‘It’s my worst nightmare’: Gino D’Acampo claims he turned down an invitation to tea with the Queen because he ‘didn’t feel like pickle sandwiches’.
Gino D’Acampo has claimed he turned down an invitation to the Queen’s tea because he didn’t like the food and drink on offer.
The Italian-born TV chef has described cucumber sandwiches as his “worst nightmare,” adding that he didn’t want to dress smartly for the occasion either.
Speaking to the Chron’s Richard Eden, the 46-year-old host of Family Fortunes was blunt: “I’m not very keen on tea or cucumber sandwiches.”
‘It’s my worst nightmare’: Gino D’Acampo has claimed he turned down an invitation to tea with the Queen because he ‘didn’t feel like pickle sandwiches’.
He added: “I was invited to the Palace for tea just before Covid but a cucumber sandwich is my worst nightmare.
“I don’t like tea either, so I called my agent and said, ‘I’d like to meet her, but I don’t like tea and cucumber sandwiches and I can’t do either.
“I will also have to wear a tie and the last time I did that was when I got married. I can’t do that. But if I can have a plate of pasta and a cup of coffee, I will at least.”‘
Snubbed: Gino said he would “love to meet the Queen” but didn’t like the food and drink nor did he want to dress smartly for the occasion
While Gino isn’t a fan of cucumber sandwiches himself, he recently launched an Afternoon Tea at his eponymous restaurant in Newcastle upon Tyne, serving up the classic British dish – but with an Italian twist, adding truffle cream cheese.
Worst nightmare: Gino didn’t want traditional British food on offer
Gino grew up in Naples before moving to the UK and opening his first restaurant at the age of 21. His namesake establishment now has establishments in Birmingham, Manchester, Harrogate, Leeds, Liverpool and Hull.
Earlier this year, however, he suffered a financial setback when his pasta-bar fast-food chain collapsed with £5million in debt in January.
Not only was Gino affected by the meltdown, his This Morning co-star Phillip Schofield also lost thousands.
Phil owned 2,200 of the 119,000 shares of My Pasta Bars Ltd, which served pasta on the go. The collapse left 49 out-of-pocket creditors and owed staff more than £37,000 in unpaid wages.
Gino is believed to be earning around £2million a year from television work, including hosting Family Fortunes and appearing regularly on This Morning.
He’s also a former winner of ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
Oops: Gino’s pasta-bar fast-food chain collapsed with £5million in debt in January and his This Morning co-star Phillip Schofield also lost thousands in investments