The Met Gala 2024 celebrated the debut of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s new exhibit, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” with the theme “Garden of Time.” Despite the theme being related to gardens and floral elements, a trio of flowering plants was banned from the event menu by Vogue’s global editorial director Anna Wintour. The banned plants included garlic, onion, and chives, which Wintour stated that she is not fond of. Wintour has been overseeing the event since 1995 and has a heavy influence on every aspect of the gala, including the guest list and the food served at the event.
The ban on garlic, onion, chives, parsley, and bruschetta may have to do with Wintour’s personal preferences and the desire to prevent any undesirable breath effects on the celebrity guests. There is also a rare possibility of people being allergic to the allium family of bulbous plants, which includes garlic, onion, and chives. It’s speculated that Wintour’s reason for banning these foods is to prevent any visible remnants like chives getting stuck in guests’ teeth. These restrictions align with Wintour’s attention to detail and ensuring a flawless experience for all attendees at the Met Gala.
The super-secret menu at the 2024 Met Gala was curated by caterer Olivier Cheng and aimed to provide a romantic and ethereal dining experience while focusing on the best seasonal ingredients. The menu drew inspiration from the lush gardens and palaces of Sleeping Beauty’s fantasy world to create a fairytale-like dining experience. Each course was carefully crafted to represent elements of jewelry and fairytales, creating a unique and memorable culinary event for the Gala attendees.
The menu at the Met Gala included a spring vegetable salad with elderflower foam, raspberry vinaigrette, and olive crumble as the first course. The main course consisted of a filet of beef presented with a tortellini rose, with a unique presentation involving a pine needle and mushroom “moat.” The dessert was a nod to the fairytale “Snow White” with a not-so-poison apple featuring almond cremeux molded into the shape of an apple and finished with a bright red mirror glaze on a walnut-flavored leaf. These creative and elegant dishes added to the overall theme of the event and provided a sophisticated dining experience for the Gala attendees.
This year’s Met Gala was hosted by Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, and Chris Hemsworth, adding to the glamour and star-studded nature of the event. Despite the ban on certain foods, the Gala menu delivered a magical and enchanting culinary experience that complemented the theme of “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.” The meticulous planning and attention to detail in the menu creation showcased the creativity and expertise of the caterers and organizers behind one of the most prestigious events in the fashion world.
