Eat Like a Star on Oscar Night

Prime Miniburgers With Cheddar Cheese and Remoulade

Yields: 12

Ingredients:

3/4 pound prime ground beef, such as Kobe-style

Pinch of kosher salt and black pepper

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

12 small slices of cheddar cheese

12 mini-sesame broche buns

Remoulade (recipe below)

Arugula leaves

6 cherry tomatoes, sliced

3 cornichons, sliced

Preheat grill or grill pan.

Put the ground beef in a bowl and season with generous pinch of salt and black pepper. Mix together with your hands. Take a small amount (about two tablespoons worth) of the ground beef and roll it in the palm of your hands as if making meatballs. Flatten the top slightly and put the miniburger patties on a side plate. Drizzle the burgers with oil and season the tops with salt and pepper. Turn the burgers over and season the other sides.

Place burgers on the hot grill. Cook for 3 minutes, then turn over with tongs. Place slices of cheddar cheese on top, allowing it to melt on the burgers. While that's cooking, put the buns on the grill. Let them toast slightly, about two minutes on each side. Burgers go on top, cheese side up followed by arugula leaf, slice of tomato and slice of cornichon.

Remoulade: Yields 1 cup.

Combine 3/4 cup of store-bought or homemade thousand island dressing with 2 tablespoons of bottled barbecue sauce and a little bit of diced red onion. Stir to combine.

And if you really want to get fancy ...