Cooking for the Crown

Chef Christian Bauer visits Asia’s Royal Families to learn and reinterpret their favourite dishes. In Balasinor, India – he meets Princess Aaliya Babi and cooks their family favourite: Lasaniya Kheema – a minced lamb with green garlic.

The late King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia was a famous cook. This week, Chef Christian Bauer visits Princess Norodom Buppha Devi and re-invents the King’s favourite dessert – a banana and peanut butter cake. Will his version prove just as sweet as the kingly treat?

This week, Balinese Prince Tjokorda Raka Kerthyasa of Ubud has invited Chef Christian Bauer to his island home to prepare bebek betutu, or dirty duck. But will Chris find himself set back by the ancient kitchen of this centuries-old household?

This week, Princess Astrini of Solo Indonesia invites Chef Christian Bauer to prepare one of her late father’s favourite dishes – the Huzarensla salad. It’s a dish that is so simple that it’s challenging – and Chris needs to do what he can to reinvent this classic recipe.

Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil of Rajpipla has invited Chef Christian Bauer to prepare his grandfather’s specialty Rajpipla Chicken. Traditionally made ‘with love’, the Prince and his uncle await Chris’ soulful interpretation.

Chef Christian Bauer may have met his match in New Zealand where his love of and respect for food is shared wholeheartedly by the Māori. Can he impress the Maori King, a supreme guardian of the earth from which all food comes?

The Tokugawa Shoguns were military Lords who unified Japan. Under their rule, Japan enjoyed 200 years – its longest period – of peace in its history. Today, their descendant Tokugawa Yoshitaka tells us more about their founder’s favourite food – haccho miso.

The Meiji Emperor ruled Japan from 1868-1912. This week, Chef Christian Bauer prepares a traditional Japanese meal for Takeda Tsuneyasu – his descendant, and cousin of the present Crown Prince.