Puck to be honored by James Beard Foundation

The so-called Oscars of the food world this year will give the ultimate nod to a man best known for feeding celebrities at the real Oscars.

The James Beard Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement award this year will go to Wolfgang Puck, whose menu for The Academy Awards Governors Ball is almost as eagerly anticipated as the awards themselves.

Puck — who has won multiple honors from the foundation and is the only chef to have twice received its Most Outstanding Chef award — was chosen for his talent as a chef and restaurateur, as well as for his history of revolutionizing how American chefs think about food, foundation president Susan Ungaro said in a release.

Puck, whose cooking combines classic French technique with a focus on seasonal and local ingredients, has been an iconic voice in California cuisine. Born in Austria, he moved to Los Angeles in 1975. In 1982, he opened Spago, the restaurant for which he remains best known. Today, he has 20 restaurants around the country.

The award will be presented during the foundation’s annual awards gala on May 7 in New York.