Chefs, waiters, and other diners at a restaurant in Candelaria were left shocked yesterday (Thursday) when Queen Sofia of Spain, the mother of King Felipe VI, turned up at the restaurant for lunch during her visit of Food Banks in La Palma and Tenerife.
No one at the Bollullo Oasis restaurant knew that the table they had reserved two days previously was for the King’s mother, and were pleasantly surprised when she arrived at 2:30pm accompanied by her security team.
One of the chefs, Luis González, couldn’t believe that he was going to cook for Queen Sofia, especially without any prior warning, exclaiming, “How on earth is it that the Queen Mother is coming here?”
However, she wasn’t as phased as the chef as she entered the premises smiling and greeting those who had noticed her presence. “She had a table on the terrace with views of the sea and she was delighted,” said Luis.
SALAD, FISH, AND CHOCOLATE DESSERT FIT FOR A QUEEN!
Whilst at Bollullo Oasis, the Queen Mother had a goats cheese and tomato salad to start, fish (sama) with hollandaise sauce for her main course, and to finish she ordered a chocolate dessert. "She told us in a low voice that everything was very tasty and that she loved the place," said the chef.
The truth is that for Luis it was a “very beautiful” moment that he will never forget. “Doña Sofía was very polite”, he said, "She took pictures with the other diners and then with us.”
Meanwhile, crowds gathered outside the restaurant as word had spread that the Queen Mother was having lunch in the town, and when she left those present waved goodbye to her shouting "Long live the Queen!"
Queen Sofia is a member of the Spanish royal family who was Queen of Spain from 1975 to 2014 as the wife of King Juan Carlos I. On 18th June 2014, Juan Carlos abdicated in favour of their son Felipe VI, and Sofía then became the queen mother of Spain.
