Maria Menounos arrives for the Miramax party in West Hollywood February 26, 2005. The 77th Annual Academy Awards will be held on Sunday. REUTERS/John Schults


Love that Luxury

BeansTalk, covering the Oscar Suites for Reuters this week, had the pleasure of visiting the exclusive Oscar Retreat held at the private Hollywood Hills home of Anastasia Soare, celebrity brow guru whose regular customers include Jennifer Lopez, Renee Zellweger, Debra Messing, Oprah Winfrey, Helen Hunt, Kim Cattrall, Reese Witherspoon, Julianna Margulies, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Kate Capshaw, Rita Wilson, Jada Pinkett Smith, Lauren Holly, Christine Lahti, Lucy Liu, Portia De Rossi, Lara Flynn Boyle, Chloe Sevigny, Melissa Etheridge, Debi Mazar, Elle MacPherson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Garcelle Beauvais, Kirstie Alley, Lisa Marie Presley, Penelope Cruz and Sharon Stone.

Soare’s Oscar Suite offered Lexus cars and drivers to shuttle actresses like Eva Longoria, the stunningly gorgeous and affable Maria Menounos and Garcelle Beauvais, who were there on Friday. Aside from the VIP treatment of brows (brows with Anastasia are $60 in her Beverly Hills Salon), they served an elaborate array of fresh juices (including apple lemon ginger, and orange coconut) from Beverly Hills Juice, sushi, Godiva Chocolates and they introduced Hpnotiq blue liquor cocktails as well that classic, Dubonnet. There were manicures and products from Jessica nails, hair products from Prive and an all around party vibe.

Eva Longoria, Teri Hatcher, Nocolette Sheridan, Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Rodriguez, Joely Fisher all visited the suite. Lexus provided the cars (GX470 and LX470, both luxury SUVs) and drivers.

Drink Details:

Hpnotiq (blend of triple-distilled premium vodka, cognac and tropical fruit juices). The Bartender served up the “Hpnotiq Heaven” (Hpnotiq, champagne and Chambord) and the “Hpnotiq Dream” (Hpnotiq, Champage and Peach Schnapps).

Dubonnet (wine flavored with herbs and spices from countries around the world) The Bartender served up the Dubonnet Kiss, a French twist of the apple martini (a blend of Dubonnet Rouge, sour apple schnapps, apple cider and sour mix)

The Dubonnet Kiss

1 oz. Dubonnet Rouge
½ oz. sour apple schnapps
1 oz. apple cider
½ oz. sour mix

Shake with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Add a thin slice of Red Delicious Apple and enjoy.