Oscar Night: Wolfgang Puck Dishes on Governors Ball Menu + A Round Up of Viewing Parties

As celebrities and the Hollywood elite nibble on Wolfgang Puck's feast at the official Governors Ball after-party this Sunday, you can also partake in Oscar-worthy boozing and dining at a restaurant of your choice. Or you can stay home shouting off-the-cuff remarks at your television screen. If you're throwing your own Oscar bash, and were quick enough to enter Brooke Brook's Cupcake Caps contest, which ended earlier this afternoon, you'll have two dozen more Academy Award themed cupcakes than the rest of us. Watch Wolfgang Puck prepare for the upcoming Oscar meal and find a round up of viewing parties after the jump.

Twitter fans will appreciate hotel Casa del Mar's Oscar viewing party beginning at 4 p.m. on Sunday in the Veranda Lounge. The Academy Awards ceremony will air on three flat screens in the bar and lounge, while one additional screen is reserved for live Twitter feed, where guests are encouraged to comment about the show. Periodically bartenders will pour free drinks to verbal folks who make funny or "on-point" remarks. Discounted $9 drinks feature an Avatartini (made with vodka, lemonade and Blue Curacao), Up in the Air, Inglorious Punch, and Sweet and Precious. A grand prize will be gifted to the winner of an Oscar ballot contest at the end of the night.
Casa del Mar: 1910 Ocean Way, Santa Monica; (310) 581-5533.

4seasons Photography

Puck's 24-carat gold chocolate Oscar

Pourtal Wine Tasting Bar is hosting a $25 prix fixe three-course dinner featuring food and wine pairings which coincide with categories for Best Actress, Best Actor, and Best Picture. The menu includes truffle mac and cheese, roasted duck, and brownie bites.
Pourtal: 104 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica; (310) 393-7693.

Rush Street in Culver City is offering $5 premium drinks during a red carpet happy hour from 3-5 p.m. Order off the regular menu while watching the show on any of 10 big screen televisions, and enter an Oscar pool for a shot at winning gift certificates. An after-party Oscar themed karaoke stint is also an option.
Rush Street: 9546 Washington Blvd., Culver City; (310) 837-9546.

If you can't make it out on Oscar night, you can still enjoy an Oscar themed dinner at Vermont Restaurant for the entire week following the show, from March 8-14th. Crumble Catering and Vermont Restaurant devised a $45 prix fixe tasting menu, with items from Elton John's AIDS Foundation Oscar party menu, such as risotto carnaroli with saffron liquorice and king prawns; wahoo with fresh herbs and lentils; New York steak; and crispy milk chocolate bars. "My business partner Chris Diamond and I have been fortunate enough to cater this amazing and exclusive event for the last 5 years and thought why not offer this culinary experience to the general public and raise money for the foundation at the same time," says Crumble Catering owner Wayne Elias.
Vermont Restaurant: 1714 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles; (323) 661-6163.