LONG LIVE LENTILS
George, 4, cooks up feeding frenzy
By George, he’s got them — and now everyone wants them. French lentils, that is. That’s the buzz after an Evening Standard story noted that England’s adorable — and trendsetting — Prince George’s fancy (and pricey) school serves the legumes topped with smoked mackerel.
That’s but a taste of what a $24,000-a-year tuition will get you at Thomas’s Battersea school in London. Producers of Puy lentils — small, blue-green lentils grown in the volcanic soil of the southcentral France — have reported concerns about keeping up with the surge in demand.
A spokesperson for Sabarot, a French lentil firm, chalked up the sudden interest to the “star effect” of the 4-year-old son of Prince William and Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton.
It remains to be seen if the lentils surge will be long-term.
George has been setting trends when it comes to gifts, toys and clothing since he was 14 months old. And, now, for green lentils, applauded for their robust, somewhat peppery flavor.
To dine like a prince, take a note from the Kitchn blog: “Green lentils generally take the longest to cook, upwards of 45 minutes, but they keep a firm texture even after cooking.
“This makes them ideal for salads and other side dishes,” the blog adds. “Look for Lentilles du Puy, Puy lentils, or French Green lentils.”
While you eat, imagine an approving nod from a young royal.