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Six things about the $6 Bourdain-Obama meal | Six things about the $6 Bourdain-Obama meal |
(35 minutes later) | |
Deep in the heart of Hanoi, US President Barack Obama sat down for a $6 meal with celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain on Tuesday. The chef, known for his love of adventurous street food, described the date in a series of tweets and an Instagram post. | Deep in the heart of Hanoi, US President Barack Obama sat down for a $6 meal with celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain on Tuesday. The chef, known for his love of adventurous street food, described the date in a series of tweets and an Instagram post. |
Here are six observations about the noodle summit at a hole-in-the-wall eatery. | Here are six observations about the noodle summit at a hole-in-the-wall eatery. |
1. Nobody appears to know they are there | 1. Nobody appears to know they are there |
The other diners appear to be totally oblivious to the presence of the US president, a celebrity chef, and presumably a substantial security detail, photographers and film crew. | The other diners appear to be totally oblivious to the presence of the US president, a celebrity chef, and presumably a substantial security detail, photographers and film crew. |
"Love how the diners were so good at pretending they had no idea who is sitting at the table next to them," tweeted Brazilian journalist Sofia Perpetua. | "Love how the diners were so good at pretending they had no idea who is sitting at the table next to them," tweeted Brazilian journalist Sofia Perpetua. |
The crowd outside the restaurant was slightly less restrained. | The crowd outside the restaurant was slightly less restrained. |
The discussion on Reddit, which attracted 3,000 users, spilled over into where any secret service agents might be hiding. | The discussion on Reddit, which attracted 3,000 users, spilled over into where any secret service agents might be hiding. |
2. The symmetrical food | 2. The symmetrical food |
On the menu was bun cha, a Vietnamese dish of grilled pork and rice noodles, some greens, all washed down with Hanoi beer. On social media, there were questions about the positioning of the food. | On the menu was bun cha, a Vietnamese dish of grilled pork and rice noodles, some greens, all washed down with Hanoi beer. On social media, there were questions about the positioning of the food. |
"The perfect alignment of the food disturbs me," said an Instagram user. "Look at how symmetrical the bowls, chopsticks and plates are." | "The perfect alignment of the food disturbs me," said an Instagram user. "Look at how symmetrical the bowls, chopsticks and plates are." |
A bit more joie de vivre from another user: "Eating in perfect symmetry, awesome and smart." | A bit more joie de vivre from another user: "Eating in perfect symmetry, awesome and smart." |
3. Presidential chopstick skills - but a wrapper on the floor | 3. Presidential chopstick skills - but a wrapper on the floor |
Anthony Bourdain was quick to praise the president's chopsticks skills, describing them as "on point". And everyone seemed to agree. | Anthony Bourdain was quick to praise the president's chopsticks skills, describing them as "on point". And everyone seemed to agree. |
"Proud of the president, that he placed his chopsticks neatly on top of his bowl and not stabbed them into the noodles - that would have been so rude and a big sign of disrespect," said another user. | "Proud of the president, that he placed his chopsticks neatly on top of his bowl and not stabbed them into the noodles - that would have been so rude and a big sign of disrespect," said another user. |
A photo from a different angle irritated another Twitter user. "Is it just me or does anyone not realise how a red chopstick wrapper has been dropped on the floor? Taking points away from him." | |
4. Plastic stools and Hanoi beer | 4. Plastic stools and Hanoi beer |
The unpicking of the details in the picture became about the Vietnamese things in life. | The unpicking of the details in the picture became about the Vietnamese things in life. |
"Ah, our rickety blue plastic stools - that's Vietnam for you," said Instagram user Chi Mai. | "Ah, our rickety blue plastic stools - that's Vietnam for you," said Instagram user Chi Mai. |
"No fancy interior, just simple furniture to let the food and conversation do the talking," said another. | "No fancy interior, just simple furniture to let the food and conversation do the talking," said another. |
Others wanted to know the US leader's choice of brew. | Others wanted to know the US leader's choice of brew. |
Question: "What kind of beer did they drink," asked Mic Vo on Twitter. | Question: "What kind of beer did they drink," asked Mic Vo on Twitter. |
Answer: "Don't disappoint me, hope they had Bia Ha Noi," said another user. | Answer: "Don't disappoint me, hope they had Bia Ha Noi," said another user. |
5. The talk over noodles | 5. The talk over noodles |
Another question that boggled the minds of social media users: What could the world's most famous TV chef and one of the world's most powerful leaders be talking about? | Another question that boggled the minds of social media users: What could the world's most famous TV chef and one of the world's most powerful leaders be talking about? |
Speculation ranged from Donald Trump to food to curing cancer, achieving world peace and finding unicorns. | Speculation ranged from Donald Trump to food to curing cancer, achieving world peace and finding unicorns. |
We don't know how long the meal even lasted. Some accomplished foodies could polish off a meal like that in less than 10 minutes. | We don't know how long the meal even lasted. Some accomplished foodies could polish off a meal like that in less than 10 minutes. |
Perhaps they spoke about the fact that the president had just lifted the US arms embargo on Vietnam. | Perhaps they spoke about the fact that the president had just lifted the US arms embargo on Vietnam. |
6. So what was the photo really for? | 6. So what was the photo really for? |
Mr Obama found time to sit down for dinner just hours after his announcement about the embargo. Others on social media, saw it as publicity for Bourdain's food show. | Mr Obama found time to sit down for dinner just hours after his announcement about the embargo. Others on social media, saw it as publicity for Bourdain's food show. |
How much did they plan it," asked Instagram user FlyMy90. "Were they filming for an episode of Bourdain's show?" | How much did they plan it," asked Instagram user FlyMy90. "Were they filming for an episode of Bourdain's show?" |
"Dinner will air in September," the White House was quoted as saying by one journalist. | "Dinner will air in September," the White House was quoted as saying by one journalist. |
Despite the speculation about the staging, the picture still delighted many around the world. | Despite the speculation about the staging, the picture still delighted many around the world. |
"Think you're cool? You'll never be eating noodles, drinking beer and sitting on low plastic chairs while talking to Anthony Bourdain and Barack Obama in Vietnam-cool," tweeted New York resident Jon Hopper. | "Think you're cool? You'll never be eating noodles, drinking beer and sitting on low plastic chairs while talking to Anthony Bourdain and Barack Obama in Vietnam-cool," tweeted New York resident Jon Hopper. |
Reporting by the BBC's Heather Chen. | Reporting by the BBC's Heather Chen. |