Met Gala 2025: Why are garlic and onions 'strictly' off the menu at fashion's biggest night?

The Met Gala, held each year on the first Monday of May at New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art, is far more than a fashion spectacle. Known as fashion’s biggest night, the exclusive event serves as a fundraising gala for the museum’s Costume Institute. With themes that push the boundaries of fashion, this year’s exhibition, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, pays tribute to the heritage and influence of Black menswear and dandyism. Guests followed the accompanying dress code, Tailored For You, which offered room for personalized and creative interpretations.

Anna Wintour's Firm Grip on the Details
Curated under the close supervision of Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, the Met Gala is known for its rigid standards—not just in fashion but also in decorum and dining. Wintour’s influence stretches to every aspect of the evening, including the menu. The selection of food served at the event is crafted to complement the elegance and sophistication expected at the gala, and that includes avoiding ingredients that could disrupt the ambiance or cause discomfort to guests.

In a conversation with TODAY, Wintour addressed her ban on certain foods, naming garlic, onions, and chives as strictly off-limits. “Those are three things I’m not particularly fond of,” she said, pointing to their potential for causing bad breath—a concern, especially on a night marked by close conversation and media attention. Parsley is another ingredient not welcome at the gala. According to the New York Post, the herb was excluded to avoid the risk of it getting stuck in guests’ teeth. Messy appetizers like bruschetta are also avoided due to their tendency to spill and potentially damage couture garments.

No Phones, No Smoking—and Certainly No Selfies
Strict rules also extend to the behavior of attendees. Guests are prohibited from using mobile phones inside the event, a policy aimed at encouraging genuine interaction. While this rule is occasionally flouted—particularly in the infamous bathroom selfies—Wintour has emphasized that conversations, not Instagram posts, should define the evening. “It’s often wonderful to hear, after dinner, people say, ‘Oh we had the most wonderful conversations,’” she shared during an interview.

Smoking is similarly banned to maintain the decorum and preserve the opulence of the venue. These policies contribute to the gala’s mystique, limiting the public’s view to officially released photographs.

Meticulous Menu Planning for a Visual Feast
From the choice of ingredients to the style of plating, everything on the Met Gala’s menu is scrutinized to match the grandeur of the event. Former caterer Sean Driscoll, who served from 1995 to 2018, once recalled that a dish such as lamb potpies for the 2011 theme Savage Beauty was poorly received and led to numerous special requests. That experience emphasized the importance of aligning food not only with the theme but also with guest preferences.

Visual appeal holds equal weight to taste. The First Monday in May director Andrew Rossi described witnessing Wintour meticulously evaluate each dish during a tasting session, even consulting her phone to compare food presentations. Her eye for detail ensures that everything, including dinner, upholds the Gala’s polished aesthetic.

Entry to the Met Gala does not come cheap. An individual ticket is priced at $30,000, while a full table can cost as much as $275,000. Despite the cost, the event remains highly sought after. Some guests, including emerging designers and certain celebrities, are invited by Wintour herself and are not required to pay. According to Page Six, hopeful attendees have even stayed on standby, fully dressed in their outfits, in case a last-minute seat becomes available.