Royal wedding guests to be served ‘bowl dishes’ at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's reception

Chefs will also be creating chocolate truffles, macaroons and mini crèmes brûlées

Sabrina Barr
Monday 14 May 2018 12:19 BST
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Meet the chef for the royal wedding

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have made it clear throughout their wedding preparations that they don’t plan on conforming to all of the conventions of a typical royal couple.

From their choice of wedding cake flavour to their decision to invite more than 1,000 members of the public to join in the festivities, the couple evidently has no qualms with occasionally breaking away from tradition.

Today, the royal family revealed that Prince Harry and Markle have chosen to serve bowl dishes to their guests at their wedding reception, demonstrating just how far-reaching the “bowl food” trend has become.

The wedding reception, which will be hosted in the afternoon by the Queen in St George’s Hall, is being overseen by royal chef Mark Flanagan.

In addition to the bowl dishes, guests will be served two-bite canapés, which will be made from fresh, seasonal, British produce in the royal kitchens at Windsor Castle.

“The day of the wedding has fallen very kindly for us,” said Mr Flanagan.

“All the British vegetables are just coming into season… and that’s been a point of focus for us.”

Head chef Mark Flanagan poses in the Royal Kitchen at Windsor Castle in Windsor as preparations begin for the wedding banquet for the royal wedding.
Head chef Mark Flanagan poses in the Royal Kitchen at Windsor Castle in Windsor as preparations begin for the wedding banquet for the royal wedding. (AFP/Getty Images)

According to Mr Flanagan, Prince Harry and Markle have both played an important role in the culinary process, visiting Windsor Castle to try the food in the castle’s Great Kitchen and ensuring that as much local, seasonal produce was used as possible.

“They’ve tasted everything, they’ve been involved in every detail,” Mr Flanagan said.

The canapés will feature a range of sweet and savoury bites, while guests will be able to eat the bowl dishes standing up.

While exact details of the ingredients being included in the bowl dishes and canapés have not yet been unveiled, Mr Flanagan has explained that the produce being featured has been grown on the Queen’s estates.

“We’ve really just been trying to let the ingredients stand proud within the dishes,” he said.

“There’s no experimentation on Saturday whatsoever, tried and tested and predominantly classics.”

Bowl food has become increasingly popular in recent years, with people finding the combination of colourful, flavoursome and nourishing food in a simple bowl very appealing.

Head chef Mark Flanagan oversees pastry chef Selwyn Stoby as he creates chocolate truffles in preparation for the royal wedding.
Head chef Mark Flanagan oversees pastry chef Selwyn Stoby as he creates chocolate truffles in preparation for the royal wedding. (AFP/Getty Images)

On the day of the royal wedding, pastry chef Selwyn Stoby and a team of pastry professionals will be delicately creating chocolate truffles, in addition to small crèmes brûlées, yellow macaroons and biscuits adorned with mango panna cotta topping.

“You approach every royal event with the same care and attention to detail,” said Mr Stoby.

“But you don’t get many opportunities to do a royal wedding in your lifetime, so this is very special."

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