PARTY LINE : Caterer Nightmare No. 193

Everything was set for the MTV Movie Awards party last month. The props were in place--elaborate stations on the back lot at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, each designed to match the five nominated films. Food was prepared for 1,300: peppered shrimp for the “Basic Instinct” buffet; steak Madagascar at “Malcolm X”; couscous at “Aladdin”; charred scallops with Hawaiian jade tapenade at “A Few Good Men”; and an entire dessert bar in honor of “The Bodyguard.” There were even costumes made--pajamas for the servers at the “Basic Instinct” station, harem pants for those at “Aladdin.”

And then it rained. The props were ruined and the party had to be moved indoors. “Suddenly we found ourselves on a sound stage with a New York street set,” says Joyce Krasny of Parties Plus, the caterer. “We would have looked ludicrous in pajamas and harem pants.”

What to do? T-shirts emblazoned with the MTV logo were brought in to replace the costumes. The menu stayed the same. But the elaborate designs were pared down, and metal drums were rolled in to enhance the New York feel of the set.

It worked. But the sound stage didn’t. It was too tiny for the giant, star-studded crowd. “Because it was difficult to enter,” says Krasny, “it suddenly became a hot ticket.”

Mel Gibson, Mary Stuart Masterson, Marisa Tomei, Danny Glover and Rosie Perez didn’t have any trouble getting in. And some of the stars were still there at 1 in the morning. “The guests just wouldn’t go home,” says Krasny. “It was wall-to-wall black leather, black lace, black sheers and black tights. And they all gobbled up the food as if they hadn’t eaten in three weeks.”

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Parties Plus chef Robert Wilson created this recipe for the “A Few Good Men” buffet, which won the MTV Movie Award for Best Picture.

CHARRED SCALLOPS WITH HAWAIIAN JADE TAPENADE 1 1/2 pounds sea scallops, about 20 Oil 1 1/2 cups Hawaiian Jade Tapenade

Wash scallops. Lightly coat grill with oil. Grill scallops on each side over medium-high heat. Place Hawaiian Jade Tapenade on serving dish and set scallops on top. Makes 4 servings.

Each serving contains about: 708 calories; 357 mg sodium; 97 mg cholesterol; 63 grams fat; 6 grams carbohydrates; 29 grams protein; 0.14 gram fiber.

Hawaiian Jade Tapenade 1/4 cup ginger root, finely chopped 1/4 cup green onions, finely chopped 1/4 cup cilantro, finely chopped 1 1/2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 2 ounces peanut oil 1/2 ounce sesame oil Salt, pepper 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Combine ginger root, green onion, cilantro and garlic in bowl.

Heat peanut and sesame oils, then pour slowly over ginger mixture, stirring. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Place mixture in saucepan over low heat and add cream slowly. Cook sauce until heated through. Mix well. Makes about 1 1/2 cups.