Chirac starts food fight with British

[a6m5]

LONDON -- French President Jacques Chirac, already in a pot of British hot water, was accused yesterday of "a tasteless blunder" by opening a "cheap and thoroughly schoolboyish attack" on British food, calling it the second-worst in the world, behind only Finland's.
He even took a shot at haggis, the most famous Scottish dish, on the eve of the Group of Eight summit at Gleneagles, the Scottish resort.
As Mr. Chirac, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Russian President Vladimir Putin traded belly laughs at a cafe in the Russian city of Kaliningrad -- where they met to mark the city's 750th anniversary -- Mr. Chirac said, "the only thing [the British] have given European agriculture is the mad cow."
"You can't trust people who cook as badly as that," he said of the British. "After Finland, it's the country with the worst food."
At that point, Mr. Putin suggested that American hamburgers might rank the worst of bad food. "No, no," Mr. Chirac replied, "the hamburgers -- that's nothing in comparison." http://washingtontimes.com/world/20050706-120608-3686r.htm

"You can't trust people who cook as badly as that"? What was Chirac smoking? Very funny guy. 👎

 

[VIPFREAK]

sorry... I can think of at the moment is that asian that shoved 49 hotdogs down his throat in 12min. Only a Japanese could do that.

 

[amp88]

I don't want to sound American...but if it wasn't for the British in WW2...

edit: Yes, I know that was OT, but Chirac's an arrogant fecker

 

[a6m5]

sorry... I can think of at the moment is that asian that shoved 49 hotdogs down his throat in 12min. Only a Japanese could do that.

WE ARE PIGS! You should see me at work. I've been accused of always eating something, before and after the lunch.

I don't want to sound American...but if it wasn't for the British in WW2...

edit: Yes, I know that was OT, but Chirac's an arrogant fecker

In any case, it was very disrespectful to talk about the British that way in a meeting between the leaders of three nations. Seems I keep on losing respect for France, more and more.

 

[Famine]

British food is, apparently, not good enough for Chirac. So, let's look at what the French have given the world of eating:

1. Horse. Yes - the cute little pony all girls love to love, which people race and teach tricks to. Slice it up and stuff it on the plate. Neigh.

2. Frog's Legs. Well, those freaky French cut up and roast pond life - that puts them on a level with a year 10 schoolboy's dissection experiment.

3. Pig's trotters. An animal considered SO unclean that one religion bans their consumption entirely and the Gauls munch on the dirtiest part of all. For Heaven's sakes, Chirac, you're eating toenails!

4. Snails. Only in a country where farmers burn all of the good meat-producing animals in protest every 6 months would you find food so scarce you resort to cooking vermin that most gardeners eradicate without a second thought. Pass the salt... oh.


Let's not even begin to mention to relative incidences of BSE in the UK and France in the last 24 months...

 

[Duke]

And only a Commie would not love a fabulous, charcoal-grilled burger done medium rare over hot coals, with a melted slab of nice sharp cheddar, fresh lettuce and tomato, and thin slices of pickle and onion, on a lightly toasted kaiser roll...

 

[DQuaN]

Has to be red onion and have mayonnaise as well 👍

 

[RSCosworth]

What's going on!? First Berlusconi says finnish food is crap (plus he said he used "playboy tactics" on our president, Tarja Halonen, link! ), now Chirac says british food is bad but not as bad as finnish. Sorry for going semi-off-topic here, but first of all, I wonder if Chirac or Berlusconi have tasted traditional finnish foods.

Second of all, why on earth would a president (or a prime minister) say something like that about another nation. I cannot believe how childish they act. Since when has food had a place in politics?

I feel I've been insulted.

A Finnish newspaper said Finland and UK should join forces in this "Food fight".


Good thing the french didn't get the olympics

 

[Touring Mars]

What's going on!? First Berlusconi says finnish food is crap (plus he said he used "playboy tactics" on our president, Tarja Halonen, link! ), now Chirac says british food is bad but not as bad as finnish. Sorry for going semi-off-topic here, but first of all, I wonder if Chirac or Berlusconi have tasted traditional finnish foods.

Second of all, why on earth would a president (or a prime minister) say something like that about another nation. I cannot believe how childish they act. Since when has food had a place in politics?

I feel I've been insulted.

A Finnish newspaper said Finland and UK should join forces in this "Food fight".


Good thing the french didn't get the olympics

Well, Chirac and the French will have to acquire a taste for British food if they want to watch any live events in 2012

The local pie and eel shop round the corner from my house will be a fine place to start...!

 

[Omnis]

Well, you don't see Iron Chef British or Iron Chef Finnish. I'd much rather each french than some british crap. pshhh. Sorry guys...I like british people and everything....but most of your food is not my cup of tea. (heh.)

Don't get me wrong...british food is alright, but I'd eat french cuisine had I the choice. I can't speak for finnish food, though.

Anyway, one thing's for sure...the Italians are laughing at them all.

 

[Ev0]

And only a Commie would not love a fabulous, charcoal-grilled burger done medium rare over hot coals, with a melted slab of nice sharp cheddar, fresh lettuce and tomato, and thin slices of pickle and onion, on a lightly toasted kaiser roll...

You just made me drool all over my keyboard.... I have no idea what burgers Putin has ate during his time, because there is nothing better in the world than a perfectly made hamburger, served with fries and an ice cold coke/pepsi.

 

[donbenni]

Well, you don't see Iron Chef British or Iron Chef Finnish. I'd much rather each french than some british crap. pshhh. Sorry guys...I like british people and everything....but most of your food is not my cup of tea. (heh.)

Don't get me wrong...british food is alright, but I'd eat french cuisine had I the choice. I can't speak for finnish food, though.

Anyway, one thing's for sure...the Italians are laughing at them all.

It seems that you're thinking of only the good French food, not the entire cuisine. Sure, some French food is lovely, but so is some British food.

Duck with plum sauce, i've had it and it's v. nice. Compare that dish with shepard's pie and you'll come to the conclusion that French food is better.

Sunday Roast, i've had it every sunday since birth, it's also v. nice. Compare that dish with frog's legs paté on briosche and you will find that Sunday couldn't come sooner.

You go live in Italy, you'll find their food isn't all that good really. I've been to about the same number of Italian restaurants in Italy as i have in UK and to be honest, UK Italian restaurants produce nicer food.

Let's be honest, 3 of the top ten restaurants in the world are British, only 1 is French. This probably doesn't mean much, and i'll probably settle on the conclusion that they are fairly similar.

 

[Famine]

Well, you don't see Iron Chef British or Iron Chef Finnish. I'd much rather each french than some british crap. pshhh. Sorry guys...I like british people and everything....but most of your food is not my cup of tea. (heh.)

Don't get me wrong...british food is alright, but I'd eat french cuisine had I the choice. I can't speak for finnish food, though.

Anyway, one thing's for sure...the Italians are laughing at them all.

If I'm ever on my way to the Chair, my last meal would be fish'n'chips with a buttered bap.

I say again. French people eat snails.

 

[Swift]

I really can't stand it. The French Gov't has to be the biggest bunch of turncoats on earth. America saves them Twice, Great Britain at least once and now they are running around downing America AND Great Britain.

There wouldn't BE a France without those two countries and still we are treated like this. This would be like black americans hating on the decendents of Fredrick Douglas and Martin Luther King Jr. What kind of lunacy is that!

Yeah, whatever french boy. You enjoy your snails. I'll be at Fuddrucker's(Hamburger Restaraunt)

 

[ExigeEvan]

Welsh rarebit, Caerphilly Cheese, Welsh Cakes, Coul. I hate them, except welsh cakes, but alot of people liek them.

I have tried Forgs legs, very bland. I have tried Snails in Garlic sauce or something like that, vomit inducing.

 

[a6m5]

Anyway, one thing's for sure...the Italians are laughing at them all.

Amen. BTW, did someone say fish and chips?........

 

[donbenni]

lol seeing rarebit reminds me of Bill Bailey laughing at the Welsh for having cheese on toast as their national dish I personally love it. Caerphilly's not bad either.

I had snails in garlic too, could only taste the garlic though. Maybe that's why the french like it(?).

 

[a6m5]

I had snails in garlic too, could only taste the garlic though. Maybe that's why the french like it(?).

I don't want to pull Chirac on the French, but frogs and snails....

 

[ExigeEvan]

Well I can't really comment on rarebit they only time I've had it was in a D.T cooking class and the makers (some guys) put too much salt in it.

 

[Omnis]

It seems that you're thinking of only the good French food, not the entire cuisine. Sure, some French food is lovely, but so is some British food.

Duck with plum sauce, i've had it and it's v. nice. Compare that dish with shepard's pie and you'll come to the conclusion that French food is better.

Sunday Roast, i've had it every sunday since birth, it's also v. nice. Compare that dish with frog's legs paté on briosche and you will find that Sunday couldn't come sooner.

You go live in Italy, you'll find their food isn't all that good really. I've been to about the same number of Italian restaurants in Italy as i have in UK and to be honest, UK Italian restaurants produce nicer food.

Let's be honest, 3 of the top ten restaurants in the world are British, only 1 is French. This probably doesn't mean much, and i'll probably settle on the conclusion that they are fairly similar.

umm...good italian food is made at home, not in some dumb restaraunt. my whole argument was that good french food is better than good british food. Sure, I love all food...but it's all a matter of personal taste. good british food is very good, and the same goes for french.

I did laugh my ass off at the mad cow crack. that was hilarious. However, i think chirac was kissing ass with the russians and everything. Can anyone vouch for the goodness of russian food? what do they have, anyway...caviar and borsch?

 

[smellysocks12]

The French eat snails....






^^^ doesn't exactly display good taste...



Not to mention them force feeding geese to get their livers big.

 

[xcsti]

Had a good laugh at this today. My spanish teacher (taking a class over the summer) pointed out that the without french support during the revolutionary war we would still most likely be a british colony. Just gotta love how ignorant these guys are of the good facets of finnish and british life (as most of us are probably, anyways).

 

[Duke]

Having grown up near Chadds Ford (Google it in conjunction with the American Revolution), I'm well aware of the French role in our success. It was huge. However, don't kid yourself; they had little interest in helping us liberate ourselves. Mostly they were trying to separate England from natural resources and disrupt the Empire. It was convenient for them to help us.

I also know we paid that debt in WWI. Look up the "Lafayette Escadrille".

 

[smellysocks12]

Who cares about who helped liberating who? France back then was another France than it is now, all with different people. So there are no debts to begin with. Just like WWI and WWII, most Americans who are alive now didn't even exist during that war. Respect goes out to those who helped Europe to get rid of the nazi's and suffered, Americans claiming respect or talk about debts because of what their grandparents did are out of their minds. Just like French people or anyone else shouldn't ask for respect because of what their ancestors did.



I think talking about debts because of long term history is nonsense.

 

[a6m5]

Who cares about who helped liberating who? France back then was another France than it is now, all with different people. So there are no debts to begin with. Just like WWI and WWII, most Americans who are alive now didn't even exist during that war. Respect goes out to those who helped Europe to get rid of the nazi's and suffered, Americans claiming respect or talk about debts because of what their grandparents did are out of their minds. Just like French people or anyone else shouldn't ask for respect because of what their ancestors did.



I think talking about debts because of long term history is nonsense.

Try telling that to the Chinese or Koreans. I still get **** for what my country did in 1930's -40's, because I'm Japanese. Being a Christian, I would't even go to war, unless it's a total self defense of the country, but that doesn't matter. Chinese and Koreans hold our current Japanese government responsible for what our Imperial Japanese government did, which was pretty much Coup de'tat by the Army anyway.

I'm telling you smelly, like it or not, it's just the way it is.

 

[xcsti]

Having grown up near Chadds Ford (Google it in conjunction with the American Revolution), I'm well aware of the French role in our success. It was huge. However, don't kid yourself; they had little interest in helping us liberate ourselves. Mostly they were trying to separate England from natural resources and disrupt the Empire. It was convenient for them to help us.

I also know we paid that debt in WWI. Look up the "Lafayette Escadrille".

I don't buy into the "we saved this" "they saved that" stuff. It just is conveinient to use it against similar arguments. Any time a nation gets involved in a foriegn conflict, it is their own decision and ultimatly there are benefits (besides humanitarian ones) be them tangible (eliminating a power they feel they will eventually face, resources) or more diplomatic or else noone would ever intervene.

 

[ledhed]

WWI was a political war . Britain did not have to declare war on Germany but did so so that Germany would not win and usurp the power balance in Europe. The US was the victim of bad decisions by Germany and very good propaganda used by France and Great Britain. At the time as many people wanted to help the Germans as they did the French and British ...but the stupid Kaiser tried to get Mexico ( bwaaaahahahahahaahaa ! ) to invade the US and the British were reading their codes ....so we get a heads up ..and between sub warfare and the propaganda crap...its the last straw and the US gets to send dudes over to Europe to join in the meatgrinder . After WWI Europe balks at paying its war debt and the people of the US feeling screwed over doulble decide to let the Europeans kill each other and get it over with ...just leave us out..Cash and carry for arms ..Up until the last minute lend lease is even in danger of failure and there is little hope of the US declaring war on Germany ..Then thank god for the dumb ass Japenese for bombing Pearl Harbor ...a decision made for strategic reasons of national security..( we wouldnt let them buy oil...they as a modern industrial power HAD to have oil and other resources ) and dumb ass Hitler for declaring war on the US ..we get to get France their country back and help Great Britain survive along with Russia.. So why should anyone care about what our fathers and grandfathers did in the WAR ? I guess if you are related to someone who lived in a German concentration camp or a German occupied country during the war you would already know the answer . If you use ONE IOTA OF A BRAIN CELL and could read and comprehend a history book you would not have posted this ;

Who cares about who helped liberating who? France back then was another France than it is now, all with different people. So there are no debts to begin with. Just like WWI and WWII, most Americans who are alive now didn't even exist during that war. Respect goes out to those who helped Europe to get rid of the nazi's and suffered, Americans claiming respect or talk about debts because of what their grandparents did are out of their minds. Just like French people or anyone else shouldn't ask for respect because of what their ancestors did.

YOU should care if only because its thanks to the people who fought and won that you can even post that crap anyway .

 

[smellysocks12]

Try telling that to the Chinese or Koreans. I still get **** for what my country did in 1930's -40's, because I'm Japanese. Being a Christian, I would't even go to war, unless it's a total self defense of the country, but that doesn't matter. Chinese and Koreans hold our current Japanese government responsible for what our Imperial Japanese government did, which was pretty much Coup de'tat by the Army anyway.

I'm telling you smelly, like it or not, it's just the way it is.

The Chinese government isn't exactly an example of a great government anyway. A lot of Chinese people aren't very educated so they believe whatever the government and other influences nearby tell them. Even if you compare history China still shouldn't be saying much, they have a bloody history as well. Just ask anyone from Tibet.


I never said that people don't hold grudges / ask for respect because of what their ancestors did. I just said that I think such ways of thinking are pointless and don't make sense.

 

[smellysocks12]

If you ONE IOTA OF A BRAIN CELL and could read and comprehend a history book you would not have posted this ;


YOU should care if only because its thanks to the people who fought and won that you can even post that crap anyway .

I just said my respect goes out to the people who fought for the world's freedom back then. Don't twist my words around. Since you weren't born before or during WWII, YOU shouldn't demand any respect for what the USA (among MANY other countries) did to liberate Europe. That is what I said. I don't care that you were born between American borders, you had nothing to do with liberating Europe, neither do most of the voters / tax payers in the USA who fund the current government.


History is exactly what it is, history. You didn't do anything to get things the way it is, the people running your government now didn't either, so you don't get any extra respect because of the history. You should respect, you aren't born with it.

 

[High-Test]

Many good points in the last few posts, but....




I'd much rather have a pot roast with roasted potatoes and yorkshire pudding than snails, quiche, or paté.

But seriously, guys... A filet Mignon with a pat of butter and Kosher salt with a Baked potato and some Carrots is where it's at.

....Or, just give me pork wienerschnitzel with some raspberry jam and a baked potato.