Tom Parker Bowles, the son of Queen Camilla, is a well-known food critic and writer who has reviewed some of the world’s best restaurants – but his latest review was a little different
Queen Camilla’s son, Tom Parker Bowles, recently had a hilarious experience at a Krispy Kreme drive-thru in London. The British food writer and critic, known for his reviews of Michelin-starred restaurants, decided to try out the American doughnut chain, which first opened in North Carolina in 1937 and has since become a household name in Britain.
In an article for the Daily Mail, Mr Parker Bowles, 49, described how he visited the drive-thru in Enfield at noon, only to find it deserted – a stark contrast to the bustling McDonalds across the car park. Despite this, the store was doing good business, with customers leaving clutching boxes of the famous doughnuts.
The food critic, who believes that the doughnut is becoming “another American addition to the British culinary landscape”, had an “outer-body experience” when trying the sweet treats on a warm spring day. He praised the speed of service as he quickly received his order of “a dozen of the sugar glazed beauties”.
He wrote: “At noon, the Enfield Krispy Kreme drive-thru is deserted – unlike the McDonalds across the car park. Still, the store itself is doing good business, as folks wander out, clutching those instantly recognisable boxes.”
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According to the employee, the drive-thru is usually packed at night with customers eager for hot Krispy Kremes fresh from the oven. It seems that Mr Parker Bowles picked the perfect time for his visit.
Parker Bowles had a right go at one doughnut in particular, quipping in his review: “I recommend staying well clear from the pink-hued Pretty Little Unicorn, a variety so violently sugary that it provokes an outer-body experience not seen in these parts since the Enfield poltergeist.”
While he wasn’t keen on the overly sweet treat, Parker Bowles did sing praises for the Original Glazed doughnut, calling it “one of the best doughnuts on earth” and “worth the drive”, but he didn’t mince words about the coffee, likening its allure to that of “hot ditch water”.
The critique came as a bit of a curveball from Queen Camilla’s son, who has just announced the release of his new royal-themed book, ‘Cooking and The Crown’, set to hit shelves on September 26, 2024. The Bookseller has dished out details that the book will boast a collection of 100 recipes.
With over two decades under his belt as a food writer and eight culinary books to his name, Mr Parker-Bowles, who also counts himself as one of the monarch’s godchildren, is no stranger to the world of gastronomy.
Taking to Twitter, Tom shared: “Well, they say write about what you (sort of) know … my new book, Cooking and the Crown. Royal Recipes From Queen Victoria to Charles III.”
Beyond his writing exploits, Tom holds the fort as a restaurant critic for the Mail on Sunday and is the food editor at Esquire magazine.
