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After weeks of juices and gym workouts to squeeze into the perfect gown (something Kim Kardashian openly spoke about to fit into that Marilyn Monroe dress), have you ever wondered what celebrities finally eat after they’ve walked up the famous steps and into the Met Gala? For all the spectacle of fashion’s biggest night, one part remains surprisingly mysterious: what they are serving up for dinner at the exclusive event.
Thankfully, we’ve got the answers.
So, what do people eat at the Met Gala?
Unsurprisingly, the menu at the Met Gala is as curated just like every other detail of Anna Wintour’s meticulously planned night.
Upon arrival, guests move into cocktail hour, where they sip drinks while touring the exhibition, marking the first moment they can finally relax and mingle freely with other A‑listers.
Later, they will sit down at tables, decorated with immaculate table settings where more drinks, dinner and entertainment are enjoyed.
A ticket to the Met Gala can cost as much as $140,000 and that also includes a dinner that reflects the theme of the exhibition.
For example, in 2025, when the theme was ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style’, the menu was crafted by acclaimed chef Kwame Onwuachi, whose dishes drew on Nigerian, Jamaican and Louisiana influences.
Of course, it isn’t just enough that food tastes good, it also needs to be visually striking as well.
The meal is all part of the theatre of the night.
In 2024, guests were served a spring vegetable salad, a beef fillet topped with a tortellini rose and a “not‑so‑poison apple” dessert, in a playful nod to the ‘Sleeping Beauties: Fashion Reawakened’ theme.
However, that doesn’t mean the food is always fancy.
At the 2023 event, which was themed ‘Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty’, guests were served Diet Coke — the preferred beverage of the late Chanel creative director.
While we know this year’s theme is ‘Costume Art’, we know little about what will be served up at dinner.
How is the Met Gala menu selected?
Melissa King was one of three chefs behind the 2022 event and she gave insight into the planning process in an interview with The Cut.
“Anna Wintour is certainly involved every step of the way,” she told the publication.
“There’s a pass-off of the menu and several tastings, as well as quick checks about what’s working and what’s not, then we tweak it from there.
“It took a few months, and that’s just me speaking on my one dish.”
King was responsible for a hamachi crudo in a citrus broth which was served as the first course on the big night.
She also made an alternate vegan option to cater to dietary restrictions.
“I definitely saw everybody eating,” she said. “And I heard a lot of people saying they really enjoyed the first course, that it was light and refreshing. I think we hit the mark.”
What foods are banned from the Met Gala?
While we don’t know yet what celebs will be served this year, we do know some things they definitely won’t be enjoying.
Wintour has reportedly banned garlic, onions and chives, because she doesn’t want celebrities dealing with bad breath or stray herbs to be caught in their teeth during photos.
Messy foods like bruschetta are also off the menu for the same reason.
No one wants to return a couture gown that is now stained by tomato paste!
