Chirac’s comments on British food

Ten years ago, a controversy arose during the G8 summit in Scotland when a french newspaper, Libération reported that the French President, Chirac scoffed about British food with the German and Russian leaders.

"One cannot trust people whose cuisine is so bad"

"After Finland, it is the country with the worst food"

What could have been only a private joke turned into a diplomatic incident as several British chefs made comments about it.

"Chirac does not get out enough. Our beef is the best in the world... All the langoustines they eat are Scottish. So I'd serve him langoustines followed by good Aberdeen Angus beef and then give him a heart attack with some sticky toffee pudding". Anthony Worrall Thompson, English restaurateur and Celebrity Chef

FRENCH FRIES VS FREEDOM FRIES

In 2003, there was a disagreement between the United States and France regarding the invasion in Iraq. An Ohio Republican, Bob Ney, called for the withdrawal of the word "french" from all menus. In that sense, french fries would become "freedom fries" such as "french toast" which will become "freedom toast". As a consequence, a sign was placed in the Longworth House Office Building food court in the Capitol Hill indicating an update "Now serving in all House office buildings. Freedom fries". Bob Ney highlighted that "this action is a small but a symbolic effort to show the strong displeasure of many on Capitol Hill with the actions of our so-called ally, France".

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In response, a french embassy spokeswoman responded to that comment by saying that "we are working these day on very, very serious issues of war and peace, life or death. We are not working on potatoes".

Diplomatic incidents 

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