Clearly a loaf a bread! Jean Valjean can steal it.

Loved the movie. since so many people are starving, it's hard to imagine a feast associated. I'd be tempted to serve Anthony Bourdain's blanquette de veau with a crusty loaf of bread. It's classic French and delicious! and maybe Food52 French peasant beets (http://food52.com/recipes/3302_french_peasant_beets) along side. and I'd do a clafoutis for dessert. hope the party is great

hmm seems like you can skip the food to go with the whole "poverty" theme...
just kidding. Some kind of a stew seems fitting, with bread and red wine.

Alternatively, you could base things off of each character... Jean Valjean could feature something hidden/unexpected as a comment on how he reinvented himself. Think brussel sprouts (which people normally hate) and bacon, or something. Cosette could be the dessert - something sweet/simple. Marius could be something rich/decadent presented in a simple way (cheese, maybe with a bit of a kick?). Seems like this theme could work really well for cocktails too.

I'd go with what I think of as French peasant food: rustic bread, cheese, and red wine.

Probably a big pot of sadness to dip that loaf of stolen bread in (good call Nancy50). :)

French Onion soup should be an obvious choice. The soup of the poor.

sausages filled with this and that...kidney of a horse, liver of a cat.

What about something non French, but still with theme and pick colors! Take a hint from the song... RED! The blood of angry men! BLACK! The dark of ages past! (Okay maybe that wont work, there aren't a lot of black foods.)

Make your own French fries!? Put out lots of sauces and toppings?

This is my go-to site for yummy, rustic French recipes:

http://mimithorisson.com/

this comment, FTW :)

eels.

Get some sourdough baguette and dip in this delicious bouillabaisse from South of France. http://7th-taste.com/2013/01/20/bouillabaisse/

haha "make your own french fries" sounds terrifying.

I always love seeing Oscar party ideas that are based on puns. Since people usually serve apps or finger food, it's easy to set up labels for everything so that people get the joke: "2460bun", "a tart full of love", "Jean Valprawns"...

I think baguettes, cheese and vin ordinare would be perfect.

But I was waiting for someone else to do this, but I can't resist (forgive me)....
and you can....
"Let them eat cake"

Wow, what a beautiful blog! Thank you so much for the link!

I think you should go for the different varieties of delicious pizzas..The Big A Pizzeria

You're stumped for food ideas because they didn't have any food! Put a loaf of bread on the table and kick out the first guy to steal it.

I guess this year's nominees don't offer much in positive party themes.

Red (And Black) Velvet Cupcakes
Tricolor Cookies
I Dreamed a Cream Puffs
Fantine-astic burritos/appetizers
Fantine's Tu-Beer-culosis
It was only a loaf of Banana Bread
Cherry E-Pie-nine
Custard of the House

I love this idea - funny and innovative and it plays on the music from the movie!

Get one of those Barbie head cakes, and call it Marie Antoinette?

Cassoulet is hearty and really easy to make.

I have nothing to add, except that I am really digging all of the great puns. Nice work Kitchn readers.