Italian celebrity chef Gino D'Acampo has rejected an invitation to tea from Queen Elizabeth, claiming cucumber sandwiches are his "worst nightmare".
D'Acampo, who has hosted a number of UK food shows and runs a string of restaurants, was invited to Buckingham Palace just before the Covid-19 pandemic. But he turned down the British monarch's offer of gourmet afternoon tea as he wasn't "keen" on the selection of food and beverages being served.
![Of the invitation, D'Acampo said: "I'd love to meet her, but I don't like tea and cucumber sandwiches, and I can't do either of those things." Photo / Getty Images](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/I25JCYWPY5UEB2YJDMODJPAHOI.jpg?auth=33381c57b2d49ade47602d6442eeaed6b8bd7f8e720a8b3a833728497c91a8ce&width=16&height=23&quality=70&smart=true)
Speaking to MailOnline, D'Acampo, 46, said: "I'm not very keen on tea or cucumber sandwiches.
"I was invited to the palace for tea just before Covid, but a cucumber sandwich is my worst nightmare.