Oscars Food and Beverage Preview: Wolfgang Does It Again

Remember how I told you to be careful with this year’s Moët champagne cocktail? If I’d taken my own advice at Thursday’s Food and Beverage Preview, it wouldn’t have been half as wild a party. Alas, in a large tent atop the red carpet under a hot morning sun, I drank more than my share as Chef Wolfgang Puck gave the press an intimate look at his post-Oscar menu.

If my new reporter buddies didn’t also frequently dash off mid-sentence in pursuit of the wonderful silver trays being circulated by a graceful and informative team, I’d have felt self-conscious. In retrospect, I’m not sure what the rush was about considering the over-abundance of good eats in the tent, but the dishes were impossibly irresistible even from yards away. The very same players from the Governors Ball Preview last week were present here, including Marc Friedland with his high-end envelopes and Sequoia’s Cheryl Cecchetto. I doubt anyone minded the food taking every bit of the spotlight, however.

This year, Puck is most proud of his fresh California ingredients and 3D chocolate dessert; he also insists most of his dishes can be made “easily at home,” like the “chicken pot pie without the truffles…or the lamb chops if you want to spend a little extra money.” Knowing I probably wouldn’t be tasting Wolfgang creations in my own modest kitchen anytime soon, I wisely filled myself to the gills with the following insanely delicious selections of appetizers:

Smoked Salmon on Oscar Flatbread with Caviar and Creme Fraiche- Since I’m weak in the knees for smoked salmon and have never turned down a creme of any kind, this was a favorite among the group. The perfectly toasted and crunchy bread was complemented wonderfully by the last bite- a tasty mouthful of cold fish eggs.

Spicy Tuna Tartare in Sesame Miso Cones with Masago- These adorable little things were way too fun to chomp on. Raw spicy tuna is a dear friend of mine, so I enjoyed the texture and tang.

Mini Kobe Cheeseburger with Remoulade and Aged Cheddar- I’d tried these beloved burger bites at least twice before this event, but Dear God is it never enough. Topped with the tiniest slices of pickle and tomato and perched on fluffy pinches of bread, they’re positively picturesque. If I’d had the foresight to bring along a few disguises (moustache, masquerade mask, makeup), I may have succeeded in devouring 30 or 40 more than I was able to.

Crab Cakes with Remoulade- Looking like tiny seared scallops sitting on the tray, they were so delicate and scrumptious and fresh that I hope to recreate the experience of chewing them in a future dream.

Arancini with Tomato, Basil, and Parmesan- I enjoyed these little piping hot nuggets of fried risotto and cheese resting in a rich marinara sauce. I might have enjoyed them more if I hadn’t nearly burned my tongue due to excessive enthusiasm while eating. Oops.

Assorted Pizzas- I happily sampled tomato and basil, roasted vegetable, and barbecue chicken pizzas seemingly fresh from a brick oven. I’d like to know where they stored such an appliance on the red carpet.

Yes, Mom. I’m still a gluten-free girl with ridiculous food allergies. But here, all bets were off. Can you blame me? I’m still alive to tell the tale, after all.

The Oscars will air this Sunday, February 26th on ABC.

Images courtesy of Lauren Tyree for Poptimal.com.

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	Wolfgang Puck and Crew work on fabulous treats for the post-Oscar bash. Wolfgang Puck and Crew work on fabulous treats for the post-Oscar bash.
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