- Coronation Fried Chicken Sandwich from James Cochran, Great British Menu champion 2018
- King Oyster Mushroom Filo Tart by Claire Lara, MasterChef: The Professionals champion 2010
- Coronation Chicken Pie by Adam Handling, MasterChef: The Professionals finalist 2013 and Great British Menu champion 2023
- Coronation Cauliflower Dome by Nikita Pathakji, MasterChef: The Professionals champion 2022
- Celebratory Pork and Prawn Dumplings by Dan Lee, MasterChef: The Professionals champion 2021
“These chefs are simply inspiring,” Berry said. “What a treat I had tasting all these recipes – they are all delicious and achievable – I can’t wait to share them all with you.”
Voting opens on The One Show website on the evening of Wednesday April 19, but what are the alternatives? What dishes would better represent the breadth and depth of the British isles? We asked some chefs and expert foodies for their thoughts.
‘A massive rainbow cake’
“A quiche sounds like a parody of the whole thing really,” said Sally Butcher, cookbook author and head chef at south-London middle-eastern restaurant Persepolis. “There’s nothing wrong with a quiche but it’s very monotone, isn’t it? It’s stuck in the seventies.
“King Charles, love him or hate him, he does a lot of different things for lots of good charities, he has his finger in a lot of pies.
“I would certainly bake a cake, something unusual and healthy, and sweet, given we’re getting a day off.
“A massive rainbow cake, with lots of colourful healthy layers, sweet potatoes, walnuts, beetroot, representing all the things the monarchy should represent; being together, good health, encouraging interesting in activities. And a wink at pride too.”
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‘A roast dinner fit for a king’
For Henry Firth and Ian Theasby at BOSH! a roast dinner is the only thing that works.
“The Coronation Meal we would have loved to see is a ‘Roast Dinner fit for a King’ using seasonal plant-based and sustainable ingredients. The food element of the coronation will be so powerful as thousands of people and the future generations will be watching. Therefore it’s important that what is on the menu sends a good message, considering elements like: local produce, British and commonwealth focused, sustainable, environmentally friendly, delicious and healthy.
“Our chosen roast menu would be; A delicious king oyster mushroom main with roasted maple carrots, spiced parsnips, cheesy leeks, golden roasted potatoes and no-waste gravy.”
Don’t forget to check out BOSH’s Christmas dinner for £20 which they whipped up for us here at the Big Issue.
‘An Earl Grey trifle’
Alex Head, CEO and founder of sustainable catering company, Social Pantry, which employs people with convictions, said they would “opt for something like an Earl Grey trifle – a fun twist that fits perfectly with Charles’ love of Earl Grey.”
“Cherries are also delicious this time of year, and trifles are such a quintessentially British dish.”
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‘A gloriously rich dessert’
“I’m happy for the Coronation dish to be a quiche, it’s an often overlooked and underrated dish, delicious served warm or cold,” Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge told The Big Issue.
“I would have celebrated with ‘Coronation Swan’, just kidding…I would probably have chosen a sticky toffee pudding, a gloriously rich dessert that puts a smile on everyone’s face”.
Jay Rayner’s coronation wish
We asked Jay Rayner, the Guardian‘s chief food critic, what he would recommend based on his years touring the country sampling the best grub Britain has to offer.
“I do not care about the coronation,” he replied.
What do you think? Are you already greasing up the pans and picking the tarragon, or would you prefer a different dish? Get in touch and tell us more.
