It is common knowledge that Queen Elizabeth is quite particular when it comes to her diet. But while tea and biscuits, local produce, and fresh fish are staples on her menu, she does enjoy indulging her taste buds every once in a while in something a little more exotic. According to the new HBO documentary Queen of the World, the Queen is a huge fan of a Caribbean stew called callaloo-and it sounds absolutely delicious.
The Queen’s chef Mark Clanagan revealed that the 92-year-old has been requesting the colourful dish as of late, describing was “an absolute sensation” with her. She first tasted it when a group from the islands commandeered the kitchen at Buckingham Palace last year to give HRH and the Duke of Edinburgh “a little idea of what we eat at home.”
“A number of the Caribbean dishes were particularly well received," he said, according to Express. "The callaloo soup was an absolute sensation. I had email after email telling me that it must now feature more regularly.”
What is callaloo soup?
Originating in West Africa, the spicy dish is popular all over the islands. It features a leaf vegetable, usually amaranth (also called callaloo) or taro, chopped onion, beef or pork, and a bevy of spices. Other variations can include coconut milk, lobster, pumpkin or chilli. Some people even substitute the harder-to-find leaves with spinach.
While the Queen is a fan of the spicy dish, it's likely she isn't consuming it in heaping portions. Her former chef, Darren McGrady, has revealed that she sticks to small portion sizes, preferring four light meals instead of three larger ones. And while she doesn't deprive herself of the things she loves (darker chocolate, cake, etc.), she is all about moderation.
Considering many people become pickier with age when it comes to food , it's pretty impressive that the 92-year-old is still open to expanding the horizons of her tastebuds. We only hope we will be quite so adventurous in our older years.
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