The full interview is available on our LinkedIn profile via  this link. 

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities has been present at the European Researchers' Night, held last Friday at the San Carlos Hospital in Aranjuez, with a presentation by Professor Felix Labrador ArroyoEntitled “The Table of Spanish Queens in the Modern Age”.

In an interview with Aranjuez WaveProfessor Labrador explained how court meals were acts of power, marked by strict and silent ceremony. “Our sovereigns often ate alone and in silence, surrounded by numerous servants,” he noted. Meals could include between twelve and twenty dishes, carefully designed to reflect the hierarchy and prestige of the monarchy.

The presentation focused on the Spanish queens, highlighting their culinary tastes and the way they were served. "In some cases, specific dishes were prepared for them, and we've observed differences in desserts, as they had a slightly sweeter taste than the monarchs," Labrador commented. Thanks to the preservation of documentation in archives such as the General de Simancas and the General de Palacio, details are known about the table settings, the dishes served, and the recipe books of the palace's chief chefs.

Among the most curious dishes mentioned in the interview is the “rotten pot”, the predecessor of today's stew, which reflects the culinary richness of the era. Furthermore, the professor emphasized how the court's eating habits influenced the rest of society, setting trends that nobles sought to imitate, such as the use of cutlery or the incorporation of exotic spices.

The day also included eight workshops and activities linked to gastronomy, history and food science, such as “Food Warriors: Don’t Play with Food” or “Legumes: Foods of the Past or Superfoods of the Future?” o “Exploring the origins of food in the Neolithic: sow, discover, and take your experience home”All of them offered a multidisciplinary look at the world of food, from history to sustainability.

The Faculty's participation in this European initiative reinforces its commitment to scientific dissemination and the enhancement of historical and cultural heritage from an innovative and accessible perspective.