If I could have dinner with any human being, I would certainly pick Queen Elizabeth II. This monarch has ruled in England for 67 years, and I can only imagine the type of stories that she would bring to the table. (Perhaps we would dine on these classic British foods!) But if I were to feast with the Queen, there are two important rules that I would need to follow.
Rule #1: Don’t Sit Before the Queen Does
If anyone is dining with the Queen (even during a huge reception, like Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding), you must follow the lead of the Queen when it comes to approaching the table. No one is allowed to sit until the Queen is settled into her seat.
Rule #2: You Can Only Eat While She Is Eating
The second rule follows suit. Since everyone has to follow the queue of the Queen, that also applies to starting or finishing a meal. When the Queen starts eating, the rest of the dinner party is allowed to eat. But you better eat quick, because as soon as the Queen finishes, everyone else must finish as well.
You wouldn’t want to make these food etiquette mistakes, either!
The Reality of Royal Dining
Of course, if you forget to follow the rules, she won’t get too offended. According to a story submitted to The Guardian by former royal butler Paul Burrell, one prince did just that.
“I was once on the Royal Yacht Britannia in the South Pacific and the Queen was hosting a dinner for a local prince,” wrote Burrell. “Dessert was served. The prince forgot to watch what the Queen did—instead, he popped the grapes into his finger bowl, then some cherries, then when the cream and sugar came out, he poured them in too, making a kind of fruit soup. I was standing behind the Queen looking horrified. He was about to raise the bowl to his lips to drink it when he looked at the Queen and realized he had made a terrible mistake. Not wanting to make him feel awkward, she picked up her finger bowl and took a sip. Now that’s class.”
Now that you know how to eat with the Queen, it’s time to put together the menu. Here are 10 foods the Queen loves to eat.
The Queen's Favorite Foods
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When you're the Queen, you have access to some of the world's greatest foods, but what is it that Queen Elizabeth II actually craves? Some of the royal family's former chefs have dished on her faves, and we were shocked!
According to one such chef, Darren McGrady (who
spoke to the Telegraph), the queen is not a foodie. But like anyone, there are a few things Her Majesty requests regularly. Read on to find out what they are.
Scrambled EggsWhat may come as a surprise, however, is that on most mornings the monarch prefers to eat cold cereal. Special K, to be exact. Every once in a while, though, she indulges in some
scrambled eggs and smoked salmon with grated truffle. Our American scrambles may not be as fancy as those topped with truffle, but we do make some delicious eggs.
Gin CocktailsThe queen loves a pre-lunch drink, therefore shouldn't we all? What she prefers is gin and Dubonnet (a red wine aperitif) with a slice of lemon and a heaping amount of ice. Can't get your hands on Dubonnet? We're sure a gimlet with a slice of lime will suffice.
Chocolate CakeIn regard to chocolate, McGrady reports, "She loves it." Afternoon tea is served daily, of course, and often with chocolate perfection pie or a chocolate biscuit cake. We say this ganache-cloaked chocolate cake is fit for a queen.
Fish Dinner"When she dines on her own," McGrady reports, "she's very disciplined. No starch is the rule. No potatoes, rice or pasta for dinner. Just usually something like grilled sole with vegetables and salad."
MangoesMangoes are another favorite of Queen Elizabeth, says another former palace chef, John Higgins, "The Queen really enjoyed mangoes..she could tell you how many mangoes were in the fridge at Buckingham Palace," Higgins told
the National Post. Our strawberry mango salad would be perfect for the queen.
Tea SandwichesHiggins also reports that they'd make "little dainty afternoon tea sandwiches," and mentioned how much patience it takes to make them. (The Queen eats her sandwiches crustless, so if you want to be extra authentic, trim away.)
Chocolate MousseAs we've mentioned, the Queen loves her chocolate (queen or no, she's still human), but what is her favorite chocolate dessert? According to Higgins, that would have to be chocolate mousse. "Trust me, the plates were clean when they came back from the royal family," said Higgins.
Strawberry JamMcGrady also told
The Daily Mail that her Majesty loved jam pennies—small sandwiches filled with jam that are cut into circles the size of an old English penny. To make these scrumptious delights you'll need an extra delicious jam to fill them. Try our delicious strawberry jam recipe!
Beef TournedosCharles Mellis, royal chef in 1965, reported one of the dishes often served (when there were guests) was Tournedos Continental—small beef rounds typically accompanied by some sort of sauce. The chef recommended making one more round than there are guests, so that one piece remains after everyone's been served. "No guest should be made to feel that he or she has been served with whatever was left," he told
Chatelaine.
