Why an Amazonian chef refused to prepare a vegan dinner for Prince William's event. November 4, 2025

Ana Cunha-Busch
Nov 3
1 min read

Chef Saulo Jennings has cooked for presidents, ambassadors, and Mariah Carey. PHOTO: THIAGO GOMES, THIAGO GOMES

Why an Amazonian chef refused to prepare a vegan dinner for Prince William's event

Saulo Jennings, a chef from the Amazon region of Brazil, is so passionate about the flavors of the forest—like pirarucu—that he refused to prepare a vegan dinner at an environmental event for Prince William. He argues that sustainability involves a balance between plant and animal ingredients.

During COP30, Jennings was to present an immersive dinner combining sustainable Amazonian ingredients such as cassava, Brazil nuts, jambu, and melipona. For him, cuisine can be a powerful tool for environmental conservation.

The chef, named a UN Gastronomy Ambassador in 2024, explains that the true concept of sustainability in the Amazon includes both the conscious use of fauna and flora, respecting the natural cycles of the forest.

“The forest is a balanced ecosystem: it needs people, animals, and plants living together.” — Saulo Jennings

Source: Adapted from AFP material.

The Green Amazon News department was not involved in the creation of the content above. This article was produced by AFP. For more information, go to AFP.com.