It is difficult to walk around London these days without noticing that something is preparing. Works in many streets, stands in emblematic places and, everywhere, messages that remind us that on Saturday, May 6, the coronation of Charles III is celebrated. Actually, from the 5th to the 8th, including that holiday Monday which, without a doubt, is a great argument for the new monarch to like better. Nor are supermarkets spared from this fever around the "coronation": dozens of products with the British flag, the image of Carlos III animate the shelves and invite customers to organize a "royal party" at home.
While the headlines reel off the last minute guest list and launch all sorts of theories about Prince Harry's presence at his father's coronation, there are two things that can almost be taken for granted: that Charles III is enthusiastic about this long celebration given the joy that overflowed during the first days of the reign, and that, of course, that this is also a business.
In fact, although combining gastronomy and monarchy sounds a bit surreal a priori, products with the Buckingham Palace brand are not a rarity in the British market. The mechanism seems similar to that of any other date marked on the calendar and to sell something, so the same cookies or cakes that a few days ago were for Valentine's Day may now be in honor of the head of the Windsor family.
The coronation chicken
They are, yes, typically English products and, at least in some cases, they have even taken the trouble to ensure that they are made in the United Kingdom. There is no shortage, of course, of scones, tea in different versions and cans with or without the king's portrait, butter cookies and, of course, “coronation chickhen” in the most curious formats.
This chicken dish created in 1952 by Le Cordon Bleu for the coronation of Elizabeth II is a classic in the English monarchical cookbook. He's not the only one, apparently. The BBC page dedicated to recipes lists no less than 66 dishes in the "coronation food" section created for the occasion. Most with that classic touch that is expected for such an occasion.
In the absence of his own recipe, Charles III seems to have coronation chicken - the joke is made only in that family - for a few weeks. In fact, this spiced chicken is the protagonist of two of the most surreal products that we have come across in our walk through London supermarkets: the coronation crisps flavored with spiced chicken, and a club sandwich in honor of the new king that as an ingredient special includes this meat.
Both are products of Mark
In any case, both products are decked out in British colors and are more expensive than chips or a regular club sandwich. As a souvenir we brought these -attention- "hand cooked coronation chicken crisps". They are rich. They basically taste like grilled chicken with spices and a hint of heat.
Mayonnaise, popcorn…
mark's offer
Nobody wants to be left out of the festival and the British media have been publishing lists and rankings with the best proposals from each one for weeks. There are dozens of them, including jam, popcorn, mayonnaise, sausages...
There is no official range of coronation products, so each brand or supermarket chain can launch their own. The result is at least half a dozen commemorative fries.
What will you think about this not particularly healthy deployment Carlos from England who in his early years launched one of the first brands of organic products in the country and suggested that McDonalds in the United Kingdom be closed after a visit to the United States where he verified the medical havoc that did fast food cause?
a royal toast
But back to the coronation, the museums have also joined the party, with small dedicated spaces in their gift shops. In the British Museum, for example, we come across the classic egg-cups (to place soft-boiled eggs for breakfast with great style) dedicated to Charles III.
There is also no shortage of cans with tea bags in honor of the new king, as explained by the New English Teas brand. All with the well-recharged decoration and a tacky point that is expected in this type of product, of course.
Of course, forgetting about the toast would be unforgivable when talking about the Windsors and their well-known fondness for brightening up the daily schedule with a drink. For the occasion Mark
Already at the airport and with the suitcases, some bottles of gin of intense blue and purple color say goodbye to us. Yes, "coronation gin" -in the plural, there are several- also exist. cheers.
