Oscars 2012: forget the films, here's the finger food – in pictures

Saint or sinner? Austrian celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck handles the catering for the 18th consecutive year. This is the man with the digestive health of some 5,000 celebrities in his hands. Let's hope he has washed them thoroughly Photograph: PAUL BUCK/EPA Mind the ears … Puck snacks on a 24-carat gold-dusted Oscar-shaped chocolate Photograph: MICHAEL NELSON/EPA Ta-da! Puck's signature dish is smoked salmon on Oscar-shaped flatbreads with a glob of caviar round the tummy region Photograph: Damian Dovarganes/AP Here they are under construction. Something about that bag kills the magic a bit Photograph: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images Yes, they have. A pot pie with an Oscar-embossed crust. Beneath its flaky surface is a stew of chicken, roasted vegetables and broken dreams Photograph: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images Quality not quantity … chef Diana McDonnell serves mini kobe cheeseburgers with remoulade and aged cheddar Photograph: Damian Dovarganes/AP The pièce de résistence is this high-concept pud: the chocolate staircase, designed to be consumed while wearing 3D glasses, for added trippiness Photograph: Damian Dovarganes/AP Torode and Wallace eat your heart out. Executive pastry-chef Sherry Yard adjusts a panel on her 3D Oscar dessert. Each guest will get a plate with a 'red carpet stairway' made from Black Forest pudding cake. Chocolate 'klieg lights', each with a tiny LED, will light up a gold-dusted chocolate 'Oscar', who will stand in front of an edible 'billboard' that gives a 3D effect when viewed with 3D glasses Photograph: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images Is it on the trolley? Puck poses with a selection from the dessert buffet. The full compliment is (deep breath): raspberry rose éclairs, strawberry shortcake push-up pops, red-hot macaroons, star shortbread with silver sugar, chocolate peanut butter pops, brown sugar lemon-meringue cones, chocolate pudding push-up pops and long stem strawberries Photograph: Damian Dovarganes/AP A wall of 24-carat chocolate Oscars stand to attention. As well as these fellas, the chocolate buffet includes chocolate fountains with farmers' market long-stem strawberries, chocolate paninis, triple chocolate cupcakes, warm coulent soufflé cakes, chocolate dobos torte, Earl Grey tea truffles, white-chocolate coconut-rum truffles, milk-chocolate caramel truffles, chocolate-dipped pop-rock cakes, chocolate chip cookies, triple chocolate toffee-crunch cookies, chocolate coffee cups and chocolate toffee cups. Because if there's anyone who's going to eat loads and loads of chocolate, it's a bunch of movie stars in frocks while the world's cameras take snaps Photograph: Damian Dovarganes/AP