The start of a new year brings lots of change, but one constant is red carpet season in Los Angeles. From January through March, Hollywood’s A-list comes out on a near-weekly basis to wine, dine, and charm each other in the award season sweep. From the Golden Globes to the Grammys, each ceremony brings Tinseltown’s best to the world. And this Sunday’s Screen Actors Guild Awards prove to be even more impressive.
For the 31st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, the SAG-AFTRA team decided to up the ante on their dinner by enlisting MICHELIN Guide staple David Chang of Bib Gourmand Momofuku Noodle Bar, among others. “We wanted to break out of the usual awards dinner format and make the food fun and unexpected,” says Chang. “The menu had to work at room temperature, so we leaned into dishes that taste great that way, while still feeling special.”
Below, we get the dish from Chang on how he conceived of the menu, what to expect on Sunday, and who he’d have on his show Dinner Time Live. And make sure to watch this year’s Screen Actors Guild Awards streaming live globally on Netflix starting at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on Sunday, February 23.
What are your favorites from this year’s menu? What’s the story behind those dishes?
Kimbap is perfect for this setting—it’s something you’d usually find in a kid’s lunchbox, but we’ve dressed it up for an awards show. It’s flavorful, easy to eat, and holds up beautifully. And then there are our honey butter chips—a play on the Korean snack that’s sweet, salty, and impossible to stop eating.
How did you approach the menu for the SAG Awards compared to your approach at your restaurants?
The biggest challenge is scale. In a restaurant, you can adjust things on the fly. Here, everything has to be dialed in so that it tastes just as good when served to hundreds of people.
How do you create a menu that accommodates such a wide array of guests?
Variety is key. We made sure to offer different flavors, textures, and something for everyone while keeping the food fun and exciting.
Did you have a favorite movie or two from this year?
A Complete Unknown. Chalamet nailed it—he didn’t just imitate Dylan, he really captured his energy.
Which SAG Awards nominee would you want to host next on Dinner Time Live?
Ayo Edebiri would be great—she’s hilarious and knows her way around a kitchen. And Selena Gomez would be a lot of fun too. She genuinely loves food and cooking, so I’d love to see what kind of eater she is.
Hero image: John Salangsang / 31st SAG Awards Media Preview
