In celebration of its 130th anniversary, Budapest’s iconic Gundel Palace debuts the Celebrities Menu, featuring dishes once served to notable guests. For ten days in early July, diners can enjoy a recreated four-course meal inspired by Queen Elizabeth II’s 1993 visit, offering a taste of the restaurant’s storied past.
Gundel Palace’s 130th anniversary
As Világgazdaság reports, Budapest’s iconic Gundel restaurant marks its 130th anniversary with a special gastronomic tribute, the Celebrities Menu, celebrating notable guests it has hosted throughout its rich history. This innovative offering allows guests to experience the exact menus served during significant events held at the restaurant. The first menu in this series commemorates Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to Budapest in 1993, offering a unique opportunity for diners to indulge in a royal feast.
For a limited ten-day period starting on 8th July, Gundel will present a meticulously recreated four-course menu inspired by the Queen’s historic lunch. This special initiative was announced at a press conference attended by Károly Gundel, the great-grandson of the restaurant’s original owner.
Source: facebook.com/gundelrestaurant
Queen Elizabeth II’s lunch at Gundel
During Queen Elizabeth II’s visit on 5th May, 1993, she and Prince Philip of Edinburgh enjoyed a grand lunch at Gundel Palace, an experience now accessible to all through the Celebrities Menu series. According to Gundel Palace, the preparation of the lunch was quite special:
Before the celebratory lunch, the kitchen prepared 10 test menus to make sure they fit into the 1 hour 40 minutes available. Of course, in addition to speed, quality was also a priority. The menu was written by hand and the waiters were taught a special choreography.
Gundel Palace, now operated by the Eventrend Group since 2021, strives to maintain the high standards and inclusive philosophy set by its founder. The new menu crafted by chef Kálmán Kalla, encapsulates this vision, ensuring that the Gundel experience is available to a wider audience.
The menu
The royal menu is a true culinary journey. The first course is pink-smoked salmon with white asparagus and sage dressing, followed by a double broth of pigeon. The main course features the so-called Braided Veal -à la Queen Elizabeth, braided veal tenderloin, thin potato whips, stuffed with Hungarian rice and goose liver stuffed with mushrooms. Ready for dessert? Trompe l’Oeil of Spring Strawberries is a crown-shaped pastry, crisp and decorated with real and parfait strawberries. This exquisite meal is complemented by Gundel Palace’s selection of wines, including a rare 1952 vintage Tokaj aszú, honouring the year of Queen Elizabeth II’s ascension to the throne.
Following the ten-day summer offering, the Four Crowns menu may return in the autumn, accompanied by other special guest menus. These menus will be available in two-, three- and four-course options, priced around HUF 20,000 (EUR 51.26), reflecting the restaurant’s average consumption rate per guest.
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