Our annual ‘Eat your way through “White Christmas”‘ Party

Like many families, mine loves to watch “White Christmas,” that movie musical paean to fantasies of holidays past, as one of our Christmas traditions.  Every time we would get to club car scene (on the train to Pine Tree, Vermont), we too wanted to eat the club sandwiches the foursome order from the steward. One year we remembered to make the sandwiches ahead of time and bring them out at the start of the scene, and suddenly, we realized — they don’t ever stop eating and drinking in this movie!  And from that our “Eat Your Way Through ‘White Christmas'” Party was born.  Our tradition has evolved to hosting small groups of friends each year to watch, eat, and marvel that Vera Ellen’s waistline doesn’t ever seem to expand though ours certainly will have by the end of the film.

At the request of a few friends, here are my instructions for the party.  First, I’m including the time codes on the film, the scene, and the food I serve (keep in mind that there are many ways to design the menu for this event, depending on what you want to emphasize in each scene).  Then, I’ve noted the menu separately from the film scenes and finally, I’ve included a shopping list for the party.

Enjoy!  And let me know how you vary your version of the party.

Joanne’s “Eat your way through ‘White Christmas’” Party

Time code in film – Food served                                                 Scene

 Opening                                                                                      WWII field camp

12:30 – Assorted food and drink                                                Florida nightclub

(Rum Punch and nuts)

25:00 – Coffee (maitre’d pours it for the policeman)

39:48 – Club sandwiches                                                            Train

Malteds

Lemonade

Basket of Popcorn on the Bar

49:22 – Soup                                                                                    Inn dining room

Bread and butter

Crudite platter

54:00 – Coffee                                                                        Dance rehearsal

Donuts

1:01:00 – Roll in Danny Kaye’s mouth

1:02:00 – Ham and cheese on rye                                                Inn bar

Buttermilk

1:21:00 – Hot dogs                                                                        Inn fireplace

1:24:00 – Hors d’oeuvres                                                             Cast party

1:27:29 – Champagne

1:36:00 – Cocktail                                                                        Nightclub

(Brandy Manhattan)

1:51:46 – Cake                                                                         Inn dining room

Joanne’s White Christmas Party Menu

Rum Punch

Nuts

Coffee

Club Sandwiches

Chocolate Malteds

Lemonade

Popcorn

Soup

Bread and Butter

Crudites

More coffee

Donuts

Ham and Cheese on Rye (w/ olive garnish)

Buttermilk

Hot Dogs

Hors d’oeuvres

Champagne

Brandy Manhattan

Tiered Cake with candles and Christmas decorations

White Christmas Party Shopping List

• Rum
• Pineapple juice
• Orange juice
• (lime optional)
• Grenadine syrup
• Mixed Nuts
• Coffee
• Milk & Sugar
• Bread for Club Sandwiches
• Mayo
• Lettuce
• Tomato
• Bacon
• Sliced turkey
• Toothpicks
• Lemonade
• Popcorn
• Malted Milk powder
• Milk
• Chocolate powder
• Soup
• Bread & Butter
• Celery and Carrots
• Donuts
• Sliced ham
• Sliced cheese
• Rye bread
• Sliced olive garnish
• Buttermilk
• Hot dogs
• Hot dog buns
• Ketchup & mustard
• Assorted hors d’oeuvres (frozen from Trader Joe’s)
• Champagne
• Brandy
• Maraschino cherries & juice
• Bitters
• Sweet Vermouth
• Chocolate Cake
• Flour
• Sugar
• Coffee
• Salt, Baking Powder and Baking Soda
• Milk
• Oil
• Butter
• Confectioner’s sugar