Inside the Oscars Governors Ball: 1,500 guests, 250 pounds of Parmesan cheese, 4,800 plates and more
1,500 guests will attend the party at the Hollywood & Highland Center.
Ever wondered how many people, plates and pounds of food it takes to pull off a celebrity-filled after-party considered to be the hottest event in Hollywood?
It's even more than you could imagine. We're talking 200 culinary staff to support legendary chef Wolfgang Puck, 5,000 pieces of handmade filled agnolotti pasta, 250 pounds of Parmesan Reggiano cheese and 4,800 small plates, just to name a few figures.
Puck joined "GMA" from his kitchen in Los Angeles on Friday morning ahead of the big night for his 25th year.
"One thing that's changed, my son is working now with me," Puck said working alongside his son as they prepared the food for Sunday's star-studded event.
If the Oscars are hailed as "Hollywood's biggest night," then the Governors Ball -- the official post-Oscars bash -- should be considered Hollywood's swankiest soiree.
1,500 invited guests, including Oscar winners, nominees, show presenters and telecast participants will arrive for this year's gold and merlot motif of "Filmscapes."
The Academy Events Committee called the theme of the lavish after-party "a compilation of images from world cinema, orchestrated with live soundtracks and instrumental movie songs to accompany live projected films." The color palette of deep wine red and Oscar gold will emulate movie theater design to punctuate the movie-going experience.
Chef Puck has put together the tailor-made menu for the A-list studded event hosted by the Academy's Board of Governors for 25 years. "Vice President of Culinary [Wolfgang Puck Catering] Eric Klein worked closely with Chef Puck to create more than 60 imaginative dishes, from one-bite hors d’oeuvres to small-plate entrees, that will be tray-passed throughout the evening," the Academy Events said in a press release.
While Puck's signature favorite smoked salmon topped with caviar is holding its reign as best dish, there are a few new menu items that caught our eye.
"Some things never change," Puck said. "We have some traditions like our smoked salmon Oscar and our chocolate Oscar. We have that every year, [it's a] tradition."
Some notable vegan additions include Heirloom Carrot "Tartare" with pickled mustard seed and sunchoke bark; Vegan Torchio Pasta with Arugula, Tomato and Caper Berries and an apple "summer roll" with cucumber and pomegranate. Not to mention, there will be an entire dessert station with six vegan and gluten-free options.
There will be 4,500 ramekins and verrines on hand as well as 6,000 cocktail forks -- that's a lot of apps.
Check out a sneak peek of Puck's full menu here.
There will be 13,000 glasses and an array of beverages for guests to wash down the food -- from Piper-Heidsieck champagne (10 bottles in the kitchen alone) to specialty cocktails from Don Julio tequila.
Puck said the best moment of the whole event is when he can sit back and enjoy a glass of bubbly and whip up a little snack with any of the leftover 35 pounds of winter black truffles from Burgundy.
"My favorite part is when it's all over when I sit down and have a glass of Piper-Heidsieck. That's when I'm happy, my favorite champagne and I have a few truffles left -- we'll make a little omelet with black truffles and a little champagne and then we all celebrate to another great year."
Other Astonishing Academy Awards After-Party Numbers:
Number of people
850 service and support staff
Team of 10 maitre d’ staff
200 culinary staff
Ingredients in the Kitchen
35 pounds winter black truffles from Burgundy
240 kilos Miyazaki wagyu beef
500 uni tongues
7,500 individual US shrimp
250 Maine lobster
800 crab claws
225 pounds sushi rice
200 pounds Alaskan King Crab legs
30 gallons housemade cocktail sauce
400 homemade signature pizzas
750 cage free eggs
In the Ballroom
Over 700 lighting instruments
20,000 feet of power cable and 3,000 feet of data control cable to support lightingOver 20 lighting practicals
2,500 yards of royal velvet
4,200 zip ties
2,000 yards of soft, elegant color tones including Oyster Metallic Mesh, Platinum Gemstone, Champagne Metallic Nusilk, etc.
5,000 succulents mixed with roses
Over 4 miles of cabling to support speakers, microphones, and audio consoles
The Governors Ball curated by Wolfgang Puck Catering and produced by Cheryl Cecchetto works with 19 local partners and farms.
The event will take place in the Ray Dolby Ballroom on the top level of the Hollywood and Highland Center immediately following the Oscars telecast.
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