This is the Oscars Governor’s Ball, the exclusive party after the Academy Awards

When the Oscars come around, Los Angeles turns into a magnet that attracts all kinds of talent, transcending its cinematic appeal. The Southern Californian city becomes the centre of the universe, with the Dolby Theatre its core. The Hollywood auditorium, which has hosted the Academy Awards every year since 2002, has arguably become the most iconic venue in the film industry. Every year, the biggest and brightest stars meet there for around three-and-a-half hours, giving them ample time to build up an appetite.

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Immediately after the ceremony itself comes the Governor’s Ball, an exclusive afterparty to which 1600 lucky guests are invited for dinner and more. This year, as has been the case for the last 30, Austrian chef Wolfgang Puck is in charge of feeding them.

What’s on the menu at the Governor’s Ball?

The menu is an amalgamation of carefully crafted delicacies from all corners of the globe: there are more than 60 dishes and desserts prepared by a team of 120 kitchen professionals.

If travelling around the world while sitting at a table isn’t physically possible, sampling Puck’s cuisine is the closest thing to it. As both the chef and his son, who has followed in his fathers footsteps, told EFE news agency, there is great diversity in the origins of their creations, with Spanish gastronomy providing them with their jewel in the crown.

Chef Puck takes inspiration from Spain

“We love Spain and Real Madrid,” admits Puck. For the second time after 2019, Cinco Jotas genuine acorn-fed 100% ibérico ham will be on offer at the Dolby Theatre. “It’s absolutely perfect and it won’t be the last time I put it on the gala menu,” the Austrian said five years ago. And he has been true to his word. “We will continue to enjoy eating ham every year as long as our master slicer Raúl Garrido can join us and teach us the perfect way to cut his thin slices.”

But it’s not all about the ham. 90 kilograms of smoked salmon, and the same quantity of chicken, beef, and sea bass will be cooked, and almost 75 litres of soy sauce used with it. Puck’s extensive shopping list also included: 27 kilograms of mushrooms, 18 kilograms of both shrimp and cauliflower, 100 ducks, and a thousand bao buns.

Five food stations for diners to try

As reported by Spanish newspaper El País, the meal will start with 10 dishes served on trays. The appetizers include spicy tuna tartare with sesame and miso, steak tartare with pavé potatoes, vegetarian options (toasted bread with butter and honey, fennel jam and cream is one of the stand-outs) and vegan offerings (carrot gyoza, mushrooms, and edamame). In addition, diners can also try out mini wagyu beef burgers with cheddar and remoulade sauce, and mini pizzas.

Guests will be able to make their way around five themed stations which have different dishes: Fish & Chips, Crispy Rice Bar, Chinois On Main, a wood-fired pizza oven and Bar de Pastoreo y Paella, a type of elite beach bar which contains the aforementioned gems from Spanish cuisine. In addition to ham, there will be, among other dishes, potato omelet with romesco sauce and peppers, seasoned olives, a vegetable paella, another paella with chicken, clams, mussels, and chorizo.

Cold and hot dishes

Diners will then be served with two cold and seven hot small dishes. Firstly, a beetroot salad with goat cheese and a citrus shallot vinaigrette, a second salad containing falafel, green chickpeas, herbs, coconut labneh, dressed in a lemon vinaigrette.

That will be followed by macaroni and cheese (cacio e pepe style), braised chicken with black truffle, wagyu beef with apple and celery puree and a yuzu ponzu sauce, grilled sea bass with marinated artichokes and Veracruz sauce, and pea agnolotti.

Sweets, drinks and chocolate Oscar miniatures at the Governor’s Ball

Some sweets will then be offered. Among them, vegan pavlova with persimmon, bourbon, and cinnamon, and a chocolate and cherry tree, raspberry gel, cherry vinaigrette, and black sesame.

As for drinks, Prince Robert of Luxembourg, the president of French wine comapny Domaine Clarence Dillon, will provide a selection of Bordeaux wines, while there will be an abundance of champagne, an essential part of any celebration, supplied Fleur de Miraval. Revellers can move on to Mexican tequila when the dinners ends and the party starts.

Finally, dessert. From the classics, such as chocolates, and raspberry, almond and dark chocolate, panna cotta, to innovative creations, like popcorn with infused sweet ravioli, and creamy salted caramel and calamondin orange puffs. Just a few of the endless list of dishes that will round off the meal. And, to cap it all, winners, nominees and attendees alike will be awarded their very own Oscar “statuette” in miniature chocolate form, ensuring everyone goes home - or onto the next party - happy.