what a melon!
Prince Philip got one in memoriam, Posh chose one instead of cake... how would YOU get a slice of the carved watermelon craze?
oNE might not have expected to see a watermelon nestled among the flowers and photographs left outside Windsor Castle in memory of Prince Philip — but it was certainly the juiciest tribute.
The work of talented fruit carver Aree Nakarintrakupt, it was painstakingly carved into petals and engraved with the words ‘Prince Philip, rest in peace’. Above, a picture of a crown had been delicately etched.
Watermelons are soaring in popularity as sculptures or in place of birthday cakes. Victoria Beckham is a big fan. She celebrated her 47th birthday at the weekend with a stunning piece of watermelon art that had been carved into delicate roses.
Fruit sculptor Joseline Tinka, from London, says: ‘What I love about a watermelon is the deeper you get into the flesh, the more beauty you reveal in terms of its different colours and textures. ‘But they break easily. You need tiny utensils. Sometimes I use scoops and sometimes a tweezershaped tool. The knives are very sharp and very small. You have to be careful.’
She started fruit sculpting three years ago after turning a watermelon into a fruit bowl for her two children, now aged eight and six. Today, she provides carvings for weddings and birthdays, and even carved Sir Sean Connery’s face into a pumpkin to mark his death last October.
Such works of art make it easy to forget watermelon tastes good, too. Rich in vitamin C, copper, potassium and magnesium, it contains just 9 calories per 30g slice.
The popularity of the watermelon cake may also be down to the increasing number of vegans, for whom conventional cake mix is a no-go.
And what of the watermelon sculptures — should they be scrutinised or scoffed?
‘Both,’ says Joseline. ‘They are amazing to look at and delicious to eat.’
As these pictures confirm, they are certainly a feast for the eyes.