The Ingredients That May Be Left Off Of The Coronation Menu
The historic coronation of King Charles III is upon us, and a member of the new King's family has been sharing details of some specific ingredients that might not make their way onto the coronation menu. It has been almost 70 years since Elizabeth II's ascension to the throne marked the last coronation meal, and the featured dishes have always been a fascinating insight into the personalities of the current royal family. Some creations, like the curry-based coronation chicken invented for Elizabeth's ceremony in 1953, have even moved on from their original rarified surroundings to become common, popular dishes. But the more interesting food decisions this time around may be less about what is being created and more about what isn't being served.
Speaking on the podcast The News Agents (time 0:48), King Charles' son-in-law, Tom Parker Bowles, who is a food critic in his own right, revealed some preferences of his mother Camila that could affect how the coronation meal is prepared. Both garlic and chiles are apparently off the menu, but for some practical concerns as much as taste. While Parker Bowles admits his mother "doesn't like massive spice," there is also the worry of upsetting the stomachs of people who will be attending a long coronation. Garlic is also being avoided for "purely social reasons," to avoid the faux pas of smelly garlic breath.
King Charles and Queen Consort Camila have made some traditional coronation food choices
With understandable concerns over how the coronation dish will affect their guests, and over the accessibility of the recipe, Charles and Camila have skipped out on the spice and chosen a rather traditional quiche to celebrate. According to The Guardian, the quiche will feature spinach, broad beans, cheddar cheese, and tarragon, and was specifically chosen because of its versatility and how easy and affordable it will be to make for anyone who would like to join in on the festivities from home. It's also a relatively light dish and one that can be eaten by people with a wide variety of dietary restrictions. The recipe has been shared online, and it has even been blessed by another kind of queen, "Great British Bake Off's" Prue Leith. Vanity Fair reports that Leith praised the quiche as "absolutely delicious" during a sample tasting, with "no soggy bottom," which is just about the highest compliment a "Bake Off" host can give.
With its concern for popular accessibility, the food for this coronation has gone in a different direction from Charles' mother Elizabeth's famous choices. In addition to the now-classic coronation chicken, there was also an avocado dip, which was a pretty rare and unusual choice for Britain in the 1950s. As for whether the new coronation menu will end up being as iconic as the last one, only time will tell.