Source:www.images.usatoday.com

After an exhausting day of limousine rides, posing for photos, taking in a bit of hokey entertainment, perhaps presenting an award, and for the lucky, winning an Oscar, the Academy Awards Show attendees get to shovel down some eats.

These are no ordinary meals, no siree. Franks and beans and hot poppers will be nowhere to be found among the haute cuisine on the banquet tables at which tonight's pampered quests will be seated.

This chow is esoteric and not the stuff of which most of us ever see, much less gobble up.

This sumptuous repast is the creation of celebrity chef, Wolfgang Puck, shown above looking like a crazed Jack Nicholson in, "The Shining."

This is his menu for the post show party:

To whet the appetite hors d'oeuvres like spicy tuna tartare in a sesame miso cone, smoked salmon pizza with dill creme fraiche and caviar, will be served.

Next up is antipasti consisting of citrus marinated shrimp, green and white Asparagus with prosciutto, marinated baby artichokes with lemon aioli and a smoked salmon Oscar matza with caviar.

Hot soup made of celery root and apple, topped with a sprinkling of genuine 24-carat gold completes the foreplay.

Have any of you ever consumed gold? Perhaps by mistake, in the heat of passion one of you may have sucked off an earring, or other piercing, and swallowed it whole? I just licked my wedding band, and I didn't taste anything.

I guess the gold is added to reinforce the degree of conspicuous consumption being attained.

The main course is organic chicken with risotto, made with rare, and ridiculously expensive black truffles.

For those with room for it, dessert is comprised of various confections, including the standard little bittersweet chocolate Oscars covered with again, gold dust. Champagne and wine will be served throughout the meal.

If this feast doesn't agree with someone, he or she will have the distinction of hurling some of the most expensive food in all creation.

I never thought of myself as sophisticated when it comes to food, so this stuff isn't especially appealing to me, except for the asparagus with prosciutto, and chicken and risotto, which is an Italian rice dish.

But, for the adventuresome among us, who also lack stomach disorders, this is probably quite an epicurean delight.

For the historians among us here's a link to last year's menu, and, this link , will take you to a story about last year's day after The Oscar's brunch, also prepared by Puck.

If you haven't had your fill of food fantasies try these sites:

Complete description of the dining hall and meal ishere.

More about Puck.

Other Oscar parties.

How about staging your own Oscar party?

There's still time to invite your friends, and hop out for the fixins, because I know the first thing you do every day is check in with The Celebrities Weblog.

Here are some links to party and food ideas:

Chiff.comSun Herald.comAnd, last but not least:

How the stars prepare for the Oscars and more goodies and tidbits.

Here's some info about the Oscar statuettes.

This link connects you to Yahoo's site about the Oscars, and is loaded with info and photos sure to warm the heart of the most dedicated Academy Awards fan.

Now you are well prepared and informed for tonight's big event.