Florals may be a staple of spring fashion, but when it comes to the Met Gala, not all flowering plants are welcome.
At the Met Gala 2024 on Monday, attendees celebrated the opening of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s new exhibit, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” under the theme “Garden of Time.”
Ironically, Vogue’s global editorial director, Anna Wintour, disclosed that three specific flowering plants were prohibited from the Met Gala menu: garlic, onion, and chives.
In an interview with Jenna Bush Hager on “The Today Show,” Wintour, who has been overseeing the event since becoming co-chair in 1995, revealed her personal aversion to these ingredients, stating, “Those are three things I’m not particularly fond of.”
Wintour exercises meticulous control over every aspect of the event, including the curated guest list and the cuisine served during the seated dinner, an aspect often concealed from the public eye.
Executive chef and owner of Great Taste Catering in Los Angeles, Josh Jackson, speculated that Wintour’s decision to ban certain foods may be influenced by her desire to prevent any impact on the breath of celebrity guests. Additionally, some individuals have allergies to plants in the allium family, which includes garlic, onion, and chives.
However, Jackson suggested another reason behind the ban, noting, “The real reason must be she doesn’t want to see chives in the guests’ teeth. It’s understandable.”
Wintour’s list of prohibited foods extends beyond alliums and includes parsley, due to its tendency to become lodged in teeth, and bruschetta, which she believes could cause a mess and ruin outfits.
This year, caterer Olivier Cheng crafted a super-secret menu designed to evoke a sense of romance and ethereality, while prioritizing the use of the finest seasonal ingredients. Drawing inspiration from the enchanting gardens and palaces of Sleeping Beauty’s fantasy realm, the menu aimed to create a bite-sized fairytale for Gala attendees.
