, Jamaica, Hip Strip


 After an action packed fun filled day, Margaritaville offer dynamic nightlife.  At night the restaurant is transformed into Club Ville and it totally comes alive. Nightlife includes a great mixture of tourist and locals. The deejays spin a great mix of reggae, dancehall, hip-hop and dance music.

margaritaville, Montego Bay, Jamaica, Hip Strip
 So the next time you're in Jamaica make sure you stop by and visit the Hip Strip. Great adventures await you that will be flavorful and joyous for the soul.

So.. Roam free and be inspired!

margaritaville, Montego Bay, Jamaica, Hip Strip

















































attractions on the


Wednesday, February 26, 2014

2014 Oscar "Must Watch" Movie List

Oscar week is here! Get ready for glitz, glamour, red carpet, and movies, movies, movies! The 2014, 86th Annual Academy Awards airs live from the Hollywood's Dolby Theatre on Sunday, March 2, at 7 p.m. EST. The Academy Awards or the Oscars is the peak of the awards season. I can not wait to see the performances, hear the fabulous jokes from this year awesome host Ellen DeGeneres.  If you have not yet watched all of the movies on the Best Picture list, don't fret. There is still time. So, here is the Roaming Reporter to save the day. Below is a list of this years Best Picture nominees.

 

 

 

BEST PICTURE

American Hustle

  Great movie. Awesome team of actors. Jennifer Lawrence was hilarious. This is my pick for Best Picture.









 

Captain Phillips

  Excellent movie. Great acting by Tom Hanks and Barkhad Abdi. This was Abdi's first project and he knocked it out the park. Good for you Barkhad.








Dallas Buyers Club

Excellent acting by Matthew Mcconaughey, Jared Leto and Jennifer Garner.









Gravity

Sandra Bullock and George Clooney did and excellent carrying the move. The computer graphics were phenomenal. I really feel Alfonso Cuarón has a chance at Best Director.







 

Her

  I thought the concept for this movie was brilliant. Especially now that we are living in the era of technical evolution. Although Scarlett Johansson was not visibly seen in the movie, her acting was still quite wonderful. She is a fantastic actor.









Nebraska

Very interesting. I love the way it was filmed. This is on my "hurry up and watch list"

 








 

Philomena

This is a beautiful story. I always enjoy watching Judi Dench. She is a marvelous actress.

 










12 Years a Slave

 (I have been following this film since it's debut at the Telluride Film Festival and the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival. The film received such artistic acclaim before its wide release. I am also very excited for Lupita  Nyong's Supporting Actress nomination. This s her first film in America. Yay Lupita! Congrats to Chiwetel Ejiofor. He is an awesome actor. I am glad he is finally getting due recognition. The cinematography and sound design was excellent. However, I don't think it will take home Best Picture.



 

The Wolf of Wall Street

Wonderful  film. Great directing and acting. It was humor and drama all rolled up into one. Congrats to Leonardo DiCaprio for his Best  Actor nomination. I really hope he wins this year. There are many great contenders in this category, so it will be tough. However, he has yet to be blessed with a golden statuette. I would be so happy for him if finally this year is his shinning moment. Also, Congrats also to Jonah Hill for his Supporting Actor nomination.

 

Best Original Song

After you have finished your Best Picture movie marathon, leave some room for Frozen. This newest Disney movie has taken the public by storm (no pun intended.) It's a great family movie with awesome humor, loveable characters and spectacular music.














 


Nomination List

BEST DIRECTOR
Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity
Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave
Alexander Payne, Nebraska
David O. Russell, American Hustle
Martin Scorsese, The Wolf of Wall Street


BEST ACTOR
Christian Bale, American Hustle
Bruce Dern, Nebraska
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street
Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club


BEST ACTRESS
Amy Adams, American Hustle
Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock, Gravity
Judi Dench, Philomena
Meryl Streep, August: Osage County

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
Bradley Cooper, American Hustle
Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave
Jonah Hill, The Wolf of Wall Street
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine
Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave
Julia Roberts, August: Osage County
June Squibb, Nebraska

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
David O. Russell and Eric Warren Singer, American Hustle
Woody Allen, Blue Jasmine
Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack, Dallas Buyers Club
Spike Jonze, Her
Bob Nelson, Nebraska

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke, Before Midnight
Billy Ray, Captain Philips
Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope, Philomena
John Ridley, 12 Years a Slave
Terence Winter, The Wolf of Wall Street

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
The Croods
Despicable Me 2
Ernest
& Celestine
Frozen
The Wind Rises


BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Broken Circle Breakdown
(Belgium)
The Great Beauty
(Italy)
The Hunt
(Denmark)
The Missing Picture
(Cambodia)
Omar
(Palestine)


BEST DOCUMENTARY – FEATURE
The Act of Killing
Cutie and the Boxer
Dirty Wars
The Square
20 Feet From Stardom


BEST ORIGINAL SONG
"Alone Not Alone," Alone Yet Not Alone
"Let It Go," Frozen
"The Moon Song," Her
"Ordinary Love," Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
"Happy," Despicable Me 2 ( Congrats to Pharrell Williams on this nomination. I'm so happy!)
 














BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Philippe Le Sourd, The Grandmaster
Emmanuel Lubezki, Gravity
Bruno Delbonnel, Inside Llewyn Davis
Phedon Papamichael, Nebraska
Roger A. Deakins, Prisoners

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Michael Wilkinson, American Hustle
William Chang Suk Ping, The Grandmaster
Catherine Martin, The Great Gatsby
Michael O'Connor, The Invisible Woman
Patricia Norris, 12 Years a Slave

BEST DOCUMENTARY – SHORT SUBJECT
CaveDigger
Facing Fear
Karama Has No Walls
The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life
Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall


BEST FILM EDITING
Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers and Alan Baumgarten, American Hustle
Christopher Rouse, Captain Phillips
John Mac McMurphy and Martin Pensa, Dallas Buyers Club
Alfonso Cuarón and Mark Sanger, Gravity
Joe Walker, 12 Years a Slave

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
Adruitha Lee and Robin Mathew, Dallas Buyers Club
Stephen Prouty, Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa
Joel Harlow and Gloria Pasqua-Casny, The Lone Ranger 
 
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
John Williams, The Book Thief
Steven Price, Gravity
William Butler and Owen Pallett, Her
Alexandre Desplat, Philomena
Thomas Newman, Saving Mr. Banks


BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Judy Becker (Production Design) and Heather Loeffler (Set Decoration), American Hustle
Andy Nicholson (Production Design); Rosie Goodwin and Joanne Woollard (Set Decoration), Gravity
Catherine Martin (Production Design) and Beverley Dunn (Set Decoration), The Great Gatsby
K.K. Barrett (Production Design) and Gene Serdena (Set Decoration), Her
Adam Stockhausen (Production Design) and Alice Baker (Set Decoration), 12 Years a Slave


BEST SHORT FILM – ANIMATED
Feral
Get a Horse!
Mr. Hublot
Possessions
Room on the Broom



BEST SHORT FILM – LIVE ACTION
Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn't Me)
, Esteban Crespo
Avant Que De Tout Perdre (Just Before Losing Everything)
, Xavier Legrand and Alexandre Gavras
Helium
, Anders Walter and Kim Magnusson
Pitääkö Mun Kaikki Hoitaa? (Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?)
, Selma Vilhunen and Kirsikka Saari
The Voorman Problem
, Mark Gill and Baldwin Li


BEST SOUND EDITING
Steve Boeddeker and Richard Hymns, All Is Lost
Oliver Tarney, Captain Phillips
Glenn Freemantle, Gravity
Brent Burge, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Wylie Stateman, Lone Survivor

BEST SOUND MIXING
Chris Burdon, Mark Taylor, Mike Prestwood Smith and Chris Munro, Captain Phillips
"Gravity" Skip Lievsay, Niv Adiri, Christopher Benstead and Chris Munro, Gravity
Christopher Boyes, Michael Hedges, Michael Semanick and Tony Johnson, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Skip Lievsay, Greg Orloff and Peter F. Kurland, Inside Llewyn Davis
Andy Koyama, Beau Borders and David Brownlow, Lone Survivor

 
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Tim Webber, Chris Lawrence, Dave Shirk and Neil Corbould, Gravity
Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton and Eric Reynolds, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Christopher Townsend, Guy Williams, Erik Nash and Dan Sudick, Iron Man 3
Tim Alexander, Gary Brozenich, Edson Williams and John Frazier, The Lone Ranger
Roger Guyett, Patrick Tubach, Ben Grossmann and Burt Dalton, Star Trek Into Darkness


There you have it, the full 2014 list of hopefuls. It's going to be exciting to learn the final results. Also, you can visit the official Oscar  websites to print a ballot for your Oscar viewing party and learn more about the spectacular nominees. Cheers and I'll see you on "red carpet."


Thursday, January 16, 2014

2014 Oscar Nominations: "12 Years a Slave," "American Hustle," and "Gravity" top contenders

So the day has finally come! The 2014, 86th Annual Academy Awards nomination list was announced this morning live from the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, Calif. The Academy Awards or the Oscars is the peak of the awards season. I can not wait to see the performances, hear the fabulous jokes from this year awesome host Ellen DeGeneres, ( who I recently learned is from Metairie, Louisiana. Shout out to my Louisiana homegirl) and ofcourse the sensational fashion pieces that will glide down the red carpet. It will be all the rave. The Oscars will broadcast live from Hollywood's Dolby Theatre on Sunday, March 2, at 7 p.m. EST. True, this is not the usual local Roaming Reporter article. However, this is entertainment and who doesn't love entertainment. Now, to the list of this year's nominees:

BEST PICTURE

American Hustle

 (Great movie. Awesome team of actors. Jennifer Lawrence was hilarious)









 

Captain Phillips

 (Excellent movie. Great acting by Tom Hanks and Barkhad Abdi. This was Abdi's first project and he knocked it out the park. Good for you Barkhad)








Dallas Buyers Club

(On my "catch up and watch list". However, I have been hearing great reviews. I know it's a film I'm going to love.)









Gravity

(Sandra Bullock and George Clooney were excellent carrying the move. The computer graphics were phenomenal. I really feel Alfonso Cuarón has a chance at Best Director)







 

Her

 ( I thought the concept for this movie was brilliant. Especially now that we are living in the era of technical evolution. This is on my "hurry up and  watch" movie list)









Nebraska

(Very interesting. I love the way it was filmed. This is also on my "hurry up and watch list"

 








 

Philomena

(This is a beautiful story. I always enjoy watching Judi Dench. She is a marvelous actress.)

 










12 Years a Slave

 ( I have been following this film since it's debut at the Telluride Film Festival and the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival. The film received such artistic acclaim before its wide release. I am also very excited for Lupita  Nyong's Supporting Actress nomination. This s her first film in America. Yay Lupita! Congrats to Chiwetel Ejiofor. He is an awesome actor. I am glad he is finally getting recognition.)



 

The Wolf of Wall Street

(Excellent film. Great directing and acting. It was humor and drama all rolled up into one. Congrats to Leonardo DiCaprio for his Best  Actor nomination. I really hope he wins this year. There are many great contenders in this category, so it will be tough. However, he has yet to be blessed with a golden statuette. I would be so happy for him if finally this year is his shinning moment. Also, Congrats also to Jonah Hill for his Supporting Actor nomination.





BEST DIRECTOR
Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity
Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave
Alexander Payne, Nebraska
David O. Russell, American Hustle
Martin Scorsese, The Wolf of Wall Street


BEST ACTOR
Christian Bale, American Hustle
Bruce Dern, Nebraska
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street
Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club


BEST ACTRESS
Amy Adams, American Hustle
Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock, Gravity
Judi Dench, Philomena
Meryl Streep, August: Osage County

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
Bradley Cooper, American Hustle
Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave
Jonah Hill, The Wolf of Wall Street
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine
Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave
Julia Roberts, August: Osage County
June Squibb, Nebraska

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
David O. Russell and Eric Warren Singer, American Hustle
Woody Allen, Blue Jasmine
Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack, Dallas Buyers Club
Spike Jonze, Her
Bob Nelson, Nebraska

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke, Before Midnight
Billy Ray, Captain Philips
Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope, Philomena
John Ridley, 12 Years a Slave
Terence Winter, The Wolf of Wall Street

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
The Croods
Despicable Me 2
Ernest
& Celestine
Frozen
The Wind Rises


BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Broken Circle Breakdown
(Belgium)
The Great Beauty
(Italy)
The Hunt
(Denmark)
The Missing Picture
(Cambodia)
Omar
(Palestine)


BEST DOCUMENTARY – FEATURE
The Act of Killing
Cutie and the Boxer
Dirty Wars
The Square
20 Feet From Stardom


BEST ORIGINAL SONG
"Alone Not Alone," Alone Yet Not Alone
"Let It Go," Frozen
"The Moon Song," Her
"Ordinary Love," Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
"Happy," Despicable Me 2 ( Congrats to Pharrell Williams on this nomination. I'm so happy!)
 














BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Philippe Le Sourd, The Grandmaster
Emmanuel Lubezki, Gravity
Bruno Delbonnel, Inside Llewyn Davis
Phedon Papamichael, Nebraska
Roger A. Deakins, Prisoners

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Michael Wilkinson, American Hustle
William Chang Suk Ping, The Grandmaster
Catherine Martin, The Great Gatsby
Michael O'Connor, The Invisible Woman
Patricia Norris, 12 Years a Slave

BEST DOCUMENTARY – SHORT SUBJECT
CaveDigger
Facing Fear
Karama Has No Walls
The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life
Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall


BEST FILM EDITING
Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers and Alan Baumgarten, American Hustle
Christopher Rouse, Captain Phillips
John Mac McMurphy and Martin Pensa, Dallas Buyers Club
Alfonso Cuarón and Mark Sanger, Gravity
Joe Walker, 12 Years a Slave

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
Adruitha Lee and Robin Mathew, Dallas Buyers Club
Stephen Prouty, Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa
Joel Harlow and Gloria Pasqua-Casny, The Lone Ranger 
 
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
John Williams, The Book Thief
Steven Price, Gravity
William Butler and Owen Pallett, Her
Alexandre Desplat, Philomena
Thomas Newman, Saving Mr. Banks


BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Judy Becker (Production Design) and Heather Loeffler (Set Decoration), American Hustle
Andy Nicholson (Production Design); Rosie Goodwin and Joanne Woollard (Set Decoration), Gravity
Catherine Martin (Production Design) and Beverley Dunn (Set Decoration), The Great Gatsby
K.K. Barrett (Production Design) and Gene Serdena (Set Decoration), Her
Adam Stockhausen (Production Design) and Alice Baker (Set Decoration), 12 Years a Slave


BEST SHORT FILM – ANIMATED
Feral
Get a Horse!
Mr. Hublot
Possessions
Room on the Broom



BEST SHORT FILM – LIVE ACTION
Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn't Me)
, Esteban Crespo
Avant Que De Tout Perdre (Just Before Losing Everything)
, Xavier Legrand and Alexandre Gavras
Helium
, Anders Walter and Kim Magnusson
Pitääkö Mun Kaikki Hoitaa? (Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?)
, Selma Vilhunen and Kirsikka Saari
The Voorman Problem
, Mark Gill and Baldwin Li


BEST SOUND EDITING
Steve Boeddeker and Richard Hymns, All Is Lost
Oliver Tarney, Captain Phillips
Glenn Freemantle, Gravity
Brent Burge, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Wylie Stateman, Lone Survivor

BEST SOUND MIXING
Chris Burdon, Mark Taylor, Mike Prestwood Smith and Chris Munro, Captain Phillips
"Gravity" Skip Lievsay, Niv Adiri, Christopher Benstead and Chris Munro, Gravity
Christopher Boyes, Michael Hedges, Michael Semanick and Tony Johnson, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Skip Lievsay, Greg Orloff and Peter F. Kurland, Inside Llewyn Davis
Andy Koyama, Beau Borders and David Brownlow, Lone Survivor

 
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Tim Webber, Chris Lawrence, Dave Shirk and Neil Corbould, Gravity
Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton and Eric Reynolds, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Christopher Townsend, Guy Williams, Erik Nash and Dan Sudick, Iron Man 3
Tim Alexander, Gary Brozenich, Edson Williams and John Frazier, The Lone Ranger
Roger Guyett, Patrick Tubach, Ben Grossmann and Burt Dalton, Star Trek Into Darkness


There you have it, the full 2014 list of hopefuls. It's going to be exciting to learn the final results. So, if you haven't seen any of the incredible films on the list, you still have a few weeks to catch up before the grand event. Also, you can visit the official Oscar  websites to print a ballot and learn more about the spectacular nominees. Cheers and I'll see you on "red carpet."