Three anecdotes on Presidents' meals, told by chef Guillaume Gomez

INTERVIEW

The great chef Guillaume Gomez has been working at the Élysée since 1997.

He served Jacques Chirac, Nicolas Sarkozy, François Hollande, Emmanuel Macron and was at the heart of their diplomatic meetings.

He has also written the book

, published by Éditions du Recherches-Midi.

From the meals of the Queen of England to the trip to the Jordanian desert of Jacques Chirac through the express meal between Nicolas Sarkozy and Barack Obama, he tells at the microphone of Laurent Mariotte in the program

, anecdotes on these iconic meals.

The Queen of England and her love for foie gras

In 1957, the Queen of England, Elizabeth II, then in her thirties, sat at the Presidents' table during a gala dinner.

It is received by René Coty and on the menu that evening, there is foie gras.

More precisely "a foie gras glazed with Sauternes jelly", details Guillaume Gomez.

Since that dinner, when the Queen of England comes to France, she likes to eat foie gras.

"She came back under Jacques Chirac. I was already there. I served it with duck foie gras and goose foie gras. She came back under François Hollande to eat duck foie gras again, under Nicolas Sarkozy, Emmanuel Macron every time, eat foie gras because it is really a dish that she appreciates, "says Guillaume Gomez at the microphone of Europe 1.

Chef Guillaume Gomez has also unveiled his tip to avoid making mistakes.

"I am part of the club 'of chefs' which brings together the chefs of heads of state founded by Gilles Bragard. We have what is called our blue phone of parallel diplomacy, so I called to find out the little extra that would make her happy. That's how we knew the Queen of England appreciated foie gras. "

While her son, Prince Charles, has decided to ban foie gras from her kitchens, the Queen of England "is on our side", blows the chef.

"She is on the side of our producers and our breeders for this whole foie gras sector, to promote them. And we really need it, especially in this complicated period", he confides.

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For Chirac, a Landes salad in the Jordanian desert

Another official menu gives a smile.

During a visit to Amman, Jordan, between Jacques Chirac and King Hussein, a Landes salad was served.

"When we spoke with the President and presented the menu to him, he replied 'Ah yes, very good. A salad of gizzards, a salad with foie gras with pleasure, a corrézienne salad. The Landes salad , it's a free interpretation of our cuisine because there is no recipe for Landes salad ", he says.

But for him, it's something else that makes this salad symbolic.

"This is one of the last trips where the kitchen of the Élysée follows the President," he explains.

"At the time, the heads of state were received by the authority of the country and returned the invitation to the French embassy. It was another way of doing diplomacy. Today, it is. is stopped for reasons of cost. Jacques Chirac has decided that if we return the invitation, it will be in France. "

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The express meal between Sarkozy and Obama

A meal tray delivery and only 15 minutes to eat.

This is what happened during an official visit of the former President of the United States, Barack Obama, to France during the presidential term of Nicolas Sarkozy.

"I also represent all those who work in communities. We have to adapt. That's the key word. We have no choice," explains the chef.

That day Barack Obama was present to commemorate the Normandy Landings of 1944. "They were a little late because they were meeting soldiers. The only time they were able to save time was during the meal. ", he says. Guillaume Gomez therefore prepared a meal tray with a starter, a main course and a dessert "with seasonal products". "And believe me, experience it for yourself. People said 15 minutes, we don't like it. Take a platter, stand in front of a starter, a main course, a dessert. In 15 minutes, you've finished them. ", assures the chief. However, the mystery will remain on the menu that was served to the two presidents.