The 91st Academy Award held on Sunday (24 February) at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles caps off an awards season that’s been full of surprises. It was the first time since 1989 that the Oscars has gone without a host, but the absence was barely noticeable in a fast-paced show full of highlights and headline-grabbing moments. Green Book, a movie inspired by a true friendship, took home a surprise win for Best Picture and acclaimed director Spike Lee finally landed an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay while Rami Malek has just become the first actor of Arab heritage to win Best Actor in history.
When the curtains closed, 1,500 of Hollywood’s biggest names flocked to the Governors Ball held at the Hollywood & Highland Center, where they tucked into more than 70 different dishes prepared by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck and his catering team. The extensive menu was a mix of snacks, tray-passed hors d’oeuvres, small plates, chef stations dishing out hot food and a hand-carved ice bar with seafood, sushi rolls and made-to-order nigiri.
As with all the years before, Puck’s signature dishes took centre stage. Classics like the smoked salmon Oscar statuettes topped with caviar and his highly raved black truffle chicken pot pie made their appearances, while staff passed around Puck’s signature pizzas and spicy tuna tartare in sesame miso cones.
In the mid-1980s, Puck would host prolific Hollywood agent Irving “Swifty” Lazar’s private Oscar viewing parties at his iconic Beverly Hills restaurant Spago, where celebrities would watch the show. If they won, they would race downtown to collect their awards and return to Spago right after. When Lazar died at the end of 1993, Puck decided to forego hosting the annual party to honour his late friend. But as fate would have it, the Academy’s board of directors invited Puck to cater for the official Oscar afterparty in 1994 and he turned it into the event to attend. For a quarter of a century now, Puck’s highly anticipated menu at the Governors Ball has become an Oscar tradition.
Click here to see the full menu from the 2019 Governors Ball.
Highlights From The Menu
Amuse Bouche
Crostini of Compressed Watermelon with Citrus Feta Cheese
Crab Deviled Eggs
Avocado Tostadas with Crunch Cabbage and Chipotle Glaze (V)
Mini Taro Root Taco with Miso Glazed Eggplant and Smoked Soy Mushrooms (V)
Crostini with New York Steak, Classic Chimichurri
Spicy Ranch Popcorn
Housemade Potato Chips
Tray Passed Hors d’Oeuvres
Wild Mushroom Potsticker, Black Truffle Ponzu (V)
Miyazaki Wagyu Beef Tartare on Tapioca Crisp, Togarashi
Mini Taro Root Taco with Miso Glazed Eggplant and Smoked Soy Mushrooms (V)
Heirloom Carrot “Tartare”, Pickled Mustard Seed, Horseradish, Sunchoke Bark (V)
Smoked Salmon Oscars Matzo
Miniature Miyazaki Wagyu Burger, Sharp Cheddar, Remoulade
Wolfgang Puck Signature Pizzas
Spicy Tuna Tartare In Sesame Miso Cones
Alaskan King Crab, Crispy Rice Cake, Avocado, Aji Amario-Yuzu Ponzu
Opal Apple “Summer Roll”, Cucumber, Shiso, Pomegranate Pearl (V, GF)
Small Plates
Caramelized Cauliflower, Golden Raisin, Lime, Labneh, Pinenut, Shiso-Za'atar
Frozen Golden Beets, Almond Custard, Meyer Lemon, Ice Lettuce (V)
Snap Peas, Asian Pear, Pomelo Salad, Cacik Cheese, Mint, Walnut
Compressed Persimmon, Cinco Jotas Jamón Ibérico, Burrata, Wild Arugula
Sunchoke and Fennel Soup, Chips, Truffle Gremolata
Potato and Caviar 2.0
Black Truffle Chicken Pot Pie
Winter Truffle Baked Cavatappi and Cheese
Pea Agnolotti, Black Truffle, Peas Shoot, Parmesan Reggiano Brittle
Miyazaki Wagyu Beef Ny, Carrot Vichy, Spigarello, Yuzu Kotcho Ponzu
Loup De Mer, Calçot Onions, Artichokes, Fennel, Romesco Salsa, Espelette
Nashville Hot Fried Quail, House Made Pickles, Red Velvet Waffle
Torchio Pasta, Arugula, Tomato, Caper Berries, Aleppo Pepper, Black Olive Oil, Basil Flower (V)
Austrian Ricotta Dumpling, Watercress-Pea Pesto, Lemon Brown Butter
Raw Bar
Fresh seafood
Assorted sushi rolls
Made-to-order nigiri
Scallop Ceviche, Black Garlic, Satsuma Tangerine Miso, Micro Herbs
Sea Urchin with Eggless Custard, Dashi, Unagi Glaze, Finger Lime
Albacore Tataki, Sweet Onions, Ginger, Momiji Chili, Ponzu
Sweets
24 Karat Dusted Valrhona Illanka Chocolate Oscars
Ombre Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
Pillow Cake with Coconut Mango and Passion Fruit
Coconut - Chocolate Bar (V)
Yuzu Religieuse
Passion Fruit Cookie with Chocolate Chunks
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies
Milk Chocolate and Caramelized Pecan Cookies
Strawberry Cookies
Hazelnut and Almond Brownies
Espresso Macaron
Matcha Cherry Macaron
Hibiscus Orange Pate De Fruit
Piper Heidsieck Golden Champagne Strawberry Push Pop
Mini Wolfgang Puck Dark Chocolate Bars
