The Sustainability of the Oscars

I don’t watch a lot of television, but I always make a date with my couch, so that I can catch the Academy Awards. I love the fashion, the spectacle, and of course, the commentary.
 
I really miss Joan Rivers.
 
As a foodie and a hunger advocate, I became curious: what happens to the food that’s not eaten at the Oscars?
 

Image from Wolfgang Puck Catering Facebook Page

Wolfgang Puck is an amazing chef. But, it’s reasonable to assume that not all of the food he prepares this Sunday for the Governor’s Ball will be eaten: he’s feeding more than 1,500 people more than 50 different items!
 
I did a little research and learned that all of the unused prepared foods will be donated to a nonprofit organization called, “Chefs to End Hunger”.
 
Chefs to End Hunger is a nonprofit organization established to provide meals to the hungry by redistributing the excess prepared food that would normally go to waste in hotels, restaurants, and other foodservice operations to local food agencies to serve the meals.
 

Image from Wolfgang Puck Catering Facebook Page

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, Americans throw away 40% of their food, amounting to $165 billion wasted annually. I’m thrilled to learn that the Oscars Governors Ball official after party will be making a responsible choice: they’ll donate unused prepared foods to a good cause, and repurpose food that would otherwise go to waste.
 
If you’re planning a corporate event, it’s worth investigating what happens to the uneaten, cooked food. Many food pantries accept donations of cooked, uneaten food and will even come collect it. The Environmental Protection Agency also has helpful information on its website, and success stories featuring companies who have diverted food waste from landfills and made impactful donations to families in need.
 
Are you hosting an Oscars party?
 

Image from Oscars website

Wolfgang Puck will be serving delightful small bites of favorite comfort food at the Governors Ball after party: baked macaroni and cheese, and Wolfgang Puck chicken pot pies among other favorites. Links to the recipes are included so you can replicate these dishes!
 
Everything Puck serves will be locally sourced, organic and sustainable. He’s even featured the names of the farms he’s sourced his goods from on the Oscars website if you’re curious. By the numbers, his commitment to sustainable seafood, natural poultry, and locally farmed organic produce includes:

• 350 pounds troll-caught Atlantic Bigeye
• 20 whole US wild caught Yellowtail
• 350 pounds salmon
• 1,300 farmed oysters
• 10 kilos American farm-raised caviar
• 7,500 individual US shrimp
• 250 Maine lobster
• 3,600 cage-free eggs
• 250 pounds whole Jidori chickens
• Meat, poultry, and dairy goods raised without hormones or antibiotics

Image from Oscars website

 
The afterparty will also feature versions of our favorite drinks: a new take on the Old Fashioned and the French 75. You can find those recipes here.
 
It’s so impressive that Wolfgang Puck has catered the after party for 23 years. I’m a big fan of both his restaurants and cookbooks and have met him many times. He is a very charming person. It’s wonderful to see that in addition to being kind and talented, he’s also committed to sustainability in the kitchen.
 
To see him at work in the kitchen, preparing for the after party, you can watch here, or download this comprehensive party guide. It includes every recipe he’ll be making and has ballot so you can vote along with the television.
 
Enjoy the show! I’ll be tweeting using the hashtag #Oscars!