The Hollywood Foreign Press Association took an eleventh-hour decision, and some might say a gamble, before the 2020 Golden Globes earlier this month to make the gala dinner 100% vegan.
The Beverly Hilton agreed to the change and changed their menu to an entirely plant-based one, as detailed below.
The 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards January 5, 2020 Dinner Menu
Prepared by, Executive Chef Matthew Morgan and Executive Pastry Chef Thomas Henzi
Appetizer Chilled Golden Beet Soup Shaved Candy-Striped Beets, Citrus Oil, Pistachio, Micro Chervil, Amaranth
Entrée King Oyster Mushroom “Scallops” Wild Mushroom Risotto, Roasted Baby Purple & Green Brussels Sprouts, Globe Carrots, Pea Tendrils
Dessert Vegan Opera Dome Choco Brilliance, Praline Gunaja Crumble, Caramelized Hazelnuts, Passion Crispy
The 77th Golden Globe Awards, honouring the best in film and American television of 2019, took place earlier this month at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on January 5, 2020.
Ricky Gervais hosted the ceremony for the fifth and final time, and reactions to his hosting were mixed, with many pleased it was also the last.
Joaquin Phoenix – Image by, Diana RingoJoaquin Phoenix and many other stars praised the change of menu to vegan, as a way to raise environmental awareness about food choices.
After Joaquin Phoenix, who is vegan, won the Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama award for his work in Joker, he said of the decision: “First, I’d like to thank the Hollywood Foreign Press for recognising and acknowledging the link between animal agriculture and climate change. t’s a very bold move, making tonight plant-based, and it really sends a powerful message.” His appreciation was met with enthusiastic cheers and applause from the audience.
Brad Pitt – Image by, ToglennBrad Pitt, who won a Golden Globe for his role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, welcomed the plant-based change. “I’m all for it,” he told the Associated Press on the red carpet. It makes sense because everyone can eat vegan, but not everyone can eat a steak.”
HFPA president Lorenzo Soria was delighted with the plant based menus saying: “If there’s a way we can, not change the world, but save the planet, maybe we can get the Golden Globes to send a signal and draw attention to the issue about climate change. The food we eat, the way we grow the food we eat, the way we dispose of the food is one of the large contributors to the climate crisis.”
Though an earlier version of Sunday’s menu featured a fish course, The Beverly Hilton’s executive chef, Matthew Morgan, was notified the meal would instead be entirely plant-based just before the Christmas holiday. Morgan was pleased with the move saying: “It was a little shocking when first mentioned, because of being very close to the actual Globes and having already decided on a menu. But once we thought about it and the message that it sent; we were really excited about it.”
Beverley Hilton, Executive Chef, Matthew MorganIn place of the fish course, Morgan and his brigade at The Beverly Hilton served king oyster mushroom ‘scallops’, which were presented to look like scallops, but actually consisted of the thick-fleshed mushrooms, wild mushroom risotto, roasted baby purple and green Brussels sprouts, globe carrots and pea tendrils.
Chilled golden beet soup was the appetizer course, while guests were treated to an opera dome with choco brilliance, praline gunaja crumble, carmalized hazelnuts and a passion crispy for dessert.
The move to vegan, plant based and vegetarian diets becoming mainstream in 2020 seems to have gathered further pace from this red carpet stamp of approval.