Dine Like the Stars: 8 Iconic Oscars Dishes to Make at Home

When Wolfgang Puck threw his first Academy Awards afterparty in 1983, he rescued the Oscars and Los Angeles from a bland, boring culinary existence. In the pre-Puck 1980s, the LA food scene hit an all-time low as celebrities shunned cheese, red meat, sugar, and alcohol. Hollywood considered Diet Coke the It drink. Celebs maintained their figures with dismal offerings like lightly dressed endive and asparagus salad, steamed vegetables, and baked potatoes.

In 1994, the Academy asked Wolfgang to cater the official Governors Ball, the elaborate feast that celebrities attend after the Oscars. The chef reintroduced rich comfort foods to the scene, including his signature mini Kobe beef burgers, smoked salmon Oscars, and chicken pot pie with black truffles. Twenty-one years later, and the chef continues to dazzle and delight the palates of A-listers with his classics. Though we may never step inside the Governors Ball, we can dine like the stars! Read on to find out how to re-create these eight signature dishes at home.

Buffet Style
Carin Krasner Photography

Buffet Style

Up until 2012, the Governors Ball was a formal, sit-down dinner. However, Wolfgang recognized that celebrities wanted to socialize and move around, so he restructured the event to include lavish buffets of bite-size dishes.

Smoked Salmon Oscars
Wolfgang Puck Catering

Smoked Salmon Oscars

One of Wolfgang's signature appetizers is Oscar-shaped matzo crackers topped with dill cream, smoked salmon, and beluga caviar.

Get the recipe: Smoked Salmon Oscars

To make this easier at home, substitute Carr's crackers for the matzo.

Spicy Tuna Tartare in a Sesame Miso Cone
Wolfgang Puck Catering

Spicy Tuna Tartare in a Sesame Miso Cone

Each year, Wolfgang serves up 3,500 miso cones filled with a spicy tuna tartare.

Get the recipe: Spicy Tuna Tartare in a Sesame Miso Cone

To make this easier at home, serve the tartare with ready-made chips or crackers.

Baked Macaroni and Cheese With Black Truffles
Wolfgang Puck Catering

Baked Macaroni and Cheese With Black Truffles

Ten pounds of Winter black truffles are imported from Burgundy, France, to adorn dishes like Wolfgang's baked macaroni and cheese.

Get the recipe: Baked Macaroni and Cheese With Black Truffles

To make an easier version (that doesn't call for fresh truffles), try our truffle mac.

Chicken Pot Pie With Shaved Black Truffles
Wolfgang Puck Catering

Chicken Pot Pie With Shaved Black Truffles

This might be the most decadent chicken pot pie ever. Wolfgang serves them up in miniramekins and garnishes them with freshly shaved black truffle.

Get the recipe: Chicken Pot Pie With Shaved Black Truffles

Roasted Yukon Gold Potatoes
Wolfgang Puck Catering

Roasted Yukon Gold Potatoes

Even the potatoes are gold at the Oscars! Wolfgang's team will wrap up 1,500 Yukon gold potatoes in gold foil — but here's the best part: the toppings are crème fraiche and caviar.

Get the recipe: Roasted Yukon Gold Potatoes With Crème Fraiche and Iranian Osetra Caviar

Smoked Salmon Pizza With Dill Cream and Caviar
Wolfgang Puck Catering

Smoked Salmon Pizza With Dill Cream and Caviar

Have you seen a lot of caviar on the menu? Wolfgang's team uses about 11 pounds of the delicacy! The most famous instance is his smoked salmon pizza with dill cream and caviar. Wolfgang accidentally developed this recipe when he ran out of bread one night during service and had to improvise. The salmon pizza is beloved by celebrities and always makes an appearance at the Governors Ball.

Get the recipe: Smoked Salmon Pizza With Dill Cream and Caviar

Mini Kobe Burgers With Aged Cheddar and Remoulade
Wolfgang Puck Catering

Mini Kobe Burgers With Aged Cheddar and Remoulade

Wolfgang offers no shortage of American classics. His mini Kobe beef burgers are always a hit. In fact, each year, the chef bakes up 6,000 mini brioche buns to satisfy the demand for his cheeseburgers!

Get the recipe: Mini Kobe Burgers With Aged Cheddar and Remoulade

Gold-Dusted Chocolate Oscars
Andrea Bricco Photography

Gold-Dusted Chocolate Oscars

Many of the confections receive a generous dusting of gold dust, most famously the mini chocolate Oscars. Five thousand are served in one night, and it takes about 10 pounds of edible gold dust to make them simmer like the real statues.

Desserts in 3D
Wolfgang Puck Catering

Desserts in 3D

Wolfgang constantly reenvisions his dessert table, too. He served up his desserts with a set of 3D glasses in 2012. He designed the entire dessert table to pop out in 3D when guests wore the glasses. Re-create your own 3D dessert with these Oscar statue cookies.