The Golden Globe Awards ceremony will feature a meatless dinner as part of the show’s effort to raise awareness about climate change.
For the celebration leading up to the 77th annual award ceremony, stars will be eating a “plant-based” meal that the show’s organizers hope will cut back on the production’s carbon footprint while raising awareness about the negative environmental impact of meat consumption.
Hollywood Foreign Press Association President Lorenzo Soria touted the decision, telling the Associated Press, “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.”
The decision came down from Soria less than two weeks before the event was scheduled, causing some tension between the dinner staff and the association.
“People were basically saying it’s too late, we’re ready with all the orders, the holidays and all that,” Soria explained. “But after we began discussions, meeting for one or two days, (the hotel) accepted the change completely. They started to experiment with how to do plant-based meals that was not just their symbolic steps, but also something that guests will enjoy.”
Matthew Morgan, the executive chef at the Beverly Hilton, agreed, 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. That’s something I stand behind myself.”
The two agreed that the final meal would include an appetizer of chilled golden beet soup and a main course of king oyster mushrooms scallops with wild mushroom risotto, carrots, and roasted baby purple and green Brussels sprouts.
Additionally, the stars at the event will be served water from Icelandic Glacial that will be served in glass bottles in order to cut back on plastic waste.
The meat industry has caught a lot of criticism in the past few years because of its carbon-intensive processes. Beyond carbon, methane produced by animal flatulence is a potent greenhouse gas that traps even more heat than carbon. Several 2020 Democrats singled out the meat industry when discussing how they plan to stop climate change.
The Golden Globes have had declining viewership over the past few years. The 2019 show earned the lowest ratings in three years. The show’s producers may be looking to spice it up by inviting comedian Ricky Gervais to host the 2020 program. The show airs on Sunday night on NBC.
