For Chef Evan Funke, food and entertainment are theater.
“I think, increasingly, people want to be swept away from their daily lives, and what better way than Funke Beverly Hills to do that?” he asked.
When it comes to his restaurants, his mind is constantly racing over the many different facets to make it a success.
“I don’t sleep. This does not shut off,” he said, pointing to his head. “I never turn the volume off, I just turn it down.”
It makes sense, as he’s been the chef behind the Vanity Fair Oscars party and returns this year for the third time in a row.
The Academy Awards have played a huge part in the Funke family as his father, Alex, has won three Oscars himself.
He won Best Visual Effects in 2003 and 2004 and a Special Achievement Academy Award in 1991.
“He was a photographer for Charles Eames for many years and then got into commercials and got into TV, ‘Battlestar Galactica,’ and eventually made his way into film and mostly stuck in the Sci-Fi realm, special effects,” Funke explained.
He worked on films like “The Abyss,” “Total Recall,” and “Lord of the Rings.”
While the master pasta maker isn’t quite in show business, he did note that his hours are similar to that of his dad’s when he worked on films.
He believes he inherited his dad’s “ferocious work ethic.”
“I pulled that from him instead of going into that business,” he revealed. “I like working in that business on the peripheral.”
Funke’s glamour is in the heart of Beverly Hills.
He gained fans as the co-owner of Felix Trattoria on Abbot Kinney in Venice.
When it first opened, major celebrities clamored to get a table and meet the chef. However, he believes they just wanted the pizza.
All jokes aside, Funke appreciates his clientele and credits many of his skills to working under renowned Chef Wolfgang Puck for six years.
“He (Wolfgang) was a master of it. For me, it’s about treating them (celebrities) normally.”
Funke is gearing up for Sunday’s big bash, which is the party of the year for Tinseltown. It’s not lost on him how special it is to be a part of it as his family has a story tied to the soiree.
“It’s been a great honor to work with Vanity Fair. When my dad won his first Oscar, they wouldn’t let him in,” he explained.
It takes about two back-to-back 24-hour days to prepare for the event, but Funke says it’s all worth it.
“It’s all about the details and to make sure every desire and need is met and met with a smile,” he gushed.
Funke’s job at the party is imperative as many A-list celebrities are starving after a jam-packed day preparing and attending the Oscars ceremony.
To add to the fun, this year’s party will be a pizza party.
“After a couple of glasses of champagne and a gold Oscar in your hand, what’s better than a slice of Margherita?” he reasoned.
Funke’s had a busy year.
He’s opened two restaurants within six months and another one is opening up in Miami at the end of the year.
Pizza is one of Funke’s favorite items to eat and make.
He showed Jessica how to whip up one of his favorite pies so you can follow along and have a pizza party of your own.
This segment aired on California Cooking with Jessica Holmes Episode 168.