Each night at Coachella, a lavish meal for VIP guests is served in the famous Rose Garden.
The VIP Rose Garden at Coachella. Callie Ahlgrim
However, a VIP wristband alone doesn't get you a seat at the table.
Callie Ahlgrim
It costs $350 per person, plus additional fees. Each night is sold separately.
In addition to the meal itself, a ticket grants access to the Rose Garden for the entire day — so you don't need a VIP wristband to attend one of the weekend's dinners.
The dinner is hosted by Outstanding in the Field.
Callie Ahlgrim
On Friday night, we were greeted with welcome cocktails.
Callie Ahlgrim
All beverages are included in the price of the ticket.
As people trickled in, guests were encouraged to drink and mingle.
Callie Ahlgrim
Entrance for the dinner began at 5:45 p.m. and closed at 6:15 p.m. sharp.
Our gourmet meal was created by Zarah Khan.
Callie Ahlgrim
The first course was seeded levain bread from Clark Street Bakery and pickled turnips.
Callie Ahlgrim
The delicious turnips were garnished with rose and sumac.
The second course was mushroom labneh, a creamy Middle Eastern-style yogurt.
Callie Ahlgrim
The labneh was served alongside scallion and lion's mane powder laffa, a kind of Israeli flatbread.
Khan's cooking is focused on vegetables and inspired by Mediterranean influences, as well as her Pakistani heritage, according to a press release.
The third course was a salad with tahini green goddess dressing.
Callie Ahlgrim
The scrumptious dish also included green radishes, herbs, and edible flowers.
Each course was paired with a new wine.
Callie Ahlgrim
The main course was local halibut with jade rice and snap peas.
Callie Ahlgrim
The fish was prepared with a green garlic and coriander crust.
We were almost too full for dessert but made room for the Gâteau Basque.
Callie Ahlgrim
The French treat featured raspberries and beet-rose whipped cream.
After the sun went down, the dinner table was aglow with multicolored lights.
Callie Ahlgrim
The dinner typically lasts two hours, ending around 8 p.m.
Unfortunately, that required us to skip a ton of artists we were excited to see, including Blink-182, Wet Leg, and Yves Tumor.
Even though we missed some of the festival's best performances, it was well worth it for the mouthwatering food and delightful experience.
Callie Ahlgrim
Because of its hefty price tag, the luxury experience is only available to a select few festivalgoers. It may even be Coachella's best-kept secret.
But it offered a much-needed respite from the heat and hectic energy of the festival — and it was easily one of the best meals either of us had ever eaten.
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