Kyoto beef was on the menu at the G8 summit — and the opulence of the full spread is causing quite a stir.
[By the way, I hear Kyoto beef is even tastier than Kobe beef. Judging by the name, the Japanese must have bred some kind of carbon-neutral cow: maybe they eat only European manufacturing jobs, and so emit a lot less methane than your average cud-chewer. Now if only the Japanese would invent Kyoto bourbon, my carbon footprint would be reduced to near zero.]
The Telegraph offers the Gore-y details of the hypocrisy of the do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do attendees:
Gordon Brown and his fellow world leaders have sparked outrage after it was disclosed they enjoyed a six-course lunch followed by an eight-course dinner at the G8 summit where the global food crisis tops the agenda.
The Prime Minister was served 24 different dishes during his first day at the summit – just hours after urging the world to reduce the “unnecessary demand” for food and calling on British families to cut back on their wasteful use of food.
Mr Brown and his wife Sarah were among 15 guests at the “blessings of the earth and the sea social dinner”.
The dinner consisted of 18 dishes in eight courses including caviar, smoked salmon, Kyoto beef and a “G8 fantasy dessert”.
The banquet was accompanied by five different wines from around the world including champagne, a French Bourgogne and sake.
African leaders including the heads of Ethiopia, Tanzania and Senegal who had taken part in talks during the day were not invited to the function.
The dinner came just hours after a “working lunch” consisting of six courses including white asparagus and truffle soup, crab and a supreme of chicken.
The lavish dining arrangements – disclosed by the Japanese Government which is hosting the summit in Hokkaido – come amid growing concern over rising food prices triggered by a shortage of many basic necessities.
On the flight to the summit, Mr Brown urged Britons to cut food waste as part of a global drive to help avert the food crisis.
I’m accepting nominations of what might constitute a “G8 Fantasy dessert.”