Introducere / Introduction

Chiar de ziua mea, pe data de 20 noiembrie a anului trecut, a fost lansata o carte care imbina cele 2 pasiuni ale mele: monarhia si mancarea… J

Este vorba de cartea Principesei Margareta intitulata “Carte regala de bucate”.

Imediat ce am aflat de acest proiect al Principesei, mi-a venit in minte sa incep un blog in care sa imbin saptamanal descrierea retetelor din aceasta carte cu anumite pareri personale legate de institutia monarhica.

Trebuie sa recunosc ca mancarea nu a fost intotdeauna marea mea pasiune. Copil fiind, imi aduc si acum aminte cat se chinuia Mama sa ma faca sa mananc ce mi se punea in fata: trebuia mai tot timpul recurs la tactici precum “soldateii” sau “inca 10 linguri”. Bineinteles, cu trecerea timpului parerile si placerile se schimba… J

In ceea ce priveste monarhia, recunosc cinstit ca nu pot identifica exact momentul in care mi s-a declansat interesul. Pare a fi trecut foarte mult timp de atunci.

 Am vizitat Anglia pentru prima data la varsta de 10 ani si am fost extrem de intrigat de faptul ca acolo traia o Regina. Ceva extrem de neobisnuit… Mi-am imaginat palatul ei atat de multe ori in mintea mea de copil, incat atunci cand am ajuns in fata portilor de la Buckingham am fost total dezamagit! Nu avea absolut nimic in comun cu ceea ce crease imaginatia mea si pe deasupra una dintre aripi era in renovare, acoperita de o plasa imensa, verde.

Din cate imi aduc aminte, am fost mult mai surprins atunci cand am aflat ca si Romania avusese la un moment dat un Rege. Bunica mea materna imi povestea despre vremurile copilariei ei si intr-o zi mi-a pus in mana o moneda exceptionala, romaneasca, dar foarte diferita care avea efigia regelui Mihai: atat de tanar si de frumos era acest rege nemaivazut, despre care Bunica imi povestea ca a trebuit sa plece. Dar ea isi aducea aminte bine cum in gimnaziu, inainte de inceperea orelor, toti elevii ieseau in curtea scolii si cantau imnul – “Traiasca regele”. Ce vremuri…!

La putin timp, Bunica mi-a dat sa citesc o carte – “Povestea vietii mele” – scrisa de regina Maria a Romaniei. Am fost total fascinat! Si pot spune cu mana pe inima ca nu am scapat de aceasta fascinatie si nici nu cred ca voi scapa vreodata… din acel moment am vrut sa aflu tot mai mult si am citit tot ce am gasit despre acesti oameni care erau “ai Romaniei”, dar aproape necunoscuti totusi, cel putin celor din generatia mea.

Pe masura ce am tot citit, am aflat si despre legaturile de sange dintre Familia Regala a Romaniei si celelalte monarhii europene. Toate detaliile acestor inrudiri mi se par extrem de interesante si dedic in continuare mult timp acestui subiect.

Realizez ca sunt doar un diletant in ambele domenii, dar nimic pe lumea aceasta nu mi-a oferit mai multa placere sau mai multe moment delicioase, pline de relaxare, precum aceste doua activitati!

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Exactly on my birthday, on November 20^th of last year, a book was released that combines my two passions: monarchy and food... 

I am referring here to Princess Margarita of Romania’s “Cartea regala de bucate”, which I will call the “Royal Cookbook” from here on.

Once I learned about the Princess’ project, I immediately thought about starting a weekly blog that combines recipes from this book with some personal opinions regarding the institution of monarchy.

I must admit that food hasn’t always been my great passion. Even now I remember how, as a child, my Mother was struggling to make me eat what was placed before me. Of course time changes both opinions and pleasures…

As far as monarchy is concerned, I admit that I cannot remember exactly when my interest was aroused. Seems like such a long time ago.

I visited England for the first time at age 10 and I was very much intrigued by the fact that a Queen was head of state there. Something very unusual... I imagined her palace so many times in my mind that when we arrived before the gates of Buckingham Palace I was totally disappointed! The building before me had absolutely nothing in common with what my imagination had created!  To top it all off, one wing was under renovation and covered by a huge green net.

From what I remember, I was even more surprised when I found out that Romania had a King at one time. My maternal grandmother was telling me about her childhood days and one day she put in my hands a very unusual Romanian coin, very different from what I had been used to, with the effigy of King Michael: so young and handsome was this unknown king  who, my grandmother told me, had to leave. But she remembered well how in middle school, before classes begun, all students came out into the schoolyard and sang the national anthem - "Long live the King." Interesting times...!

Soon after, Grandma gave me a book to read - "The Story of My Life" - written by Queen Marie of Romania. I was totally fascinated! And I can honestly say that I have not escaped this fascination, nor do I think I ever will... from that moment on I wanted to learn more and more and I read everything I found about these people who were "of Romania" but still almost unknown, at least to my generation.

As I started to read, I also learned about the blood ties between the Royal Family of Romania and other European monarchies. All details of these family bonds are very interesting to me and I still devote much time to this particular subject.

I realize that I'm just an amateur in both fields, but nothing in this world gives me more pleasure or offers me more delicious moments, full of relaxation, as these two hobbies!