Chef Francesco Mazzei was hired by King Charles for a lavish black-tie dinner at Highgrove attended by the Beckhams and Helen Mirren, and was astonished by the King’s extensive culinary knowledge
King Charles has a private residence called HIghgrove(Image: Samir Hussein, Samir Hussein/WireImagevia Getty Images)
A chef personally selected by King Charles to cater a grand Royal event has shared his surprise at the monarch’s culinary knowledge.
Francesco Mazzei, who collaborated with renowned actor Stanley Tucci to create the menu for a lavish black-tie dinner at Highgrove, the King’s rural retreat, was left astounded by a conversation with the British King.
Among the esteemed guests were the Beckhams, Dame Helen Mirren, and fashion mogul Donatella Versace. During a recent episode of ITV’s Talking Royals podcast, Francesco recounted the exchange with Charles that left him stunned. The chef expressed how he “was blown away” by His Majesty’s extensive understanding of the cuisine being served.
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He lauded the King’s familiarity with “everything” on the menu, stating, “He knew about the aging of Culatello, he knew about the aging of parmigiano reggiano.”
Culatello, an esteemed Italian cured meat often referred to as the “King of Hams,” is exclusively produced in Parma. Parmigiano reggiano is another specialty item, a hard cheese originating from the Emilia-Romagna region, reports the Express.
Chef Francesco Mazzei catered a banquet for King Charles(Image: Supplied)
Francesco continued, “I had a chance to talk to him for more than 20 minutes. I was blown away by the knowledge of the King about cooking in general.”
Implying that the King’s expertise spans beyond food, Francesco commented that he believes the King possesses equal knowledge about architecture and art.
Charles and Camilla made a specific request for an “Italian-English mashup” on the menu, with the requirement that all Italian dishes be made using 100% British produce.
The preparation took over a year, with Francesco undertaking a culinary journey throughout the British Isles to discover ingredients fit for royalty. His quest brought him to Scottish crab, Isle of Wight tomatoes, and Welsh garlic.
Some ingredients came from much closer to home. The herbs featured in Francesco’s herb ravioli were sourced directly from the King’s personal kitchen garden at Highgrove. Even in the February chill, the quality of the homegrown herbs amazed Francesco.
“I was blown away,” he revealed on the podcast. “I mean, it looked, it felt, like an Italian garden. All the beautiful, fresh herbs.”
King Charles III, David Beckham and Victoria Beckham during a dinner at Highgrove House(Image: Getty)
Of all the numerous dishes Francesco created, only the extra virgin olive oil couldn’t be obtained from the UK. “Maybe it will come one day,” the chef joked.
Francesco, who previously served at Mayfair’s Dorchester Hotel, remains hopeful about Britain’s culinary possibilities. He praised its “beautiful produce” and stated “you can basically do every cuisine in the UK if you know where the produce comes from”.
Yet, the private dinner nearly fell through. The Palace first approached Francesco more than two years ago, but the King’s unexpected cancer diagnosis threatened the event.
King Charles left a chef stunned with his conversation(Image: Pool, Getty Images)
A year afterward, the Palace contacted him once more to move forward with the banquet. Francesco attributed this to the King’s affinity for “the slow food movement”.
The monarch has earned a well-deserved reputation for advocating seasonal, organic, and locally sourced ingredients.
These insights from Francesco come at a time when the Royals are in the thick of hosting duties. In early December, they welcomed German President Frank-Walter Steinmeyer and First Lady Elke Budenbender for an official State Visit – marking the third such event of the year.
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Dining and Cooking