When Britain’s King Charles III and his wife Camilla will join US President Donald Trump at the White Housethe menu for the state dinner, where the stakes are high, is expected to leave a strong impression, he writes Fox News Digital. Buckingham Palace announced on March 31 that the King and Queen will travel to the United States to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence. Trump said the royal couple will stay from April 27 to 30, while a state banquet is scheduled to be held at the White House on April 28.
Darren McGrady, who was personal chef to the late Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana and her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, and also cooked for US Presidents Ford, Reagan, Clinton and both Presidents Bush, told Fox that the British royal family can expect to be served the best of America.
– I would not expect to find “clotted cream” (pronounced thick milk cream) on this menu for President Trump’s banquet, because it is a British product. America has amazing homegrown products. But besides that, the palace must have been in touch and said that the king is not a big fan of chocolate, but the queen is. If there is a dish with cheese, the king will be delighted, because he loves cheese. He also likes honey, roasted vegetables, risotto, and especially lamb. There is an amazing lamb here. He would be honored if lamb was served – McGrady revealed.
When it comes to food, the chef continued, impressing the monarch is much simpler than you might expect.
– For the king, local products are key. It is important for him to see foods that are just coming into season, such as asparagus, artichokes, peas, spinach and broccoli. The king would be absolutely delighted if something like this was on the menu – he pointed out.
Royal commentator Amanda Matta agreed, adding that the White House will absolutely consult on dietary restrictions and known preferences to impress the royal family, but the menu is also expected to be American at its core.
– King Charles does not eat foie gras, and it is also known that members of the royal family avoid things like red sauces, garlic or curry for practical reasons. The meal must be elegant, but not too complicated, and easy to consume during the conversation. That means no food eaten with hands, no messy dishes, no too much experimentation and no anything that could cause discomfort to the guests. But the menu is ultimately the decision of the host, which makes the choice of food a very diplomatic move – she said.
Amanda stressed that it is the host country’s moment to showcase its cuisine, homegrown produce, agriculture and identity, and that every dish, every wine pairing and every ingredient will be chosen to send a message of American excellence. However, it is not unusual for subtle references to guests to be included in the menu.
Helena Chard, a British television commentator and photographer, told Fox News Digital that she would not be surprised if one of Charles III’s favorite dishes was served to win over the king.
– I would expect organic lamb from Virginia with a crust of herbs and lots of vegetables. Mentholated organic peas are at the very top of that hierarchy. The king is obsessed with peas. Both Charles and Camilla love handmade cheeses and love a slice of organic apple pie, Chard said.
She also warned that there are certain ingredients that are strictly prohibited.
– Royal protocol dictates that garlic and shellfish are strictly prohibited. Menus are planned weeks in advance. A lot of thought goes into each dish, especially as the king continues his cancer treatment. Three trial menus are compiled, and the chosen option is announced 24 hours before the banquet – she said.
The American state dinner follows a very predictable rhythm: arrival ceremony, greeting line, cocktails, formal meal, toasts or speeches, followed by an entertainment program. There may even be a musical performance when, after dinner, the guests socialize more freely. It is these more relaxed after-dinner gatherings that have produced legendary moments over the years, such as it is Princess Diana’s dance with actor John Travolta in 1985. It was not part of the official program of the Reagan administration, but it became the most recognizable image of the evening.
– Maybe we’ll see Queen Camilla dancing with President Trump, or Melania in the arms of King Charles. I wouldn’t rule anything out! – concluded Mata.
And while the American media reports that the British king is not actually complicated or picky at all when it comes to food, it should be mentioned that the American president is a true leader in the field of dietary simplicity. In fact, Trump’s eating habits are so simple that they boil down to just a few dishes and American fast food and sodas are mostly on his menu.
However, King Charles is not canceling his trip to the US because of the shooting
