World Leaders Eating While Rome (And Everywhere Else) Burns?
This weekend EU officials met with representatives from developing nations to conclude a G-20 summit focused on how the economy will affect the world's poorest.
What was on the dinner menu? According to MSNBC:
Fruitwood-smoked Quail with Quince Gastrique; Quinoa Risotto; Landmark Chardonnay “Damaris Reserve” 2006; Thyme-roasted Rack of Lamb, Tomato, Fennel and Eggplant Fondue; Chanterelle Jus; Shafer Cabernet “Hillside Select” 2003; Lolla Rosa, Red Oak and Endive; Cider Vinaigrette; Baked Vermont Brie with Walnut Crostini; Pear Torte; Huckleberry Sauce; Chandon Étoile Rosé.
Said one commenter: "Leaders are only at the G-20 Summit for the meal."
Here's the question of the day, serious eaters. Should our world leaders be chowing down on such fancypants fare in the midst of the global financial tsunami?
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17 Comments:
Given the state of the global economy, couldn't the prez just have ordered take-out from Ben's Chili Bowl? I'll take a half-smoke over fruitwood-smoked quail any day.
Ed Levine at 6:30PM on 11/17/08
I always find the "it's irresponsible to spend a lot of money on X when people in Y are suffering!" arguments to be a a little bit silly. Well, sure, but if you were to follow that argument to its logical conclusion, no one would be allowed to enjoy anything, and everyone would have to give 95% of their paycheque to charity, because there's always going to be someone out there who is worse off than you are.
MichaelN at 7:20PM on 11/17/08
Since they didn't accomplish anything, I would say no.
Blue387 at 8:20PM on 11/17/08
All of a sudden I am interested in becoming a politician...
ReneeRobinson at 8:29PM on 11/17/08
Normally I would agree with MichaelN, but these are not ordinary times, and I do think that right now these folks should not be pretending otherwise. Public servants at this moment have to be extra-sensitive to the appearance of excess spending or consumption. It will be interesting to see how President Obama handles this issue during the inauguration.
Ed Levine at 8:41PM on 11/17/08
Make them all eat instant ramen until they stop fighting and figure out how to fix some stuff.
madball911 at 9:16PM on 11/17/08
Vermont Brie? Huckleberry Sauce? Wine from Napa? Wasn't this in Brazil?
nycnowla at 12:05AM on 11/18/08
No, of course not, but the Euro-fascists do it anyway. They were chastened after their last third world junket disgrace, with it's 18 course banquets, et al..
Face it, they demanded two EU palaces to meet in, and they travel back and forth, burning the carbon they demand others be made to suffer for. It's all a scam. These are of course the same pigs (no offense intended to the animal) who are attempting to deny Europeans the ability to vote to protect their sovreign rights and freedoms.
Mares at 1:01AM on 11/18/08
This was hosted by USA in Washington D.C.
It was not an E.U. event.
The menu was chosen by the host, President George W. Bush.
The G20 are:
Argentina
Australia
Brazil
Canada
China
France
Germany
India
Indonesia
Italy
Japan
Mexico
Russia
Saudi Arabia
South Africa
South Korea
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
E.U. is the 20th member.
The 'palace(s)' where the meeting was held was the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.
SomeonesWrongOnTheInternet at 1:34AM on 11/18/08
It's disgusting. I heard they were toasting themselves with $500 bottles of wine. Are these people so disconnected with reality not to be ashamed as to how this must appear to the poor in the world?? I'm so glad that fool is out of the WH in 2 months!
lurquizo at 1:56AM on 11/18/08
These people work pretty hard. Most of them have been putting in 20 hour days for a long time to get where they are. And while we like to complain about their highfaluttin' lifestyles we also like to complain about everything they do, did in the past and may do in the future. And you know what, a fancy meal doesn't begin to pay for the loss of sleep and family life. Of course the sad thing is, they eat like this all the time and they don't even enjoy it.
Vermont brie served in the USA is not so unusual, it's just showcasing our products to our guests. If you read through the menu carefully you will see that a lot of what makes it look so fancy are the adjectives used to describe the food. Those lovely adjectives we all like so much: ""fruitwood smoked", "Thyme-roasted". "Jus" by another name is gravy.
Believe me, I am disgusted by AIG and other abuses by corporate America as much as the next person. But I don't find this to be outrageous on the same scale as those abuses. Remember Jimmy Carter and his sweater? It didn't make him one of us freezing in our cold homes. I am looking for action and results and if it takes a nice meal to get people together to talk about it then go for it! (Too bad it didn't result in any action!)
smallblondemom at 9:42AM on 11/18/08
I've got to say, compared to the menus of the past, this isn't that crazy.
Baked brie? Yum. Quinoa risotto? I think that was part of a meal a friend cooked last week. Pear Torte? Oooh. A cake (or pie)! Rack of Lamb? Please.
Wine aside (I don't know enough to make fun of that), this is a fairly simple menu for an event like this, and it's astonishing to hear the people are horribly offended by this.
stratusgd at 9:55AM on 11/18/08
it just makes me hungry and envious.
gastronomeg at 10:22AM on 11/18/08
I totally agree with Ed Levine. These are extraordinary times we are living in, and excess anything by a public official will surely send the wrong message. I've even heard members of the press kiddingly suggest that Obama should have a portion of his inaugural celebration held at a local soup kitchen.
Boscompb at 11:00AM on 11/18/08
I think there is a difference between something being served to ourselves and something being served to our guests. On top of which, using American products for this helps the producers of those products. Going back to the Vermont Brie. Did you know Vermont made brie? The next time I make a baked brie wheel I think I'll go American.
Sometimes things have unexpected consequences. Do you know want was the first company hurt by the Lehman Brothers failure? The limo company who provided them with the cars and drivers. They went under within a week of LB going down.
This dinner was not in excess (at least the food--don't know about the wine but I doubt it was $500/bottle unless a Defense Contractor provided it). I think it was appropriate for the occasion, for the level of our guests and in its use of American produce.
smallblondemom at 11:14AM on 11/18/08
I agree with @stratusgd - other than some swanky bottles of wine, this isn't overly extravagant.
The menu is wonderfully representative of US products and appropriate to the season.
These people are not here to make a political statement by eating Ramen - and as @smallblondemom says - these are our guests.
tds77 at 1:36PM on 11/18/08
Was this excessive ? I cannot say. There will always be folks who have more and those who have less. Hoping and working to have more than one now does is what breeds incentive for people to do more and be inventive. What I do know, is that in my opinion only, it is sad that we feel the need to pick at these types of things in this venue. This is a forum for people who love food not a political arena for those who agree or disagree with what one group or another is doing. Hopefully it can revert to or stay that way.
dasmueller at 10:08PM on 11/23/08