While Britain’s King Charles III and U.S. President Donald Trump were dining on quail eggs and champagne at the state banquet at Windsor Palace this week, 27% of children in the United Kingdom were growing up in food insecure households, according to a Sept. 10 report in London’s The Independent. Figures have been growing at a fast pace from 11.6 million U.K. residents facing food insecurity in 2022 to 14.1 million in 2024. The report documents that 30% of employed U.K. workers depend upon food banks. According to the report “the North West of England had the greatest food insecurity (26% of households), followed by the North East of England (23%), and Northern Ireland (21% of households).”
Meanwhile the menu for the King’s banquet includes: “Hampshire watercress panna cotta with parmesan shortbread and quail egg salad, followed by organic Norfolk chicken ballotine wrapped in courgettes, with a thyme and savory infused jus, and then bombe glacée cardinal, which is a vanilla ice cream bombe with Kentish raspberry sorbet interior with lightly poached victoria plums.”
The wine list includes: “Wiston Estate, Cuvée, 2016; Domaine Bonneau de Martray, Corton-Charlemagne, Grand Cru, 2018; Ridge Vineyards, and Monte Bello, 2000. and Sir Winston Churchill’s favorite champagne, Pol Roger, extra cuvee de Reserve, 1998.”
After dinner drinks are many, but two are: Warre’s 1945 Vintage Port,and Hennessy 1912 Cognac Grande Champagne.
