After the gold of the Elysée, the snow of the peaks and a shoulder of lamb for lunch: Emmanuel Macron takes Xi Jinping to the Pyrenees on Tuesday on the second day of his state visit, for a getaway “personal”. The goal? Allow more direct dialogue on the war in Ukraine or trade disagreements.
“Our French mountains”, “I hope, will continue to inspire us”the French President lyrically launched on Monday, welcoming his Chinese counterpart to Paris for the first time since 2019.
He said he expected, in the Hautes-Pyrénées, “fruitful and friendly discussions”. Also, a lunch at the top of the Col du Tourmalet is organized.
Lamb, black pork ham and Tarbais beans
On the menu, as revealed The Republic of the Pyrenees: lamb shoulder, black pork ham and Tarbais beans After a garbure.
A selection of cheeses of the best worker in France Dominique Bouchait awaits the guests. Just like the traditional blueberry pie. A dessert which would be an express request from Brigitte Macron.
On the beverage side, several South-West wines will be present at the table: Château Montus Sec (Pacherenc du Vic Bilh Sec), Château Montus La Tire (Madiran) and Château Bouscassé Brumaire (Pacherenc du Vic Bilh).
For this meal, Emmanuel Macron trusted a close friend, the breeder Eric Abadie and his restaurant l’Etape du Berger.
Why the Pyrenees?
The Pyrenean stage could, in the mind of the French delegation, favor “a frank and friendly exchange” on these thorny subjects. The idea is to break the imposing protocol which accompanies the slightest movement of the Chinese number one.
This corner of the mountain is “directly linked to the very personal story” of Emmanuel Macron, explains those around him. The man who will celebrate the 7th anniversary of his first election on Tuesday spent many holidays between the town of Bagnères-de-Bigorre and La Mongie with his grandparents to whom he was very attached.
