A new book reveals that the royal family has historically enjoyed trying food in the United States during visits to the country – and according to its author, one meal in particular changed the course of history. .
In his new book, “Cooking and the Crown: Royal Recipes from Queen Victoria to King Charles III,” Tom Parker Bowles details the royal family’s culinary adventures over the past two centuries.
Parker Bowles, son of Queen Camilla, is an award-winning food writer and restaurant critic.
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“I think when kings travel, they try all the food,” Parker Bowles told Fox News Digital in a Zoom interview from his hotel room in New York City. (See the video at the top of this article.)
“If you come to America, why wouldn’t you? It’s the greatest regional cuisine in the world,” he said.
In his new book, “Cooking and the Crown: Royal Recipes from Queen Victoria to King Charles III,” Tom Parker Bowles, Camilla’s son — she’s shown far left, above, with King Charles — tells stories of her and Share recipes. British royal family. This includes some of his trips to America, where he ate hot dogs (top right) and enchiladas (bottom right). (Chris Jackson/Getty Images; iStock)
Parker Bowles told Fox News Digital that perhaps the most iconic American dish eaten by a British royal was a hot dog shared by King George VI and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
The two dined at the American classic in Hyde Park, New York, in June 1939, Parker Bowles wrote in his book.
“The King and Queen found themselves sitting in folding chairs in Hyde Park, eating hot dogs served on silver plates,” he wrote. “The king looked a little disgusted. ‘What shall I do?’ He asked the president, ‘Put it in your mouth and chew it till you finish it,’ came the smiling reply.
“Really, it was the power of food. That’s what fascinates me.”
After the hot dog was consumed, however, talk turned to the growing threat of Nazi Germany.
The Chicago-style hot dog, ‘integral’ to the Windy City, is served with tomato, not ketchup.
At the time, the idea of entering another war overseas was not popular, Parker Bowles said.
“Then they went upstairs, and they talked about the war,” he said.
Parker Bowles said, “Really, it was the power of food. That’s what fascinates me—the power of food and as humble as a hot dog.”
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (far right) and King George VI (second from left) dined on hot dogs during their meeting in Hyde Park, New York in 1939 – then discussed the ongoing war in Europe. (Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)
In these discussions, Roosevelt pledged his support for the British Atlantic Fleet. The United States would eventually provide aid to Great Britain and other Allied powers before officially entering World War II in December 1941.
Parker Bowles said, “If America hadn’t gotten into World War II, God only knows what would have happened.” “So it was a very important hot dog, however you look at it.”
Other visits to the United States were far less productive in world history – but still had some surprising food moments.
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Parker Bowles said that during a visit to the United States, former President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy treated Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip to “a full feast of California Tex-Mex.”
“I wouldn’t have thought. [Mexican food] It was something the late Queen saw a lot of – you know, enchiladas and refried beans, she said. “Delicious food.”
The Reagans maintained friendships with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, noted Parker Bowles, “united by their love of horses”.
Parker Bowles said that on a visit to California, President Ronald Reagan (left) treated Queen Elizabeth (second from left) and Prince Philip (far right) to “a full array of Californian Tex-Mex feasts,” including enchiladas. . (Anwar Hussain/Getty Images)
Prince Philip had another hobby that some might find surprising, noted Parker Bowles: grilling and barbecuing.
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“He was a foodie and watched all the food TV shows and loved cookbooks and loved to cook,” Parker Bowles said.
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Parker Bowles said Prince Philip went so far as to design his own grill, calling it “a masterpiece”.
Tom Parker Bowles shares recipes and food stories from the British royal family in his new book, “Cooking and the Crown: Royal Recipes from Queen Victoria to King Charles III.” (ten speed press)
Shahzade “created this incredible multi-level grill with different heat levels – he has a whole trailer that he designed to go behind a Land Rover,” he said.
Parker Bowles said royal chef Mark Flanagan also thought highly of Prince Philip’s cooking skills.
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“[Flanagan] Told me that too [Prince Philip] Parker Bowles said he would come into the kitchen and choose his cuts and make his marinade and he was a really, really good chef.
