Coronation quiche? Not if the French have anything to say about it
When the British royal family revealed Charles’ ‘Coronation Quiche’, the internet was sent into a frenzy.
From concerns for the nation’s crippling egg crisis to complaints over the entirely uninspired choice, people had a lot to say.
And now, the French have chimed in, though their issue isn’t necessarily with the dish itself, but instead with its name.
They claim that the celebratory dish has been given an incorrect label. The recipe for the Coronation Quiche - released by Buckingham Palace - calls for broad beans, tarragon, spinach, and absolutely no meat in line with Charles’ environmental concerns. The ingredients are considered by many to be traditionally English, although fresh tarragon is often included in various French dishes.
But according to French quiche enthusiasts, there can only be one kind of quiche, and that’s the 'lorraine'. The dish is named after the northeastern Lorraine region that it comes from, and is made from shortcrust pastry, eggs and cream with nutmeg, and small bits of bacon.
Although, to sidestep that particular issue, Twitter user @RebeccaCNReid used a little red, white, and very blue language to suggest an alternative name that comes close enough to ‘lorraine’ to get it over the line ...
Evelyne Muller-Derveaux, president of the Quiche Lorraine Guild, explained to The Times that “they called it a quiche, but I would rather say it's a savoury tart.
"When you say quiche, you automatically imply it is from the Lorraine region."
Evelyne’s associate, Laurent Miltgen-Delinchamp had similar thoughts, quipping that, “I think it would have anyway better reflected the British spirit if they had called it a tart.”
However, the two don’t intend on taking their particular gripes any further, and were even willing to admit that in France the term “quiche” is already quite misused.
“Frankly,” Laurent said, “it shocks me less when Anglo-Saxons do that than when the French do it.”
And as The Times reported, Evelyne took pride in knowing that the humble quiche had been elevated to such royal heights - even if it wasn’t exactly the most authentic.
“I was surprised when I found out,” she admitted. “I said to myself, ‘this is a banal, common, popular dish, and to think that it is being served at a coronation’.”
She went on to note that the first mention of a quiche - on record - dates all the way back to the reign of another Charles III: the 16th century’s Duke of Lorraine.
And even then, they were a simpler dish enjoyed by those who weren’t rolling around in wealth, and consisted of whatever ingredients they happened to have around.
Quite unlike the $38 grocery price tag behind Charles’, it seems.
Images: Getty