The monster movies made by Universal Pictures in the 1920s through the 1950s are the backbone of American horror cinema. The films introduced audiences to iconic monsters, spun a thrilling shared universe, and inspired countless sequels and remakes. To celebrate these films we’re taking a trip through the decades and putting together a charmingly retro menu inspired by three classic monsters.
First up is a cocktail inspired by 1931’s Dracula, starring Bela Lugosi in one of his most famous roles. It’s a play on the champagne cocktail French 75, with a Transylvanian twist. The original drink was created in the 1910s but remained popular throughout the prohibition era when Dracula was filmed. To give it that Romanian touch, it features a fruity simple syrup. Romanian liquors are often made with fermented fruits, such as Țuică, the traditional liquor made of fermented plums. While this drink would be lovely with a plum simple syrup, plums aren’t in season so I made this with frozen dark cherries. The color is beautiful – of course a Dracula drink must be tinted bloody red – and the flavor light and sparkly.
Transylvanian 75
For the simple syrup
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup dark cherries (fresh or frozen)
- 1 cup water
Bring all ingredients to a boil, and remove from heat. Let stand 20 minutes, mash, strain, and cool.
For the cocktail
- 1.5 ounces vodka
- 2 tablespoons cherry simple syrup
- 4 ounces champagne
Combine in a pretty glass and garnish with lemon.
Dinner is a Monster Surf and Turf. The red meat portion is aptly inspired by The Wolf Man, the 1941 film starring Lon Chaney Jr., as well as 1944’s House of Frankenstein in which the wolf man is killed with a silver bullet. It’s a nicely pan seared steak, served with lemony compound butter silver bullets. The seafood portion is a swampy shrimp in green sauce inspired by Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954). Centuries of passion – for shrimp! – pent up in his savage heart!
Wolf Man Steaks with Silver Bullet Lemon Butter
For the steaks
- 2 fillets (or cut of your choice)
- coarse salt
- 2-3 tablespoons butter
I’m not here to take you to steak cooking school, but I’ve had good luck on the stovetop in a screaming hot cast iron pan and this technique from The Kitchn.
For the silver bullet lemon butter
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- zest of one lemon
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- generous pinch coarse salt
- edible silver pearl dust (you can find this in the baking section of craft stores)
- vodka or lemon extract for painting
Mix butter, lemon zest, lemon juice, and salt thoroughly. Refrigerate to firm it up a bit, then using a melon baller, measure out 5 balls. Gently roll them with your hands to round. Return to the refrigerator until cold.
To paint: mix the pearl dust with a tiny bit of vodka or lemon extract to make a paint. Use a clean paintbrush to paint each of the balls. Allow to dry, and serve with steak or use it on bread.
Creature from the Black Lagoon Shrimp with Green Sauce
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 10 chives
- 1 handful parsley
- 1/4 cup vegetable stock
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
- lemon to finish
Heat oven to 500. In a food processor, combine garlic, olive oil, chives, parsley and vegetable stock. In a roasting dish, toss shrimp with the sauce and spread in an even layer. Roast for 7-8 minutes, stirring halfway through, until shrimp is pink. Finish with a squirt of lemon juice.
Serve this classic meal with crusty bread for sopping, and a nice green salad. If you are noting that there’s no dessert…well there is! It’s inspired by 1933’s The Invisible Man. It’s invisible.
Let us know who what you’re having for dinner this Halloween season on Twitter, Reddit, and in the Horror Movie Fiend Club on Facebook. Bon Appetite!
