Prince William’s Plant Based Vegan Banquet Rejected by Brazilian Chef
The Earthshot Prize, an environmental award founded by Prince William, required a plant-based menu for a dinner in Rio de Janeiro next month. The Brazilian chef initially selected for the event, Saulo Jennings, was surprised to learn he could not serve Amazonian fish.
Founded by Prince William in 2020, the Earthshot Prize honours innovation in environmental protection. This year’s event, held at Rio’s futuristic Museum of Tomorrow, will host 700 guests, including heads of state, scientists and climate advocates.
When Saulo Jennings heard he would be cooking for an heir to the British throne, the Brazilian chef knew he wanted to showcase the star ingredient of the Amazon: a huge, fleshy river fish called pirarucu. Prince Williams Plant Based Vegan Banquet Rejected by Brazilian Chef
For Jennings, being chosen as caterer was both an honor and a chance to show that sustainability is more complex than simply removing animal products from a menu.
He said he initially thought there had been a misunderstanding. He offered to include vegan options but explained that excluding fish altogether would erase a central part of Amazonian identity.
When organizers confirmed the vegan requirement, he began developing plant-based dishes inspired by local produce such as cassava root, jambu leaf and Brazil nuts. By then, however, negotiations had broken down and he was replaced as caterer. ‘I have nothing against vegans or British people,’ Jennings said. ‘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.’
Prince William Not Involved in Menu Choice
A source close to the Earthshot organisers later said Prince William himself had no role in the menu decision. The organisation traditionally requests vegetarian menus at its events as part of its environmental commitment. Jennings, however, maintains that excluding local staples such as fish contradicts the very spirit of sustainability the prize seeks to promote.
