Paris, France — It was the first state visit by a French president to the United Kingdom since 2008. When President Emmanuel Macron and Mrs. Brigitte Macron arrived in the United Kingdom last July 8th, they were bearing gifts for King Charles III. Among those gifts was a gourmet hamper of refined French gourmet food products from the collection of the Élysée – Présidence de la République (The Elysée Palace -French Presidency collection) boutique. The selection was made in collaboration with the Head Chef of the Elysée Palace, Fabrice Desvignes and the participation of emblematic and highly gastronomic French houses.

There were the three jams from the house of La Chambre: a blueberry-lime-basil, a pear-almond-vanilla and one made of heath strawberries with AOP Espelette red pepper. From the House of Martin-Pouret’s Orléans mustard with linden-flower honey and a white vinegar aged for 10 years were part of the selection. Gourmet pickles from the house of Maison Marc were tucked inside as well. And a special tea from Kusmi, « Petit déjeuner à l’Élysée » (Breakfast at the Elysée Palace ) waiting to be brewed and an AOP Vallée des Baux-de-Provence extra virgin olive oil from Moulin Castelas, an olive oil that is made from four different olive varieties growing on the family estate. AOP is the French acronym for a Designated Label of Origin. Buttery Breton cookies flavored with Guérande salt from La Trinitaine and CocoRico cane sugar from the French overseas department of the Réunion Island were included as well. And from Aix&Terra garnishes for cheeses, one made from AOP onions of the Cévennes region and the other made from the AOP figs of Provence, a fine choice for a monarch who is fond of French cheeses and British cheeses as well.

Mr. Macron also gave music lover Charles a special copy of the original piano and vocal score of the 1902 ‘Pelléas et Mélisande’ by French composer Claude Debussy, a Couesnon trumpet from the cavalry band of the French Republican Guard and a personalized Senelier watercolor set in an inscribed walnut case in a nod to Charles III’s passion for painting. Meanwhile Charles provided the First Couple with a 1931 edition of John Florio’s translation of the works of 16th century French philosopher and essayist Michel de Montaigne, a nine-feet tall sapling of an oak tree from the Savill Garden Nursery to be planted in the garden of the French Residence in London and 12 place mats featuring watercolors of Scotland and France painted by the King himself. ©Trish Valicenti for The Gourmet Gazette
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