Kathy A. McDonaldAs every schoolgirl — the presumed reader of The Twilight Saga books — knows, vampires don't eat prepared food. A bit of a challenge for Monday night's The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1 premiere organizers. Why? Because a film's look almost always inspires the after party's theme and menu. Instead of raw, bloodied flesh or human blood shakes — as featured in the film — the menu was far more digestible for mortals.
[Spoiler alert!] Bella and her beloved vampire Edward finally get married, and thus the film's honeymoon location — a very sanitized Rio de Janeiro and an island beach and jungle locales — inspired a Brazilian-themed menu at the post-premiere party. Other dishes were a nod to the Pacific Northwest and Bella's fictional knack for cooking comfort food (grilled cheese two ways). But the ample buffets weren't the night's most delicious aspect.
the flowery Breaking Dawn prop wedding cake; Credit: Jeff Kirshbaum
The film's towering, flower-covered prop wedding cake, surrounded by moist red velvet cupcakes, was the appropriate and much photographed centerpiece. Veteran movie premiere and film business caterer Mary Micucci of Along Came Mary provided the vittles and stocked the overflowing buffet stations. Overall production and design was by Chad Hudson Events. On the rooftop of the LA Live parking lot and oft-used event deck, Hudson's firm recreated the wedding set, complete with draping flower garlands flown in from Europe, a wall-sized waterfall and other picturesque Twilight honeymoon vignettes.
The tropical Brazilian theme extended to the Pyrat rum cocktails; bartenders were diligent in carding partygoers. The longest lines were for the massive, haunch-sized cuts of roast beef, accompanied by au jus, creamy garlic mashed potatoes and hearts of palm salad. Empanadas stuffed with chicken and black beans as appetizers and popcorn lollipops coated in caramel and chocolate for dessert were among the finger foods served to the crowd, quite starved by the 10 p.m. dinner start time.
Did any of the cast members actually eat at the spendy after-party? Hard to discern as they were in cordoned off in VIP areas (Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson jetted off to New York early on to hit the morning news shows). Taylor Lautner was reportedly in the house — a scrum of ladies stood below his VIP section — as was author Stephenie Meyer and director Bryan Singer. The supporting cast of vampires or wolf pack, who dared to venture out for a cupcake or rum punch into the 3,000-strong crowd, were quickly enveloped by Twi-hard fans.
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