Consumers go wild for lentils served at Prince George’s school

21 Sep 2017

The popularity of Le Puy lentils have skyrocketed in the United Kingdom after Prince George’s day school served them on their menu.

The school of Queen Elizabeth’s grandson in Southwest London – Thomas’s School Battersea – was reported by the Daily Mail to cater for a “more sophisticated palate than most-four-year olds” by serving lamb ragout, pork stroganoff with red peppers, and smoked mackerel on a bed of puy lentils.

Prince George began school this month to great excitement from the media and general public.

Thomas’s Battersea, a private school attended by Prince George, the great-grandson of Queen Elizabeth, is seen in southwest London, Britain, on Sept 13, 2017. Source: Reuters/Dylan Martinez

Puy lentils – which have been grown in the Le Puy-en-Velay region of France for more than 2,000 years – have since inspired British consumers, seeing them fly off the shelves according to French suppliers.

The lentils are known for their peppery flavour, ability to keep shape after being cooked and are referred to as “poor man’s caviar.”

According to L’Express newspaper, the Daily Mail’s report led to “high demand from clients in Britain … notably from restaurants.” The paper attributed the surge in demand to the “star effect” of what George was being served at school.

We're sure #PrinceGeorge would approve 😉 Here Are 14 #Vegan Lentil Recipes Fit for a King. https://t.co/Ake7EUjW16

— PETA (@peta) September 16, 2017

Thomas’s Battersea is an elite school charging GBP18,000 per year (US$24,300) to the families of its 650-odd students.

In one post on the school’s website, headmaster Philip Ward wrote that while he liked fish and chips, “guiding the young to adopt an ‘everything in moderation’ approach to screen use is a current focus.”

“Maybe the trend won’t last on the other side of the Channel. But with the vogue for being vegan, we’re hopeful,” said one supplier.