Ella Scott
A chef invited to cater for Prince William of Wales’ annual Earthshot Prize banquet has said the award's demand for him to curate a fish-free menu is like asking heavy metal band Iron Maiden 'to play jazz’.
On 5 November, Prince William, 43, will head to Rio de Janeiro to host the fifth annual Earthshot Prize award ceremony, where five of 15 finalists will be awarded £1 million to further develop their ideas to help tackle various issues on the planet.
The Brazilian-based programming had recruited chef Saulo Jennings to cater to the 700 event attendees, including celebrity performers Kylie Minogue and Shawn Mendes.
Jennings reportedly hoped to create canapés for the invitees using sustainable ingredients from the Amazon rainforest, according to The Telegraph.
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This included a pirarucu, a large river fish that has become a symbol of environmental recovery in the Amazon in the face of deforestation, the outlet said.
However, the culinary expert was informed that he’d have to change his plans as the Earthshot Prize 2025 menu couldn't include fish.
This is because the awards always offer vegetarian food. It's also understood Prince William has no involvement in menu decisions.
“It’s like asking Iron Maiden to play jazz,” Jennings confessed in an interview with the New York Times, speaking about the fish and meat-free menu. “It was a lack of respect for our culinary traditions and for the Amazon itself.
“I have nothing against vegans or British people. But I don’t want to abandon my culinary mission. My work has always been about balance, about honouring what the forest and rivers give us.”
Despite initially taking a firm stance against the menu requirements, the chef later agreed to the eco awards’ demands.
He planned to serve a fish-free menu at the Museum of Tomorrow event, including ingredients such as cassava root, jambu leaf, and Brazil nut.
However, it’s alleged that the price he quoted was above the budget allocated for the event, as per sources close to the discussions.
The event organisers have now reportedly opted for another supplier based inside the venue instead of Jennings.
Speaking about his initial decision to use local produce, the cook explained: “We eat whatever the forests give us, whatever the rivers give us. Some days it’s fish, other days it’s nuts and açaí. That’s what real sustainability looks like.
“Maybe it just wasn’t meant to be. I still believe in what I do – teaching people that respecting the environment doesn’t mean rejecting it.”
Jennings has previously catered for King Charles III at the British embassy amid a Birthday celebration.
The UN gastronomy ambassador will have the opportunity to cater for Prince William again at the COP30 summit in Belem, Brazil, next month.
Kensington Palace told FOODbible: "He has been clear that he had no concerns in putting forward a vegetarian based menu. He understands the decision was based on budget alone and is delighted there will be another opportunity for His Royal Highness to try his menu in Belem."
FOODbible has contacted the organisers of the Earthshot Prize for further comment.