Red Carpet Snacks

A cocktail is an essential part of red carpet event watching for me, but so are snacks. Since most red carpet coverage begins at 5 or 6pm, I'm not ready for a full meal, but I need to have some nibble-able finger foods so I'm not starving by the end of the night. Here are some of my favorite appetizers and snacks for red carpet dining! (Note: You can also eat these during the Superbowl. I won't judge.)

Rainbow Pinwheels

These are great because you can make them ahead of time, and you can adapt the fillings to your personal preference (I omit the cabbage; you could add zucchini or summer squash wedges). Plus, they're reasonably nutritious. 

4 large tortillas
1 cup hummus (whatever flavor you like - roasted red pepper is my favorite)
2 carrots, peeled and cut into matchsticks
1 red and 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and sliced thin
1/2 cup baby spinach leaves
1/2 cup purple cabbage, sliced thin or shredded

Lay out all 4 tortillas. Spread each with about 1/4 cup hummus, leaving room at the edges. arrange the vegetables (in rainbow order, if you want to be fancy), then tightly roll each tortilla and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill for several hours before slicing and serving. 

Honey Mustard Chex Mix

I love every variation of Chex Mix that I've ever tried, but this is by far my favorite. It's sweet and salty, and you can use whatever kind of cereal, crackers, and pretzels you prefer. You can make it several days ahead of time, and the leftovers (if there are any keep) at room temperature for a long time.

1/2 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
3 tsp dried mustard powder
3/4 tsp salt
6 cups total mix of Chex and/or other crispy cereals (any combination of Rice Chex, Corn Chex, Wheat Chex, Life, Crispix, Cheerios, Kix, etc.) 
2 cups small pretzels (knots, sticks, or rings)
1-1/2 cups white cheddar Cheez-Its (you can substitute for this, but I think it really adds to the flavor)
1 cup Melba toasts, broken into pieces

In a small bowl, combine melted butter, honey, Dijon mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, dried mustard, and salt. In a large bowl, stir together all remaining ingredients. Pour sauce over mix and toss until thoroughly coated. Line a baking sheet with nonstick foil and spread mix evenly on sheet. Bake at 250 degrees for an hour and 10 minutes, stirring every 20 minutes or so. Allow to cool and store at room temperature in large Ziploc bags or tightly covered storage containers. 

Sweet and Spicy Crunchy Chickpeas

I love a snack with a little heat, especially when you can eat a tiny bit at a time, and these chickpeas fit the bill. Nibble them one at a time or toss a whole handful into your mouth for a salty-sweet-spicy treat. 

2 (15-oz) cans of chickpeas
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp chili powder (or more if you like heat)
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (or more if you like heat)
1-2 Tbsp brown sugar

Drain and rinse chickpeas, then blot between paper towels to dry. Line a baking sheet with nonstick foil and spread the chickpeas out. Bake at 425 for 10 minutes, then shake tray to rearrange chickpeas and bake for 10 more minutes. While chickpeas are roasting, in a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients EXCEPT olive oil. When chickpeas come out of the oven, drizzle them with olive oil and shake tray until evenly coated. Sprinkle with the spices and shake tray again to coat evenly. Return to oven and bake for another 10-15 minutes, until chickpeas are browned and very crunchy. 

Cranberry Brie Bites

If you have time to bake these right before you want to eat them, that's the best, but you can also make them ahead of time and either serve them at room temperature or warm them in the microwave or oven before serving. 

Flour for dusting
1 tube crescent roll dough
1 wheel Brie
1/2 cup cranberry sauce (whole berry or jellied; you can also use seedless raspberry jam)
1/4 cup finely chopped pecans (plain or candied)
6 fresh rosemary sprigs, cut into 1-inch pieces

Arrange a rack in center of oven and preheat to 375 degrees. Grease a mini (24-cup) muffin tin with cooking spray or line with paper baking cups. On a lightly floured surface, roll out crescent dough and pinch together seams to form a single smooth sheet. Cut into 24 squares with a pizza cutter or sharp knife. Press squares into prepared cups. Cut Brie into small pieces and place inside dough. Top with a spoonful of cranberry sauce, a sprinkle of pecans, and one piece of rosemary. Bake until pastry is golden brown, about 15 minutes. Serve immediately or store in refrigerator tightly covered. 

Crab and Brie Stuffed Mushrooms

This easy but decadent treat can be prepped ahead of time and thrown into the oven just before you want to serve. 

12-16 baby bella mushrooms
3 Tbs olive oil, divided
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup minced shallot
1/4 cup cream cheese, softened
2 Tbs minced fresh parsley
2 tsp lemon zest
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup cubed brie (remove rind and cut into 1/4-inch cubes)
1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
1 cup lump crabmeat, picked through for shells
juice of 1/2 lemon (about 1-1/2 Tbsp)

Wash the mushrooms and pat dry, then remove the stems. Chop stems finely and set aside.

In a medium bowl, toss the mushroom caps with 2 tablespoons of oil, salt, and pepper. Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with nonstick foil, open-side up.  Set the bowl aside to use for the filling.

In a medium skillet, heat the remaining tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Saute the shallot and chopped mushroom stems until softened, 3-4 minutes.  Remove from heat, stir in the cream cheese, and transfer the mixture to the bowl. Add the parsley, lemon zest, Parmesan, brie, and panko, and mix well.  Lightly fold in the crabmeat. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Spoon the filling into the mushroom caps (may be covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated for several hours at this point) and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes, or until the mushrooms are browned and the filling is hot and bubbly.  Remove from oven and squeeze the lemon juice over the mushrooms before serving.

Veggies and Dill Dip

This dip is great with any kind of vegetable dippers (broccoli, baby carrots, celery, bell peppers, cauliflower, etc.) but also with potato chips, pita chips, or pretzels. Be sure to thoroughly soften the cream cheese for a creamy, well-blended result.

1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup mayonnaise
2 oz cream cheese, softened
1 Tbsp dried dill
1 Tbsp dried chives
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp celery seed
Dippers of choice (see above)

Combine all ingredients (except dippers) in a serving bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Serve cold with dippers of choice. 

Easy Caprese

You can make bite-sized versions of these by using toothpicks and including a single tomato, one chunk of mozzarella, and a basil leaf on each.

24 cherry tomatoes
24 mini mozzarella balls (or small cubes of fresh mozzarella)
24 fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup olive oil
3 Tbsp balsamic glaze
salt and pepper to taste

Drain the mozzarella balls and pat dry with a paper towel. Wash and dry the tomatoes and basil. Assemble skewers by threading sets of one folded basil leaf, one tomato, and one piece of mozzarella (depending on the length of the skewers, two or three sets might fit; if using toothpicks, use a single set). Arrange on a serving platter. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic glaze, and salt and pepper. When ready to serve, drizzle skewers generously with dressing and a little more salt and pepper. If preparing ahead of time and refrigerating, allow to come to room temperate before serving. 

Cheesy Pull Apart Bread

This is a little messy, but if you're watching with a few friends, it's well worth the mess and effort. It's best when made right before serving, but see note at end of recipe for make ahead directions. 

1 loaf of crusty, dense bread, like sourdough or Vienna
1/2 cup butter, melted
3 tsp minced garlic
3/4 tsp salt
1 Tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 cup shredded mozzarella

In a small bowl, stir together melted butter, minced garlic, salt, and parsley. Cut the bread on diagonals to form 1-inch diamonds, but not quite cutting to the bottom of the loaf (tip: place a wooden spoon or cutting board on both sides of the loaf to stop the knife). Pry open the slices, drizzle with butter, and stuff in small handfuls of cheese. If any butter is left over, brush over the top of the loaf. Wrap tightly with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, then remove foil and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes. Serve immediately. 

Make ahead instructions: Instead of using melted butter, use softened butter and spread inside slices, then add cheese. Wrap tightly in foil and refrigerate. When ready to use, allow to come to room temperature and then bake as above. You can also make the bread as above and rewrap in foil after baking, then allow to cool and refrigerate for up to 3 days. When ready to serve, unwrap and microwave for 1-1/2 to 2 minutes until the cheese melts. 

Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts

Bacon-wrapped scallops are a popular appetizer, but for folks like me who don't like scallops, why deprive us of bacon? These sweet, smoky, crunchy treats are sure to be a hit with everyone. Be sure to remove from the baking sheet immediately after baking so they don't continue to cook in the hot fat. Alternatively, you can spray a cooling rack with nonstick spray and lay it inside the baking sheet to raise the chestnuts out of the rendered fat. 

1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup brown sugar (if you have a kitchen scale, weigh out 57 grams instead of packing and measuring)
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 (7-oz) cans of water chestnuts, drained
1 lb. smoky bacon, each slice cut into thirds

Combine ketchup, brown sugar, garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce in a mixing bowl and stir well. Wrap each water chestnut with a bacon strip, secure with a toothpick, and drop into the mixing bowl with the sauce mix. Gently fold the sauce over the chestnuts in the mixing bowl, evenly coating each piece. Line a baking sheet with nonstick foil and arrange chestnuts on sheet, use tongs to remove chestnuts from the bowl. Drizzle remaining sauce over the chestnuts. Bake in a 425-degree oven for about 45 minutes or long enough to crisp the bacon. Immediately remove from tray using tongs, then arrange on a serving plate and serve immediately.

Chicken, Cranberry, and Pecan Pinwheels

This recipe is meant to be a wrap sandwich, but it's easy enough to slice into appetizer-sized pinwheels. It's a nice hearty snack that provides enough nutrition that you can pretend you're eating "real" food. You can use fresh cooked chicken if you have it on hand, but I often make it with canned chicken from Costco - just drain it and break apart the larger pieces with a fork. 

3 cups cooked, shredded chicken
1/2 cup Craisins
1/2 cup chopped pecans
3/4 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup mayonnaise
salt and white pepper to taste
1 tsp fresh parsley, chopped
4 large flour tortillas or wraps

In a large bowl, combine chicken, craisins, pecans, and celery and stir to combine. Add mayonnaise, salt, and white pepper, and mix well. Lay a tortilla on a plate and spread with chicken mixture, sprinkle with a pinch of fresh parsley, and roll tightly. Repeat with all four tortillas. Chill until ready to serve, then unwrap, use a sharp knife to cut into thick slices, and serve. 

Happy snacking, and let the red carpet parade being!

2026 Grammy Awards: Red Carpet Preview

The Grammy Awards are coming up this weekend, which my children have been reminding me of for quite some time now. I'm more excited about the Grammys this year than I am most years, because my kids have been spending time "educating" me on their favorite artists, which means I actually recognize the majority of the nominees this year. That doesn't change the fact, however, that I am still more interested in what everyone will be wearing than in the actual bestowing of awards. So I thought it might be fun to look at some of the best and worst red carpet looks that the nominees (in selected categories, plus a couple of requests from my kids) have worn at various red carpet events in recent years. 

And the nominees are...

Bad Bunny (Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year)

Best: 2024 Academy Awards

Bunny presented an award wearing a classic black double-breasted tuxedo with a high closure, worn shirtless, accessorized with a chunky diamond necklace. 

Worst: 2025 Happy Gilmore 2 Premiere

The plaid jacket may have been a nod to the film - and, to be fair, it's perfectly fine by itself. But combining it with chevron-patterned shorts that look like boxer shorts, elastic-strap black ballet flats with white crew socks, and a flat-brimmed baseball hat was not a good look. 

Sabrina Carpenter (Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album)

Best: 2024 VMAs

Carpenter has plenty of gorgeous red carpet looks, but this strapless figure-hugging silver vintage Bob Mackie gown is one of the best. It's sexy without being overly revealing and has an air of Old Hollywood glamour without looking dated. 

Worst: 2022 American Music Awards

"Worst" is a relative term here, because this look really isn't all that bad. It's just not a good cut for her slender-but-straight figure. The horizontal lines of both the bandeau-style top and the short, straight skirt make her body look very rectangular. 

Doechii (Record of the Year, Song of the Year)

Best: 2022 BET Awards

This stunningly pleated structural design was an eye-catching color and style, and I love the way her asymmetrical hairstyle echoed the lines of the gown. 

Worst: 2025 Grammy Awards

I actually love the top of this Thom Browne ensemble, with its whimsical take on menswear in the form of a strapless vest made of a pair of cuffed dress pants wrapped around the waist, but the weirdly puffy skirt was too layered, too bulky, and too disjointed. 

Billie Eilish (Record of the Year, Song of the Year)

Best: 2022 Met Gala

This Bridgerton-inspired custom Gucci gown was an unexpected choice, but I loved the way Eilish made it her own with a black choker and black feathered headpiece, and the lace gauntlet-style sleeves were very "her."

Worst: 2024 Golden Globes

Although the concept was fine, the hugely oversized jacket designed by Willy Chavarria looked uncomfortable, like a little kid wearing her father's clothes, and the pink ankle-length ruffled socks were just weird. 

Lady Gaga (Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album)

Best: 2019 Golden Globes

This periwinkle Valentino Haute Couture ballgown was simply breathtaking. I loved her matching lavender hair, and that diamond necklace was to DIE for. The puffed floating sleeves and long ruffled train were just offbeat enough to suit her style without losing the glamorous look. 

Worst: 2015 Academy Awards

It was bad enough that the top of the Azzedine Alaïa-designed gown looked like an old-fashioned full coverage apron with side ruffles, but then she accessorized it with flared red gloves that looked like rubber kitchen gloves. 

Kendrick Lamar (Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year)

Best: 2014 Grammy Awards

This slick blue suit featured barely pegged pants, a narrow satin collar, and a narrow black panel at one side of the jacket front, worn over a black satin tee. It was classy but just a little different.  

Worst: 2025 Grammy Awards

This custom Maison Margiela "Canadian Tuxedo" was simply baggy jeans, a denim jacket over a white t-shirt, and a denim cap. Zero effort was made here. 

SZA (Record of the Year, Song of the Year)

Best: 2022 Grammy Awards

Sza stunned in a body-hugging Jean Paul Gaultier tan tulle gown with a long train, embellished with colorful fabric flowers running down the front.  

Worst: 2024 Grammy Awards

While SZA did not walk the red carpet at this event, this Do Long gown did appear publicly on stage when she won, and it was ugly enough to land here. The lines of the gown, especially the gathering at the hips, was quite lovely, but the sheer front had oddly-placed opaque areas and looked unbalanced and awkward. 

Chappell Roan (Record of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance)

Best: 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Roan paired a vintage rhinestone top she found on eBay with a rhinestone-embedded showgirl headpiece with hanging crystals and a lampshade-shaped newspaper-strip skirt designed by Efrain Nava and Manny Robertson. It was wild and crazy and fun, and I found it to be both a lovely tribute to Cyndi Lauper (who was presented for induction by Roan) and unique to Roan's own personal style. 

Worst: 2024 Guts World Tour Movie Premiere

This sheer Harper Collective design had oddly-placed oversized flowers down the front of the bodice and carwash panel skirt, and an ugly granny panty underneath, although I did like the gauntlets with smaller matching flowers on the back of her hands. The black boots were the wrong choice for footwear, though. 

ROSÉ (Record of the Year, Song of the Year)

Best: 2025 MTV Video Music Awards

This gold and silver Oscar de la Renta design featured a straight-across strapless bodice and a straight skirt consisting of fringe from mid-thigh to floor. The metallic silver caught the light beautifully, especially with the movement of the fringe. 

Worst: 2022 LACMA Art+Film Gala

I struggled to find a bad red carpet look for her, and the closest I could come was this hooded Anthony Vaccarello for Saint Laurent. It's not bad, except that the low bodice and high neckband and hood are both a major contrast in style and create visual weight well away from her face. 

Bruno Mars (Record of the Year, Song of the Year)

Best: 2025 Grammy Awards

Mars looked cover model-worthy in a sleek double-breasted charcoal grey silk satin Saint Laurent tuxedo, worn shirtless with Tiffany jewelry and dark sunglasses. 

Worst: 2018 Grammy Awards

I had to go all the way back to 2018 to find a red carpet misstep, and even so, Mars didn't technically walk the red carpet at this event. It's not bad, pairing black jeans and a white t-shirt with a red sequin zip-front baseball-style jacket, it's just kind of...meh. 

Justin Bieber (Album of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album)

Best: 2021 Met Gala

This elegant shiny black wide-legged Drew House tuxedo featuring a cropped jacket was unfortunately worn with embellished white tennis shoes, but the bonus points for the French cuffs cancelled them out for an overall good look. 

Worst: 2022 Grammy Awards

This oversized Balenciaga suit was ill-fitting and ugly by itself, but was made even worse when accessorized with a bright pink knit beanie and [shudder] oversized Balenciaga Crocs.

Clipse (Pusha T and Malice) (Album of the Year)

Best: 2025 GC's Men of the Year

Pusha T (right, in gray) and Malice (left, in black) both wore custom Louis Vuitton by Pharrell Williams double-breasted suits. I loved the simplicity of their looks, which relied on luxurious fabrics and impeccable tailoring for their impact. 

Worst: 2025 ESPY Awards

These outfits weren't terrible, but they were too casual for the red carpet (even at the ESPYs). They somehow managed to come off as both boring (due to the cut and color) and also hard on the eyes (due to the multiple sizes of squares on Malice's jacket).  

Leon Thomas (Album of the Year)

Best: 2025 BET Awards

The custom suit designed by Rey Jaiteh included a few subtle but fabulous details, like grommetted lacing at the shoulders, matching grommets below the jacket pockets, and a pearl beaded watch fob. 

Worst: 2025 MTV Video Music Awards

Not terrible, but the combination of a shapeless double-breasted wool overcoat and a satin print bandana was not red carpet worthy. 

Tyler, The Creator (Album of the Year)

Best: 2020 Grammys

Inspired by the film The Grand Budapest Hotel, the pale pink bellhop uniform (custom designed by his own brand, Golf le Fleur) was crisply tailored and whimsical, but the best part was that he wore the striped shirt that was in the suitcase later in the show.

Worst: 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards

Another Golf le Fleur design, the ivory satin shirt with peach collar looked very feminine, and simply didn't go well with either the cropped brown paints or the fur hat. None of the pieces were bad by themselves, they just didn't belong together in the same outfit. 

EJAE (Song of the Year)

Best:2026 Golden Globes

This simple strapless black lace Dior gown featured semi-sheer vertical panels in the skirt and was accessorized with a high geometric updo and a single curved tendril framing her face.

Worst: 2025 MTV Video Music Awards 

This look wasn't terrible, but the wide-legged trousers and bulky jacket overwhelmed her petite frame, and the red-edged leather...tree branch? lobster claw? across the bandeau wasn't interesting enough to make it memorable. 

Audrey Nuna (Song of the Year)

Best: 2025 "A Year in TIME" 

Nuna usually opts for avant garde looks on the red carpet (with varying levels of success IMHO), but I liked the lines and print of this simple one-shouldered black-and-white silk Moschino column with multiple oversized bows.

Worst: 2026 Golden Globes

This Thom Browne ensemble was a LOT of look, with white bows at the neck and ankles forming the body of the dress into a constricting barrel shape, plus an intricate braided hairstyle under a birdcage veil, plus stylized black lipstick. It was just much too much.  

Rei Ami (Song of the Year)

Best: 2026 Golden Globes

The black lace custom Valdin Sahini gown featured sparkly beading on the skirt and tiny angled straps, and it fit her like a glove. Ooh la la!

Worst: 2025 MTV Video Music Awards

Billed as a "mixed-media punk look" that included pieces by designers Seks Dolls, Diesel, and Vivienne Westwood, the ensemble combined a low-slung fringed black leather microminiskirt, pointy-toed multi-buckled black stiletto boots, and a black motorcycle jacket, then topped it all off with a fluffy burgundy wrap/vest/sweater thing. No, honey. Just, no. 

 

Lola Young (Best Pop Solo Performance)

Best: 2025 BRIT Awards

Although I'm not a huge fan of the baggy, bulky, unevenly cuffed jeans, the soft shirring of the white satin peasant blouse and the sheen of the silvery-green soft velvet ruched cropped jacket are absolutely fantastic, and I love her multi-colored hair and super-feminine makeup. 

Worst: 2022 BRIT Awards

Everything here is fine in concept but wrong in execution. The texture of the alligator jacket is weirdly casual over the hyper-sexy sheer top (which isn't doing her figure any favors), and the flared ankle pants are too wide and too short with this outfit. It just can't figure out what it's trying to be. 

Miley Cyrus (Best Pop Vocal Album)

Best: 2025 Golden Globes

This Celine by Hedi Slimane black column with crystal-edged, star-shaped front cutouts was surprisingly demure, as was her shaggy updo. It was a great balance of elegance and edginess. 

Worst: 2024 Grammy Awards

Designed by John Galliano for Maison Margiela, this gown (what there was of it) was made from 14,000 safety pins forming a mostly-sheer gown. The concept was fascinated but the crotch tassel and the humongous frosted '80s hair lost it for me. 

Teddy Swims (Best Pop Vocal Album)

Best: 2025 Grammy Awards

Not only did I love the three-piece champagne-colored satin suit, but I loved that it was encrusted with pearls in honor of the upcoming birth of his first child, whose birthstone would be pearl. Awww!!

Worst: 2025 Brit Awards

I understand that this long coat covered with stuffed animals was meant to be a nod to the outfit worn by Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) on Glee, but it was just weird and uncomfortable. 

JID (Best Rap Album, Best Melodic Rap Performance)

Best: 2022 American Music Awards

The wide, straight leg pants and the slightly nipped-in-at-the-waist jacket with its trailing ribbons made for a great silhouette. I liked that there was a subtle hint of straightjacket in the top, which gave it an edge without being too over the top.

Worst: 2017 BET Awards

My son informs me that JID had barely started his career when these awards happened, so he probably just threw on whatever clean shirt was in his closet. But that shirt shouldn't even have been in his closet, never mind on the red carpet. 

Kehlani (Best R&B Performance, Best R&B Song)

Best: 2025 Grammy Awards

With pinstripes emphasizing its geometric structure, this Robert Wun gown featured a sweetheart neckline, a criss-cross peplum, a short train, and a narrow front panel with four buttons reminiscent of a double-breasted suit jacket. Charming!  

Worst: 2025 BET Awards

 Not a terrible dress (it's an Archival Dior by John Galliano, after all), but the color and texture blends oddly into her tattoos, the bodice has a kind of "shelf" effect going on, the hem is oddly short, and the straps are so wide-set that they look like they're about to fall off her shoulders. 

Jennifer Simard (Best Musical Theater Album)

Best: 2022 Tony Awards

This striking custom Peter Langner gown was all about textures and lines, with pale champagne tulle shot through with metallic gold creating a fringe-like effect in the full skirt and emphasizing the waist of the snug-fitting bodice, which was topped with a pleated ruffle. 

Worst: 2022 Drama League Awards

"Worst" in this case is more like "least best," because I really didn't find any red carpet looks from her that I truly disliked. My biggest objection to this look is that it's overly casual for a red carpet, and the bodice seems to be a bit tight and is not flattering on her fabulous figure. But it's a cute dress and I would absolutely wear it myself!

And now we all just need to wait until Sunday to see if anyone will wear such a great look that they'll have a new "Best" on this list - or maybe such a bad one that they have a new "Worst"!