Parramatta Lord Mayor and Misc restaurateur Jad Nelemetteh meet King Charles
Compliments about suits and chats about historical landmarks. Here is what locals conversed to the King about on his Majesty’s visit to Sydney’s west for a community barbecue.
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It’s not every day one garners the attention of the British monarchy but community figures got the chance to have a royal chinwag with King Charles during his visit to Parramatta Park on Tuesday.
The NSW Premier-hosted barbecue showcased western Sydney’s diversity, with the area’s melting pot reflected in the cuisine such as Misc restaurateur Jad Nelemetteh’s “royal fold over” – a lamb sausage with smoked labneh, zhoug, herbs, pickled onions and sumac on pita bread made especially for the King and Queen Camilla’s visit.
Mr Nelemetteh had the opportunity to assure the King he had not put too much garlic in it when they met at the park.
While the King told Jad he was not going to eat it anyway, he was still chuffed to have a chat and shake his hand during the “once-in-a-lifetime experience”.
The Gogglebox star complimented the King’s neutral-hued suit – eliciting a laugh from His Majesty who said “I’m very glad you noticed, you don’t look so bad yourself”.
Mr Nelemetteh responded: “We look very similar.’’
“It was good to get a chuckle out of him,’’ he said.
“It’s very rare to get a handshake but to have a bit of banter with him, that’s pretty unique to make the King laugh.
“I feel it was quite a special moment to have a friendly conversation with His Majesty himself, the King, and to be able to make him laugh and give him a compliment and receive a compliment back – I think it was a really special moment.
“At the end of the day it shows we’re all human.’’
The King also met Misc staff and quizzed them about how their ingredients were sourced before he accepted flowers from the team.
Unfortunately, despite turning some snags, the King was observing a meat-free day and declined to sample any of the sausages Coogee lifesavers, including Callum Hawkins, had sizzling.
Nonetheless, his Majesty joked about charring the sausages if he left them on the barbecue too long and enjoyed a five-minute conversation with Mr Hawkins when he asked about patrolling Coogee.
The 29-year-old had heard about the King’s approachable nature and found he lived up to that reputation.
“They’re very open and honest,’’ Mr Hawkins said.
“It’s quite an honour and I was expecting to see him and shake his hand but not have a conversation that long.’’
Parramatta Lord Mayor Martin Zaiter engaged in a conversation with King Charles for a couple of minutes and had the opportunity to present a Parramatta medallion to His Majesty.
“Even though there were a lot of people he had to talk to, he actually took the time to talk to me,’’ Mr Zaiter said.
He said the King was “very much aware his mother” opened the restored museum at the heritage-listed Old Government House in 1970.
The Lord Mayor, who was only elected to the top job last week, was impressed with the time the King took to meet children.
“It was so exciting not just for me but all the children from all the schools,’’ he said.
“His entourage wanted to move him on but he did not want to be rushed.
“It was nothing you would see from your usual celebrities that would want to tick and flick.’’
He said that King used the word “dynamic” to describe Parramatta, Sydney’s second city.
“That is the exposure we need to become the home of arts and culture and this is going to help us elevate Parramatta at a faster rate,’’ Mr Zaiter said.
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Originally published as Parramatta Lord Mayor and Misc restaurateur Jad Nelemetteh meet King Charles
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