Wolfgang Puck is celebrating his 25th anniversary serving up delicious dishes at the Academy Awards Governors Ball, and the celebrity chef has just unveiled the menu for Oscars 2019. But what happens behind-the-scenes on Tinseltown's most glamorous night? We had a chance to get the culinary legend, creator of such iconic restaurants as Spago, to spill some of his Hollywood secrets! Here are the ten tasty tidbits we learned from the world-famous chef.
1) At the Governors Ball, the drama isn't just on the screen!
"I think the years have gone by so fast. When I look back we have had so many different places that we did the Governors Ball. When we first started we had to build a kitchen in the parking lot. It was raining and windy, and it was so hard to make risotto for 1,600 people. I remember when the first time we did the Governors Ball here at Hollywood and Highland, the electricity went off... We had many things happen, but mostly we had great souvenirs and memories."
MORE: MEET THE OSCARS 2019 NOMINEES
2) Barbara Streisand basically made chicken pot pie a thing.
"I remember when Barbara Streisand came to the Govenors Ball, and she loved the chicken pot pie so much. She kept raving about, and that’s why we put it in on the menu at Hotel Bel Air."
3) Celebrities CAN stand the heat – and get into the kitchen! (Just ask Julia Roberts.)
"It is always nice to hear if someone that we know well or someone that is a regular at the restaurant wins. Those are the special memories I keep. I remember when Julia Roberts came into the packed kitchen. Everyone got to take pictures with her, and everyone was really excited. I also still remember to this day when Michael Caine came into Spago with his family and said, ‘Wolfgang, I know that the Oscars were two days ago, but can you please make the same menu for my family?’ I was in awe, like oh I will try, but I don’t have all the ingredients! We made something similar, and they all loved it. I think it is such a positive way to think about it. To think we cooked for 1,500 people, and it was so good that they want it again."
PHOTO GALLERY: THE OSCARS 2019 NOMINEES LUNCHEON
Above: The celebrity chef mingles with Chrissy Teigen and John Legend at the Governors Ball at Hollywood & Highland Center in 2015.
4) Not even A-listers can get Wolfgang to spill his culinary secrets.
"I never tell [stars my recipes during the Governors Ball]. They can be the movie stars, and I don’t want them to cook!"
5) Wolfgang has never actually seen a full Oscars telecast.
"You know I have never really watched it fully. I’ll watch bits and pieces of it. Mainly at the end when they announce best actor or best director before the best movie, I will watch that because then I know that’s my cue to get busy in the kitchen."
MORE: DISCOVER THE PAST LATINX OSCAR WINNERS
Above: In 2017, Mahershala Ali, winner of Best Supporting Actor for Moonlight, shared his moment in the spotlight with Chef Wolfgang at the Governors Ball.