King in Chile but all eyes on Royal wedding

13 January 2004

MADRID – Spain’s King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia arrived Tuesday in Chile for a two-day visit aimed at strengthening ties between the two nations.

But while the Royal couple spent their third state visit in the South American country, attention back home in Spain remained fixed on the Royal wedding in May.

Crown Prince Felipe and television presenter Letizia Ortiz are to marry on 22 May.

The national excitement surrounding the occasion heightened with the announcement of the party chef who will make the wedding cake.

Ortiz was also named by one magazine, Cambio 16, as the ‘Woman of the Year’.

Passion fruit, raspberries and almonds are the main ingredients in the cake that won the contest.

The cake made by Francisco Jose Somoza Estevez of Freddy’s Bakery in Madrid was chosen by the nine members of the jury from among “the 10 succulent finalists.”

According to its creator, the winner has a base of almond sponge cake, “the most noble material used in baking”.

The cake will have layers the colours of the Spanish flag, with a passion fruit cream centre and raspberry puree at the top and bottom, Somoza Estevez said.

A mousse made of rice and milk “representing Asturias,” the home province of the family of Ortiz, is another component of the winning cake.

The cake was decorated with the coat of arms of the Prince of Asturias, the light blue of the Asturian flag, the coat of arms of the Borbon family, two wedding rings, two large flowers representing the bride and groom and four smaller blooms, the baker said.

The chef’s creation will be sent to the Palacio de la Zarzuela, the official residence of the Spanish monarchs, where the prince and his fiancee will sample the cake.

But winning the contest does not necessarily mean this is the cake that will be served at the royal wedding banquet.

[copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news