Master chef Wolfgang Puck will return to prepare the post-Oscar feast, it was announced today (Jan. 22) in Beverly Hills. It marks the 19th consecutive year in which Puck will create the menu.
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences official post-Oscar® party is The Governors Ball. It is where all the winners and nominees, plus invited guests stop after the show on Feb. 24. Also returning to prepare this year's Governors Ball are Academy governor Jeffrey Kurland and event producer Cheryl Cecchetto. Kurland will oversee the décor, menu and entertainment planning, as well as design the attire to be worn by the evening's staff. Cecchetto, along with her Sequoia Productions team, is responsible for décor, entertainment, food and personnel.
She will work closely with Kurland. Puck, along with chef Matt Bencivenga, will create the menu featuring more than 50 dishes. It will feature one-bite hors d'oeuvres to small-plate entrees. Among the highlights to the menu are smoked salmon Oscars®, chicken pot pie with shaved black truffles and those popular mini Kobe burgers with aged cheddar and remoulade. Also included is Japanese baby peach salad, steamed red snapper with Thai spice. They report that the menu will incorporate local produce and sustainable seafood.
The ballroom will include a 120-foot chandelier with shades of aubergine, chartreuse and champagne. An 18-foot golden Oscar will be the centerpiece of the ballroom floor. The Governors Ball will take place in The Ray Dolby Ballroom on the top level of the Hollywood & Highland Center® immediately following the Oscar telecast.
In other Oscar news today, the final balloting was finalized. The Academy noted that final balloting will begin on Friday, Feb. 8, at 8 a.m. PT/10 a.m. CT/11 a.m. ET. Balloting closes on Tuesday, Feb. 19, at 5 p.m. PT/7 a.m. CT/8 a.m./ET.
“One of our basic goals at the Academy is to increase member engagement. Despite some challenges, more members voted for this year’s nominations than they have in the past several years,” said Academy Chief Operating Officer Ric Robertson. “We are looking forward to a continuation of that trend in the final voting.”
The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide. It will be hosted by Seth MacFarlane. It will air on ABC.
Comments