What was served at the table in the National Palace of Queluz?

When we think of the dining rooms of royal palaces, the image of a large lavish banquet with various guests immediately comes to mind, with everything we imagine a king is entitled to. But if you visit the Picnic Room at the National Palace of Queluz, you'll see that the Royal Family enjoyed their own private dining area.

And what did they actually eat? What were the favourite dishes of the princes and princesses who lived in Queluz?

Unfortunately, it is not possible to answer this last question. The documentation that has survived to the present day only refers to the food that was bought for the palace, not the specific dishes that were prepared. "In the 18th century there were no menus like in the 19th century. Dining protocol was also different: in Portugal in the 18th century and until the first half of the 19th century, the tradition of French-style service was still maintained, where all the dishes were arranged together on the table, organised symmetrically, and people were served individually. The dishes with the food were placed on the table and removed simultaneously during the different courses, which, depending on the occasion or protocol, could range from two to four, followed by dessert. Glasses were not placed on the table and were presented to the diners by servants", explains Conceição Coelho, curator of the National Palace of Queluz.

However, based on the documentary survey carried out from 1767 to the end of the 18th century, it is possible to understand which parties were served dinners, suppers, refreshments and snacks, what food was bought to prepare these meals, and what the preferences of those who lived there were, including Pedro III, who was behind the great works that gave this space the stature of a palace, and Maria I.