Chirac cuisine critique irks U.K. press

Bakersfield Californian ^ | 7/6/05 | Robert Barr - AP

[NormsRevenge]

LONDON (AP) - French President Jacques Chirac's low opinion of British cuisine, which he reportedly dubbed the worst in Europe after Finland, has started a food fight with London and sparked the wrath of Britain's press.

London's newspapers, which regularly take offense at the French, lashed out at Chirac's jokes on the nation's cuisine. "A man full of bile is not fit to pronounce on food," food critic Egon Ronay was quoted as saying in a front-page story in The Guardian.

The French newspaper Liberation reported Monday that Chirac had made the insulting remarks about food in London during a conversation with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday.

"We can't trust people who have such bad food," Chirac was quoted as saying. He reportedly added that only Finland had worse food in Europe, and that mad cow disease was Britain's sole contribution to European agriculture.

Blair, who was in Singapore pressing London's bid for the 2012 Olympics, did not comment directly. But when asked Monday whether the G-8 summit starting Wednesday would be an anticlimax after the Olympic decision, he said:

"I won't say the G-8 summit would be an anticlimax to it because that would be undiplomatic and I know when I go there I will be in the presence of very diplomatic people," he said.

Schroeder said Tuesday he expected to get "a decent steak" at the summit, but otherwise steered away from comment.

Britain's newspapers, however, eagerly rose to the bait.

"Don't talk crepe, Jacques!" scorned The Sun.

"Chirac's bad taste jokes on Britain plunge relations into the freezer," said a sub-headline on the front of the Daily Mail.

"Take one unpopular president, a brace of struggling statesmen and a couple of global summits. Heat up a hoary national stereotype, leaven with wit, sit back and watch 'les rosbifs' (the British) simmer," The Guardian said in a front-page story.

The Daily Telegraph said Chirac's bad temper was understandable, after French voters overwhelmingly rejected a new constitution for the European Union.

"After all, he has just been kicked in the teeth by his own people's resounding 'non' to his dreams of a European superstate," the Telegraph commented in an editorial.

"But this is no way to conduct high politics. How would Mr. Chirac feel if others descended to his level of argument, and called him a snob and a has-been, who pongs (stinks) of garlic?" the Telegraph said.

Schroeder grinned but was careful with his words when he was asked about Chirac's remarks.

"No word from me on these secret talks," the chancellor said. "I'm no fan of salmon, and I hope I will get a decent steak - I'm sure I will get one," he said, when asked whether he was looking forward to the G-8 food.

"Beyond that, I don't know English - or Scottish - cuisine well enough that I could really talk as an expert."

The Sun said Chirac also could have damaged his country's Olympic bid by criticizing food from Finland in the same conversation.

[NormsRevenge]

""We can't trust people who have such bad food," Chirac was quoted as saying."

Time for this JacqueAss to MOOOVEon.now. :0

French President Jacques Chirac, center, Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, left, drink coffee in Svetlogorsk, some 40 km from Kaliningrad, Sunday, July 3, 2005. The French newspaper Liberation reported Monday, July 4, 2005 that Chirac made contentious remarks about Britain's 'bad food' and a snide remark about mad cow disease in Kaliningrad during a conversation Sunday with Schroeder and Putin. (AP Photo/Maxim Marmur, Pool)

[Ikemeister]

I've spent 11 years in Europe and I can say that French food is totally overrated. I'll take German, English, Italian, or you name it before eating any of the French slop. I can honestly say that the worst food I've experienced in Europe was in France.

[Old Grumpy]

I love that he's alienating the Brits, too. Chirac = Loser.

[NormsRevenge]

Hi Mama!!

And after you


Donate to FR,

Please send any spare change to the

"Help Chirac Get His Foot Surgically Removed FRom His Mouth" fund.

Help fight Mad Gaul disease. :)

[mad puppy]

Go eat a snail, le dork.

[Wil H]

"We can't trust people who have such bad food," Chirac was quoted as saying...as he tucked into a plate of horse meat, snails and frog's legs...

[Daveinyork]

Having been in France, the French West Indies, Italy, Britain and Bermuda, I can say that all have food worth eating. When I was in London, I enjoyed roast lamb every day. Beef Wellington is tops on my list of all time favorites, and the steak and kidney pie wasn't bad. And, nothing in the world can match the British tea time - tea and hot scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam. Very civilized. I think British food has taken a bad rap that it does not deserve.

[andyk]

Beef Wellington is tops on my list of all time favorites

Oh, baby!

[Romish_Papist]

Since when is trust a factor in how fast your country surrenders?

[Wil H]

I think British food has taken a bad rap that it does not deserve.

Correct, citing Haggis as a representative example of British Cooking is like citing Grits as quintessential American cuisine.

[MEGoody]

French President Jacques Chirac's low opinion of British cuisine, which he reportedly dubbed the worst in Europe after Finland, has started a food fight with London and sparked the wrath of Britain's press.

Well, Jacques, the Brits may not have good food in your opinion, but they DO have the 2012 Olympics.

[Ikemeister]

mmmmmmmmm, clotted cream!