British Academy Awards to Serve Vegan Menu

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) will serve a vegan menu during its 70th annual award ceremony. BAFTA’s head chef Anton Manganaro developed the menu, which consists of a mixed-grain salad with pickled vegetables, beetroot relish, and pea shoots; chickpea masala served with a croquette and coriander cress; and a decadent dessert—coconut panna cotta with a fresh raspberry and basil salad. “We’re hailing the plant-based menu at this year’s BAFTA ceremony as outstanding,” People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Director Elisa Allen said. “Nominees who don’t win on the night can still be awarded a gorgeous vegan meal—which is golden for their health, animals, and the environment.” This year, vegan actor Casey Affleck has been nominated for leading actor in Manchester by the Sea and Jon Favreau’s The Jungle Book—which relied on Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) in lieu of live animals—is up for an award in the Special Visual Effects category. BAFTA began serving a vegan menu last year—which included decadent dishes such as peppers roasted over English Beachwood, leek, and wild mushrooms—due to increasing celebrity demand for cruelty-free options. The BAFTA awards will be held on February 12.