The Queen Mum on Dining in America

[Jenise]

On the Times (London) website this morning, an article about the Queen Mother's correspondence revealed this nugget about her impressions of food in America:

In 1954, two years after the death of George VI, she undertook a tour of the United States and Canada, a task she viewed with some displeasure because it would mean travelling without any of her family. While aspects of the trip turned out to be more than agreeable — she “adored” the Empire State Building — she found the formal dinners, conducted under the glare of television and film lights, a “nightmare”. She wrote: “They give one gigantic bits of meat, bigger than this sheet of paper, practically raw, & then instead of gravy, they pour a little blood over it. Oh boy.”

Oh, she probably wanted girlie-food: half a scallop and a radish served on three sprigs of watercress... hold the sprinkle of chives, please.

Oh, she probably wanted girlie-food: half a scallop and a radish served on three sprigs of watercress... hold the sprinkle of chives, please.

A G&T and a copy of 'Racing Post' would have been sufficient

Funny, but I know of some people who would agree with her!

Observation on this topic--it's well known that when any member of the Royal Family travels, an inordinate amount of attention is paid to insuring that excellent (and private) toilet facilities are provided at each venue. So it seems incomprehensible that meals, the menu, the plating and presentation wouldn't be given the same scrutiny so that the Queen Mother would receive food she liked, the way she liked it.
From what I've learned about the Royals touring from somebody who planned their trips, "nothing" is left to chance.
But it does make a good story and does illustrate what difficulties the Queen Mom had to put up with among the 'barbarians'!

Maybe things were different in 1954, but Shel is right: the instructions and guidelines come thick and fast when the Royals (or probably any other Head of State or Monarch you could round up) come for a visit. Prince Charles opened the school my sister worked at during one of his visits to Australia many, many years ago, and they received a list of do's and don'ts as long as your arm, including a list of the foods and refreshments that could be offered. Cucumber sandwiches featured, but I can't remember anything else. I don't think they were allowed to hand Charlie any lamingtons, jelly cakes, sausage rolls or party pies, which would have been features of country school afternoon teas for guests then.

The Queen Mother reportedly loved her food, but I'm sympathetic to her not liking gigantic pieces of meat.

A G&T and a copy of 'Racing Post'

She was also fond of a cocktail comprising 70% dubonnet and 30% gin (or was it the other way round?) and apparently used to sink a few of those before lunch. I tried this combination out, and it is quite good.

Well, there are some who don't enjoy meat on the rare side. (I am one of them, so I would sympathise.)