New Delhi: Met Gala, also known as the biggest fashion night in the world, is not only about what happens on the red carpet or the trends which make it
to history. It is also about behind the scenes, especially on the plate, which is curated with care and specialisation. This isn’t your usual black-tie dinner where pizza, pasta or breads casually show up at your table. The idealisation that goes behind curating the menu, how it will be served or on what plate or utensil you will get to eat is all a thoughtful culinary curation.
The curation is thoughtful, special and needs a lot of brain and approvals, but who really approves it and how is it finalised each year? Anna Wintour! The name we are all familiar with when it comes to the Met Gala night and its curation.
The Met Gala food ban
Wintour, who has overseen the gala since the mid-90s, is known for her extreme attention to detail, from the guest list to what those guests are allowed to eat. One of the most buzzed-about rules is her alleged ban on garlic and onions.
The logic is clear: in a room filled with the world’s most photographed celebrities, strong smells are a big no-no. Close conversations, constant posing, and tight spaces don’t pair well with pungent breath. After all, no one wants a high-fashion moment ruined by the scent of garlic!
The food restrictions do not end here! Parsley is also a big no at the event or during the meals, not for its flavours, but because of its tendency to get stuck in the teeth or mouth. No one wants to see a spicy red carpet moment smile with a big green leafy front flashing through the social media posts.
There are also the more predictable bans, dishes that can spill, stain, or fall apart too easily. Foods like bruschetta, messy sauces, or anything needing heavy cutting are off the table. The Met Gala is certainly not the event to juggle a dripping burger or risk a streak of tomato sauce on a custom couture creation. With white fabrics, delicate embroidery and intricate beadwork everywhere, even a tiny food mishap is unforgivable.
Met Gala food menu
The menu often leans towards bite-sized, visually refined dishes. Plates artfully curated with salads, delicately prepared proteins and desserts that look like an art straight out of the painting. The food menu is curated to complement the evening filled with glam, stars and all things starry and not compete with it or dull the moment.
The Met Gala’s dining experience is designed with more than just the menu in mind; every detail of the evening’s social flow is carefully orchestrated. The seating arrangement, for example, is deliberately planned to spark fresh interactions rather than provide comfort.
As Ward Durrett, Vogue’s Director of Special Projects, notes, a lot of thought goes into deciding who sits beside whom. One strict rule: spouses are intentionally placed apart so they’re encouraged to socialise with other guests.
And even if you’ve paid a premium for your seat, you still have no say in where you’re placed or who you dine with. And the strict no phone policy inside the Met Gala event makes you more curious about who ate what and who ate the floor!
