Royal Farewell Picnic

A Rico Supper Club Experience

2024 | Frederiksberg Gardens, Copenhagen

 

The Royal Farewell Picnic was not just a meal—it was a farewell feast, a theatrical gathering, and an edible love letter to the cherished friendships and moments that shaped my life in Copenhagen before embarking on my MA in Food Design in Bilbao. Inspired by the grand tradition of royal picnics, this Rico Supper Club event blended history, performance, and sensory storytelling, creating a space where food, art, and emotion intersected.

This was an invitation not only to eat together but to play, imagine, and indulge—a picnic-turned-royal-banquet, where guests embraced their most regal, extravagant, and baroque selves. The event became a moving art piece, an experience of collective joy and creation, where every bite carried a memory, every dish told a story, and every shared moment became part of something greater. 

Concept & Inspiration:

The Royal Farewell Picnic was inspired by:

  • The grandeur of royal feasts—a nod to the ritual, elegance, and indulgence that food has carried throughout history.

  • The tradition of communal meals as acts of love, connection, and memory-making.

  • My own transition from Copenhagen to Bilbao, using food as a way to celebrate, say goodbye, and weave moments into lasting imprints.

The experience was carefully designed to transcend a simple picnic, turning it into a multisensory event where every element—from the menu to the attire to the interactions around the table—was part of a larger, living, edible artwork.

Themes Explored:

  • Royal Rituals – Food as an act of celebration, indulgence, and transformation.

  • The Table as a Stage – The absence of a physical table, replaced by a dynamic, ever-changing feast spread across blankets and trays, making the meal itself the centerpiece of the experience.

  • Transitions & Goodbyes – The interplay between nostalgia, joy, and the ephemeral nature of shared meals, where farewell becomes a celebration.

  • Theater of Eating – Guests were not just diners; they embodied characters in a royal court, each playing a role in the unfolding story of the day.

The Setting – A Table Without Legs

The picnic was set in Frederiksberg Gardens in Copenhagen, transforming the lush greenery into a royal court under the open sky. Instead of a traditional table, the feast was spread directly onto lavish blankets and platters, creating a space that was:

  • Ever-changing and dynamic, evolving as guests moved, reached, and shared.

  • A participatory artwork, where the very act of dining became a collective creative experience.

  • A sensory playground, blurring the lines between performance, food, and interaction.

Every guest was invited to dress in regal splendor, embracing the theme of "Marie Antoinette on acid"—an explosion of opulence, eccentricity, and playful decadence.

The Menu – A Feast of Indulgence & Nostalgia

A curated selection of decadent, nostalgic, and playful dishes, blending influences from different cultures and traditions—each one chosen with historical depth, symbolic meaning, and a touch of theatricality. Inspired by royal feasts and the art of extravagant dining, I delved into the origins of these dishes, uncovering their ties to opulence, ritual, and storytelling.

Savory Delights:

Scotch Eggs with Black Truffle Sausage – A rich, luxurious take on the British classic, traditionally believed to have been invented by London’s Fortnum & Mason in 1738. Some say they were inspired by Mughlai koftas from India, others claim they were the favored traveling snack of aristocrats, encasing delicate eggs in a hearty, protective shell. At this feast, they stood as symbols of indulgence and play, a refined nod to the lavish banquets of nobility.

Buttery Scones – Flaky, golden, and melting at the touch, paired with clotted cream and jam. The very essence of British high tea, a ritual where elegance meets indulgence.

Savory Muffins – Light, flavorful bites designed for easy sharing, embodying the communal nature of our gathering.

Cheese & Figs – A sensual pairing, evocative of the abundant banquets of the past. The fig, revered since antiquity as a fruit of prosperity and fertility, played its part in our decadent farewell rite.

Sweet Indulgences:

Éclairs – A special addition I crafted for the feast, inspired by the 19th-century origins of this elegant French pastry. Originally called “pain à la duchesse”, éclairs were refined into their current form under the reign of Marie-Antoine Carême, the king of pastry chefs, who served the European aristocracy. Their name—meaning “lightning” in French—suggests their swift disappearance from the table, much like fleeting moments of joy. They were my own sweet farewell tribute, delicate yet filled with intensity, a symbolic parting note.

Pastéis de Nata – Traditional Portuguese custard tarts, lovingly crafted by Mario Amaro, carrying the heritage of the Belém monks who first perfected them centuries ago.

Decadent Vegan Cakes – Created by our Royal Pâtissier, Simona Stanciu (Source), proving that indulgence knows no dietary boundaries.

Edible Cutlery & Plates – Designed by Giuliano Merolli, turning the act of eating into a full sensory experience, where every bite was part of an ephemeral, edible art piece.

Colorful Marshmallows Wrapped in Melted White Chocolate & Candy – A sugar-drenched dream from Karianne W. Fjære, as magical and whimsical as the creator herself.

Elixirs & Brews:

Mystical Tea – Brewed by Maria Kilstrøm Nielsen, a dark and enchanting potion with an unexpected kick, infusing the feast with mysticism and alchemical wonder.

Fine Wines & Bubbles – Flowing freely, because no royal gathering is complete without a toast to the future.

Outcome & Reflection:

This wasn’t just a picnic, a meal, or a farewell party—it was an act of love, a collective performance, and a celebration of friendship, creativity, and the fleeting magic of shared moments.

We didn’t just eat together—we built something ephemeral and beautiful, a living, edible artwork that existed only for a day, but left its imprint long after.

A special royal thank you to our photographers, who captured this fleeting dream in all its splendor, decadence, and magic,with a special mention of: George Doumani, Rolando Diaz, Eugen Bogdan.