After the Oscars telecast wraps up on the night of Feb. 24, the new winners get to feast on delicious foods at a dazzling party that will feature the biggest chandelier in the world.
The 1,500 guests of the Governors Ball — which takes place at The Ray Dolby Ballroom — will dine on more than 50 food items created by master chef Wolfgang Puck. And they’ll do so under a massive six-tiered chandelier that hovers over an 18-foot golden Oscar that has been embedded into the floor of the ballroom.
Excessive? Yeah, maybe. But I bet it’ll be really pretty. Here are a few highlights of this year’s awards party:
1. About that chandelier… The sparkling 120-foot chandelier, built specifically for this occasion, features 18,000 LED points of light. It’s also bigger than the largest chandelier in the book of Guinness World Records (so, we guess it’ll take the top spot in the next edition of the book?). It will also change colors throughout the night. “We wanted a design that really enhanced the service and the flow and the movement of the guests. So one mirrors the other,” says event producer Cheryl Cecchetto.
2. Sit or stand, it’s up to the guests… Cecchetto says this year’s event is dropping the traditional protocol of assigned seating. Last year, it was a lounge with small cocktail tables, but this year, there will be traditional tables, allowing people to sit if they choose.
3. Eat, eat and eat some more… Austrian celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck returns for his 19th year of creating the menu for the annual party. The 50 food items will include smoked salmon Oscars, chicken pot pie with shaved black truffles, and mini Kobe burgers. Puck will even add some Austrian-inspired dishes in celebration of the best picture nomination of Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke’s film “Amour.” Vegan options include kale salad and farro with apple, beet and spiced walnut. Luxury ingredients? Yep, including five kilos of American farm raised caviar, 10 pounds of white truffles from Alba, Italy, and 10 pounds of winter black truffles from Burgundy, France and 30 pounds of edible gold dust.
4. Ah, sweet desserts… Don’t forget to leave room for dessert, people. Thanks to executive pastry chef Sherry Yard, there will be a 24-foot chocolate buffet, plenty of Oscar-themed desserts that match the room’s decor, and the famous chocolate Oscar statuettes covered in 24K gold dust. Hmmm … I’d be taking that to the bank instead of eating it.
5. A green feast that keeps on giving… This year’s menu focuses on local, organic and sustainable food. More than 80 local farmers were contacted for local fruits and vegetables, and all fish and seafood are SeafoodWatch compliant. Additionally, all unused, prepared food will be donated to LA Specialty Chefs to End Hunger, an organization established to create awareness, educate and offer ways to contribute to ending hunger. Love that.
