While we can all agree to disagree on some of the Academy Awards choices, there’s no denying that the Oscars have honored some truly outstanding films over the years. Here are a few winners of "Best Picture" that deserve to be watched and enjoyed again.

1.     The English Patient. Anthony Minghella’s World War II dramatic romance is gorgeously shot. The film stars Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche, and it’s rich, complex, and will inspire multiple viewings to piece together all the flashback montages.

2.     Ordinary People. Robert Redford enjoyed his directorial debut  with this 1980 Oscar winner. This remarkable portrait of a family in the midst of falling apart, focuses on the Jarretts as they try to recover from the accidental death of one son, and deal with the attempted suicide of the other.

3.     The Deer Hunter. Michael Cimino’s haunting tale of traumatized Vietnam vets trying to return to "normal" life is a controversial epic, as it shows life on the streets for the injured heroes as it truly was. Add in names like Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, and Christopher Walken and you have winner!

4.     The Godfather. Francis Ford Coppola’s Mafia epic is one of the greatest dramas of all time. Both the original film and the sequel won the Oscar for Best Picture — an honor that has never been repeated and probably never will.

Using farm fresh ingredients and a seasonal tapas menu that fuses Southern, Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine, Roost has earned itself a favorite place on the Houston dining scene. The menu changes every three weeks, so you can always count on new flavors emerging from the kitchen. Sumptuous plates – to share, or not – include a Mason Jar Pickles of Local Produce, Smoked Trout Mousse with rye toast points, Fried Cauliflower with miso dressing & pine nuts, Beer Can Cornish Hen with honey mustard sauce, Curried Crab Cakes with chayote squash slaw and Angus Flatiron Steak with pickled watermelon. The ‘Gimme Some Suga’ dessert menu features taste tempters like Coffee N’ Donut Holes with salted caramel & coffee ice cream. Yum!

Moments from Reserve at Garden Oaks, Roost is open for dinner Monday through Saturday.

Roost
1972 Fairview Street
Houston, TX 77019
(713) 523-7667
http://www.yelp.com/biz/roost-houston

Traveling abroad sometime soon? Planning a vacation can be exciting, but it also encompasses lots of little details. Making a list can help! Along with booking airlines, trains, and hotels and creating a list of essential items to pack, check out this list of Tips for Traveling Abroad from the State Department's Travel.State.gov website. Here are some of the site's most useful tips:

• Register for the State Department's "Smart Traveler Enrollment Program" for assistance in case of emergency. The confidential online service helps get in touch if you've got a stateside family emergency, or if you need assistance when abroad.
• Learn about local laws. While visiting a foreign country, you're subject to its laws. You can find info on specific countries by visiting this State Department site.
• Check medical coverage. Ask your insurance provider if your policy's applicable overseas. If it isn't, consider purchasing supplemental medical insurance.

Want to see more tips for safe international travel? Click here to visit Travel.State.gov.