“One step away from a diplomatic incident.” A cake on the menu for Macron and Xi Jinping was replaced because it reminded of Russia

A “Russian” cake with pralines, a specialty of the Pyrenees, which was part of the menu chosen by Eric Abadie, the owner of a restaurant in the Tourmalet Pass, friend of the French president, Emmanuel Macron, was replaced on Tuesday with a blueberry tart, for reasons diplomatic, at the specially prepared table during the personal getaway in the Pyrenees on the second day of the state visit of the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, reveals Depeche du Midi, quoted by Le Figaro, according to News.ro.

The dessert was replaced because of the sensitive name in the geopolitical context, and a “diplomatic incident” was successfully avoided, writes the French daily.

The French presidents, Emmanuel Macron, and the Chinese, Xi jinping, dined on Tuesday, together with their wives, in the Tourmalet Strait.

Macron chose an authentic and intimate setting

Macron chose an authentic and intimate setting, the high-altitude restaurant of his friend Eric Abadie, an ideal setting for an honest approach to some thorny subjects, including the war in Ukraine.

The menu included specific dishes from the Pyrenees.

As an appetizer, “garbure”, a traditional local soup, was served.

Then “lamb shoulder confit” with black pork ham from Bigorre, beans from Tarbais and onions.

A plate of Dominique Bouchait cheeses followed, and for dessert the chef had planned a pastry product specific to Béarn and the Basque Country – “le russe”.

It is about a biscuit paste with almonds and pralines, a cake originating from Oloron-Sainte-Marie, whose recipe, according to legend, comes from Crimea.

The cake is reminiscent of the snowy plains of Russia

Dusted with sugar, it recalls the snowy plains of Russia.

Casa Artigarrede, a family patisserie that holds the secret of the recipe since 1920, writes on its website that François Mitterrand introduced this dessert to the kitchen of the Elysee Palace and that his successors, Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy, offered this cake to many visiting heads of state official

But, in a sensitive geopolitical context, against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, this highly appreciated dessert by Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron has been replaced by a blueberry tart, reveals Depeche du Midi.

Publisher: BC

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