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| With Obama and Putin in France for Dinner, Hollande Leaves Room for Seconds | With Obama and Putin in France for Dinner, Hollande Leaves Room for Seconds |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| PARIS — Gourmand though he may be, it seems highly improbable that President François Hollande of France was moved by appetite alone to host two successive dinners here on Thursday night. | PARIS — Gourmand though he may be, it seems highly improbable that President François Hollande of France was moved by appetite alone to host two successive dinners here on Thursday night. |
| Nor was it most likely a question of irreconcilable tastes among his guests: Both President Obama and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia tend to favor lean, healthy fare, and both make some willing exceptions, especially for ice cream. (Mr. Hollande is said to eat and drink more broadly and with somewhat more pleasure than either of his counterparts.) | Nor was it most likely a question of irreconcilable tastes among his guests: Both President Obama and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia tend to favor lean, healthy fare, and both make some willing exceptions, especially for ice cream. (Mr. Hollande is said to eat and drink more broadly and with somewhat more pleasure than either of his counterparts.) |
| Rather, the diplomatic tensions brought on by the crisis in Ukraine compelled Mr. Hollande to schedule two separate meals, the first at a Michelin-starred restaurant off the Champs-Élysées with Mr. Obama, the second, two hours later, just down the hill at the presidential palace with Mr. Putin. The second meal was no more than a “light supper,” Mr. Hollande’s office insisted. | Rather, the diplomatic tensions brought on by the crisis in Ukraine compelled Mr. Hollande to schedule two separate meals, the first at a Michelin-starred restaurant off the Champs-Élysées with Mr. Obama, the second, two hours later, just down the hill at the presidential palace with Mr. Putin. The second meal was no more than a “light supper,” Mr. Hollande’s office insisted. |
| Earlier on Thursday, Mr. Hollande joined Mr. Obama, along with the leaders of five other major powers, in condemning Mr. Putin’s annexation of Crimea. But France, like other European nations, has economic reasons to maintain cordial relations with Russia. Despite explicit opposition from the United States, France remains on track to deliver two advanced warships to Russia in the coming years. | Earlier on Thursday, Mr. Hollande joined Mr. Obama, along with the leaders of five other major powers, in condemning Mr. Putin’s annexation of Crimea. But France, like other European nations, has economic reasons to maintain cordial relations with Russia. Despite explicit opposition from the United States, France remains on track to deliver two advanced warships to Russia in the coming years. |
| Under the circumstances, a trilateral meal appeared ill-advised, an adviser to Mr. Hollande said. | Under the circumstances, a trilateral meal appeared ill-advised, an adviser to Mr. Hollande said. |
| “It wasn’t even under consideration,” the aide said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to describe the plans, or lack thereof. She noted, however, that both Mr. Obama and Mr. Putin, who have come to France to participate in D-Day observances, would attend a commemorative lunch in Normandy on Friday. | |
| In his dinner with Mr. Obama, Mr. Hollande was expected to address the prosecution by the American authorities of the French bank BNP Paribas. Mr. Hollande has reportedly expressed his dismay to the White House about the potential implications of the penalties against the bank, including a reported multibillion-dollar fine. Mr. Obama, in turn, was expected to raise the issue of the warship sale to Russia. | |
| Joined by Secretary of State John Kerry, Laurent Fabius, the French foreign minister, and other aides, the presidents dined in a private back room at Le Chiberta, a short drive up the Champs-Élysées from the presidential palace, where Mr. Hollande hosted Queen Elizabeth II of Britain until the early evening.At Le Chiberta, which is run by the chef Guy Savoy, the diners were served a three-course meal after bomb crews and security personnel from both the French and American governments had checked the restaurant and the building that houses it. | Joined by Secretary of State John Kerry, Laurent Fabius, the French foreign minister, and other aides, the presidents dined in a private back room at Le Chiberta, a short drive up the Champs-Élysées from the presidential palace, where Mr. Hollande hosted Queen Elizabeth II of Britain until the early evening.At Le Chiberta, which is run by the chef Guy Savoy, the diners were served a three-course meal after bomb crews and security personnel from both the French and American governments had checked the restaurant and the building that houses it. |
| Jean-Paul Montellier, the director of the restaurant, pleaded with an insistent visitor not to reveal the menu until dinner had been served, “for reasons of surprise.” An assistant drew Mr. Montellier away for a phone call. He returned to say that the call had come from the presidential palace, which had itself asked that the menu not be divulged ahead of time. “For security reasons,” he reported, “and for surprise reasons.” | Jean-Paul Montellier, the director of the restaurant, pleaded with an insistent visitor not to reveal the menu until dinner had been served, “for reasons of surprise.” An assistant drew Mr. Montellier away for a phone call. He returned to say that the call had come from the presidential palace, which had itself asked that the menu not be divulged ahead of time. “For security reasons,” he reported, “and for surprise reasons.” |
| The meal being over now, its contents have been cleared for publication. | The meal being over now, its contents have been cleared for publication. |
| Most of it was off the menu, with the exception of the orange and grapefruit terrine served with an Earl Grey tea sauce for dessert. Before that had come a blue lobster salad, followed by a grilled, line-caught Normandy sea bass served with sweet spices and vanilla. Those two courses were meant to evoke Normandy, Mr. Montellier said, though he noted a bit sheepishly that the lobster had in fact come from the Brittany coast. | Most of it was off the menu, with the exception of the orange and grapefruit terrine served with an Earl Grey tea sauce for dessert. Before that had come a blue lobster salad, followed by a grilled, line-caught Normandy sea bass served with sweet spices and vanilla. Those two courses were meant to evoke Normandy, Mr. Montellier said, though he noted a bit sheepishly that the lobster had in fact come from the Brittany coast. |
| The menu was drawn up with an eye to Mr. Hollande’s busy gastronomic schedule, he said, and was meant to leave the French leader some room for his second meal. After his first meal, Mr. Hollande was to be whisked back to the presidential palace with what was presumably a not entirely full stomach. The Élysée Palace declined to provide a menu for the meal offered there to Mr. Putin. | The menu was drawn up with an eye to Mr. Hollande’s busy gastronomic schedule, he said, and was meant to leave the French leader some room for his second meal. After his first meal, Mr. Hollande was to be whisked back to the presidential palace with what was presumably a not entirely full stomach. The Élysée Palace declined to provide a menu for the meal offered there to Mr. Putin. |
| The Russian president is known to be abstemious, however, and rushes through meals, in addition to being a bit of a health nut. He has been said to enjoy kefir, the fermented milk drink. He has cultivated the image of a teetotaler, but he is known to enjoy beer and wine, too. His staff once carried vodka to sterilize utensils during a visit to India. | The Russian president is known to be abstemious, however, and rushes through meals, in addition to being a bit of a health nut. He has been said to enjoy kefir, the fermented milk drink. He has cultivated the image of a teetotaler, but he is known to enjoy beer and wine, too. His staff once carried vodka to sterilize utensils during a visit to India. |
| A dinner at the presidential palace seems hardly anything to sniff at, but there may be reasons to view it as a lesser culinary option than a Michelin one-star restaurant. The Élysée has a new chef whose cuisine has not been to everyone’s satisfaction; after a state dinner given for President Xi Jinping of China in March, the external commerce minister, Nicole Bricq, declared the presidential food “disgusting.” | A dinner at the presidential palace seems hardly anything to sniff at, but there may be reasons to view it as a lesser culinary option than a Michelin one-star restaurant. The Élysée has a new chef whose cuisine has not been to everyone’s satisfaction; after a state dinner given for President Xi Jinping of China in March, the external commerce minister, Nicole Bricq, declared the presidential food “disgusting.” |
| Still, should Mr. Hollande and Mr. Obama be too busy talking to focus on their food, the meal with Mr. Putin should give Mr. Hollande the chance to eat his fill. | Still, should Mr. Hollande and Mr. Obama be too busy talking to focus on their food, the meal with Mr. Putin should give Mr. Hollande the chance to eat his fill. |
| Mr. Obama had a subsequent dining engagement with friends, White House officials said, although it was unclear whether he would be eating again. | Mr. Obama had a subsequent dining engagement with friends, White House officials said, although it was unclear whether he would be eating again. |