A right royal flare-up

During my apprenticeship at a London hotel back in 1976, we were honoured to have Prince Philip as a guest for a Christmas luncheon.

The head chef asked for a volunteer to carry a flaming Christmas pudding into the conference room for presentation.

Being young and impetuous, I offered my services. We decided to scoop a hollow in the pudding and insert half an eggshell filled with brandy, to allow time for me to walk right across the room.

But being still somewhat naïve in those days, I regularly fell victim to "wind-ups". You know the sort of thing, requests for tartan colouring and buckets of steam for the pastry chef.

This time, one particular chef de partie advised me to shake the tray as I walked through the function room towards the prince. He assured me that this would produce plenty of flames.

The moment arrived and the 40 guests were ready for their desserts. I had donned my cleanest whites and the brandy was lit.

I stepped into the room, walking very slowly and gently shaking the tray. But in my enthusiasm I shook too hard and the flaming brandy spilled off the tray, down my jacket sleeve and then started to burn my arm.

I dropped the pudding and the brandy splashed on to the carpet, setting the floor on fire. A quick-thinking waiter ran to my aid and managed to extinguish both the carpet and myself with some jugs of water.

With great haste, I dashed from the room and was thereafter known as the first chef to attempt to set fire to a member of royalty.

There was a happy ending. After the meal, the prince came to see me and asked how I was, shook my hand and accepted my apology with good humour.

But the memory of the flaming brandy has remained and it is definitely my worst moment.

If you can relive the worst moment in your catering career, share it with us. Send it to My Worst Moment, Caterer & Hotelkeeper, Quadrant House, The Quadrant, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5AS. Everyone who has an item published will get the original cartoon drawn to accompany the article.