Oscars Preview: Inside This Year's Governor's Ball

With the Academy Awards celebrating its 80th year this Sunday, Feb. 24, it seems only fitting that the Governor's Ball roll out the red carpet in grand fashion. Thus the occasion's chosen color scheme: red-carpet red and the gold of an Oscar statuette.
Inside the doors of Hollywood & Highland Center's Grand Ballroom, the scene will be one of elegance and contemporary glamour with a multilevel layout featuring nine different sections, all with their own flair. Red roses with sprays of yellow gemstar will adorn the tables along with Kartell lamps. Whimsical glass bubbles set off by firefly lights will float from the ceiling. Taking the stage will be the 12-member orchestra Pink Martini. Further entertainment comes by way of music stylist and radio host Jason Bentley.
Beyond celebrity attendees like George Clooney and Julia Roberts, the main attraction of the annual event is always cuisine created by the world-renowned chef Wolfgang Puck. "Simple and refined, that's what we're all about," he told TV Guide of this year's organic fare. Though an official menu has been released, with Puck, anything is possible. Case in point: "This morning, I woke up and I said, 'Why don't we make macaroni and cheese with some black truffles in it?'"
Alongside other menu contenders like baked potatoes with caviar are entrees that include Snake River Farms wagyu beef and Shanghai-style Maine lobster. If past Governor's Balls are any indication, fans of Puck's cuisine ( Barbra Streisand and Danny DeVito count themselves among them) will definitely come back for seconds. - Bekah Wright
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Inside TVGuide.com's Oscars special
" A complete list of nominees
" A series of fab photo galleries
" Videos of this year's nominees
" Maitland and Ken reveal their picks to grab gold
" Vote for your favorites to win!
Remember, come back here Sunday night to chime in during our live Oscars blog!