Oscar 2010: a taster of this Sunday's food and drink

Who can fail to be aroused by the spread on offer at this year's Academy Awards dinner? Even Oscar looks excited and he's not even invited. Pray God that cork doesn't pop off prematurely
Photograph: Peter Brooker/Rex Features

There shall be a first course, a main course, and then there shall be cake. We're guessing this is the cake, except that the Oscar catering is so damned radical these days that it may well be a canape, or a newfangled steak, or Mr and Mrs Mickey Rooney before they've been to hair and makeup. For all that, it's probably a cake
Photograph: Peter Brooker/Rex Features

But who bakes the cakes? Step forward Wolfgang Puck, head chef at this year's Governors Ball. Rumour has it that he personally prods each pastry with an index finger prior to serving. This is known in the trade as the Puck Poke
Photograph: Peter Brooker/Rex Features

But Puck's duties extend far beyond the baking and the poking. It is also his responsibility to ensure no one makes off with the cakes before specially selected Hollywood heavyweights can get their teeth in them. Here he is, poised to intervene as a rogue passerby makes a grab for the plate
Photograph: Peter Brooker/Rex Features

Eventually, when the stars are in alignment, the cake will be transported with much fanfare to a table like this one. There the guests will fall on it, their jaws going like pistons, their designer dresses spattered with berry juice. Winners and losers, united at last via the medium of pastry
Photograph: Peter Brooker/Rex Features

Best of all, everyone goes home with an Oscar. The guests accept their salmon statuette, make a brief acceptance speech and then are whisked off to the parties with the award in their bellies. Biology suggests that these Oscars won't stay there forever, but this is entirely as it should be. The taste of victory is fleeting – and sometimes fishy
Photograph: Peter Brooker/Rex Features