British chef Elliott Grover emerges as the unsung star of the Oscars Governors Ball, where 400 A-list celebrities line up for his hearty British dishes that defy Hollywood’s health trends.
Behind-the-Scenes at the Governors Ball
Elliott Grover, executive chef at Cut at 45 Park Lane, offers a glimpse into the afterparty menu ahead of the 98th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre. In his fourth year catering the event since 2023, Grover hosts a British kitchen station near the area where winners engrave their golden statuettes. The Governors Ball welcomes 1,500 guests, and his stall draws massive crowds.
Grover states: ‘I meet all the stars from Lady Gaga to Billie Eilish. It’s madness—the queue for my fish and chips has stretched to 400 people.’ He adds: ‘People come back for second and thirds. If I have time to look at the queue, it’s a who’s who of Hollywood. Brendan Fraser, Michelle Yeoh, and Christopher Nolan placed his two Oppenheimer awards on my stand to enjoy the beef Wellington.’
Quintessential British Menu
This year’s offerings feature classic fish and chips, beef Wellington, sherry trifle, and a new coronation chicken Scotch egg. Grover refuses to adapt to dietary fads, noting: ‘There’s another table for vegan sushi, so if you don’t like my food, go over there.’ He recounts one guest—a prominent reality TV star—devouring portions after weeks of strict dieting to fit her gown. She confided: ‘I hadn’t eaten properly for weeks, to fit into my dress.’
Renowned chef Wolfgang Puck, who oversees the Governors Ball for over 30 years, invited Grover to prepare the British spread. Preparations begin at 7 a.m. under tight security. Most dishes prepped in advance, Grover faces pressure to perfectly roast 35 beef sirloins—pink in the center—using a single oven before heading to the ballroom.
Oscars 2026 Highlights
Conan O’Brien, 62, hosts the ceremony for the second straight year, succeeding Jimmy Kimmel. Ryan Coogler’s Sinners leads with a record 16 nominations, topping all films in Academy history.
Best Picture Nominees
- Bugonia
- F1
- Frankenstein
- Hamnet
- Marty Supreme
- One Battle After Another
- The Secret Agent
- Sentimental Value
- Sinners
- Train Dreams
Acting Categories
Best Actor: Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent).
Best Actress: Jessie Buckley frontruns for Hamnet, facing Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You), Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue), Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value), Emma Stone (Bugonia).
Best Supporting Actor: Benicio del Toro (One Battle After Another), Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein), Sean Penn (One Battle After Another), Delroy Lindo (Sinners), Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value). Notable snubs include Paul Mescal (Hamnet), Adam Sandler (Jay Kelly), Jesse Plemons (Bugonia).
Best Supporting Actress: Elle Fanning (Sentimental Value), Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (Sentimental Value), Amy Madigan (Weapons), Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners), Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another).
Key Directorial and Technical Nominations
- Best Director: Chloé Zhao (Hamnet), Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme), Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another), Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value), Ryan Coogler (Sinners).
- Best Original Screenplay: Robert Kaplow (Blue Moon), Jafar Panahi (It Was Just an Accident), Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme), Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value), Ryan Coogler (Sinners).
- Best Adapted Screenplay: Will Tracy (Bugonia), Guillermo del Toro (Frankenstein), Chloé Zhao and Maggie O’Farrell (Hamnet), Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another), Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar (Train Dreams).
Additional categories include Best International Feature Film, Editing, Original Score, Sound, Makeup and Hairstyling, Costume Design, Live-Action Short, Documentary Feature, Animated Feature, Casting, Cinematography, Production Design, Original Song, and Visual Effects. Films like Hamnet (Chloé Zhao directing a reimagined Shakespeare story), One Battle After Another (13 nominations), Frankenstein, and Sentimental Value (nine each) compete fiercely. Backlash follows Ariana Grande’s Supporting Actress snub for Wicked: For Good.
