Per tradition, the 86th annual Academy Awards will be catered by none other than Wolfgang Puck. The chef and restauranteur, a celebrity himself, has been catering the affair for the past twenty years, and this week on Good Food he talks to Evan Kleiman about how the annual meal has evolved from a more formal black tie sit down dinner to a relatively low-key party featuring small plates.
Although the atmosphere may have become more casual, putting together the after-party is no small feat. According to Puck the event requires 2,180 man hours to put together. And Puck’s menu for the 1,500 celebrity guests calls for 20,000 pieces of California-grown micro greens, 5,000 cage-free eggs, 30 gallons of cocktail sauce, 600 Maine Lobster, and 2,000 chocolate truffles among a long laundry list of ingredients.
The menu has changed over the years, but every year guests expect to see Oscar-shaped smoked salmon and Oscar-shaped chocolate.
One of the changes he’s seen is an increased interest in vegetarian or vegan options. This year’s menu, for example, features a wide swath of vegetarian and vegan options. Puck said that in years past there were only a handful of vegetarians whereas “now you have not only vegetarians, but you have vegan people so they want to eat what they want to eat, and you see people like Ellen DeGeneres (who will be hosting this year’s Academy Awards) and quite a few other ones who really feel better when they eat just vegetables in different preparations.”
Kale chips, power smoothies, and taro root tacos are some of the vegetarian/vegan options on the menu at this year’s Governor’s Ball, but Puck clarified that vegetarians and vegans are still a minority because “most of the people are so hungry when they smell the truffle risotto they say just bring me two orders.”
2014 Oscar Menus
Pre Show – Tray Passed
Smoked Salmon Macaroons
Kale and Cauliflower Chips (Vegan)
Steak Tartare, Parmesan*
Carrot Orange Gazpacho (Vegan)*
Power Smoothie (Vegan)*
Tomato Caprese (Vegetarian)
Chicken, White Grits*
Shrimp Cocktail
Fruit Sticks
On the Bars
Crudité (Vegan)
Chicharrónes
Assorted Pizza (some Vegetarian, Some Vegan)
Vegetable Spring Roll, Chinese Mustard (Vegetarian)
Aged Cheddar Grilled Cheese with Roasted Tomato (Vegetarian)
White Bean Quinoa Cake, Roasted Pepper (Vegan)
Homemade Potato Chips (Vegan)
Tortilla Chips (Vegetarian)
Passed Hors d’Oeuvres
Spicy Tuna Tartare, Sesame Miso Cone*
Mini Burgers, Aged Cheddar, Remoulade*
Smoke Salmon Oscar Matzo
Taro Root Taco, Avocado (Vegan)
Crispy Lobster Shrimp Dumpling, 5 Spice
Bolognese Stuffed Arrancini
Table Platter
Homemade Pretzels, Pimento Cheese (Vegetarian) x2
5 Year Aged Gouda (Vegetarian)
Cauliflowers, Smoked Paprika (Vegan)
Parmesan Stuffed bacon Wrapped Dates*
Chilled Spanish Shrimp
Smoked Almonds
Breadsticks
Seeded Lavash
Tasting Menu
2014 Oscars Governor’s Ball
Hand Formed Pasta, Roasted Chestnut and Truffles (Vegetarian)
Sushi & Shellfish Station
Passed Small Plates – Hot
Baked Potato with Caviar*
Chicken Pot Pie, Black Truffles*
Shanghai Lobster, Jasmine Rice*
Baked Macaroni and Cheese*
Wild Salmon, Ginger & Almonds
Short Rib, Goulash, Spatzle
Weiner Schnitzel, Red Cabbage*
Passed Small Plates – Cold
Chopped Vegetable Salad (Vegetarian)
Beets, Goat Cheese, Citrus (Vegetarian)
Butternut Squash, Farro, Wild Rice (Vegetarian/Vegan)*
Chinois Chicken Salad
Chocolate Buffet
Mini Oscar Lollipops – Raspberry Ganache, Lemon Ganache
Homemade Chocolate Spread and Warm Cinnamon Pretzels
Chocolate Cupcake, Almond Cream (Vegan, Gluten Free)*
Jars of Candies/Truffles, Rocher, Nougat, Marshmallow
Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Cheesecake Pops
Milk Chocolate Crème Brûlée, Spicy Whipped Cream
Citrus Panna Cotta, Funky Chunky Chocolate Pop Corn
White Chocolate and Lemon Cream Push Up Pops
Assorted Chocolate Barks (Seeds, Nuts, Dried Fruits)
Passed Small Plates – Dessert
Licorice and Chocolate Parfait, Caramelized Tobacco Leaves (Gluten Free)
Yuzu Semifreddo, Green Tea Meringue and Sake Blueberries
Strawberry Consommé, Angel Food Cake, Olive Oil Sorbet
Carrot Cake, Raisins, Cinnamon Gel (Vegan)*
Caramel Garden – Coffee Soil, Chocolate Malted Tree, Fleur de Sel