Thursday, July 19, 2007

The King of Spain and the President of Estonia do dinner

The President of Estonia went on a state visit to Spain earlier this month, where he discussed the establishment of a cyber centre in Tallinn, energy policies and the the strength of Europe. And of course, ate a lot and well. Below is the menu served at the official dinner hosted by the King of Spain, Juan Carlos I, and Queen Sophia.

Let me just tell you that I've only got hold of the menu thanks to my 'best contact in Spain', Ximena. She had to mobilise her extended Spanish family and engage in 'espionage worthy of cold war days' in the process!

But here's the menu, for your perusal. Enjoy! Sounds pretty good, don't you think?


Photo by Erik Peinar, courtesy of the Office of the President.


Official dinner at Palacio de Real Madrid on July 9, 2007

Cold melon and raisin cream soup

Confit of sea bass with dill and summer vegetables

Poularde chicken, roasted with thyme and roast potatoes

Cold chocolate soufflé with caramel threads

Wines:

Old Sherry

Martín Codax 2006

Grans Muralles 2000

Cava Freixenet


Here's the menu in Spanish for those of you preferring to read the menu in original:

Cena de honor que ofrecen Sus Majestades los Reyes al Presidente de la República de Estonia y Sra. de Ilves

Crema fría de melón y uvas pasas

Lubina confitada al eneldo con verduras de temporada

Pularda asada al tomillo con patatas al horno

Soufflé frío de chocolate con hilos de caramelo

Fino de Jerez en crianza

Martín Códax. 2006

Grans Muralles. Cosecha 2000

Freixenet. Gran reserva

Palacio Real, 9 Julio 2007


PS Curious to know what the Queen of England or the Emperor of Japan and other foreign dignitaries were served on their official visits to Estonia? Click on the Festive Menus label on the right hand side to find out.

4 comments:

Alanna Kellogg said...

Hey! One of the sea bass jumped up on her head!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like an interesting summer-time menu - not too heavy or rich. But I think the President's wife needs a fashion consultant. It looks like her skirt has a mind of its own.

Anonymous said...

hahahahaha Alanna, that's hilarious! i was looking at the hat too, thinking 'wtf...'

Pille, where do you get these menus from? :)

Pille said...

Alanna - you're so cheeky!!

Pene - I don't think the skirt is too bad - and in any case, her wardrobe has improved considerably since last autumn, don't you think?

Maninas - some of the menus have been published in Estonian papers, one I've got from a friend and Ximena helped me with the Spanish one:)