Diplomatic Dinners

Chris Bowlby presents a series of anecdotes about diplomatic meals.

1/5. Avoiding the Crudites.

Tales of Stalin's consternation at British cutlery conventions and the awkwardness of Americans over asparagus.

Stalin's consternation at British cutlery conventions, and the awkwardness occasioned by the Americans over their asparagus.

Chris Bowlby hears what it's like to eat for Britain from such wined-and-dined luminaries as Chris Patten and Christopher Meyer.

In this episode, we learn how at the Tehran Conference in 1943, Stalin was bemused by the array of cutlery stretching out on either side of his plate - eating dinner was so much simpler in post-Revolutionary Russia.

Also, how a game of musical chairs at a British embassy white tie event split opinions among the higher echelons.

Producer: Mark Savage.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2006.

Chris Bowlby hears from wined-and-dined luminaries what it's like to eat for Britain.

Chris Bowlby presents stories from the men and women charged with eating for their country and laying down their livers in the national cause.

1/5. Avoiding the Crudites

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2006.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2006.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2006.

2/5. Potage Aux Ambassadeurs

How the French reacted when the British served up a cheese called Waterloo.

Chris Bowlby hears what it's like to eat for Britain from such wined-and-dined luminaries as Chris Patten and Christopher Meyer.

This week he hears how Britain has tried to improve the image of its cuisine in the eyes of the French and some of the more challenging dishes the diplomats have to eat for Queen and country.

Producer: Mark Savage.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2006.

Chris Bowlby hears how Britain has tried to impress the French. From 2006.

Chris Bowlby presents a series of anecdotes about diplomatic meals.

Chris Bowlby presents stories from the men and women charged with eating for their country and laying down their livers in the national cause.

Chris Bowlby hears what it's like to eat for Britain from such wined-and-dined luminaries as Chris Patten and Christopher Meyer.

In this episode, he hears how Britain has tried to improve the image of its cuisine in the eyes of the French and some of the more challenging dishes the diplomats have to eat for Queen and country.

Chris Bowlby hears how Britain has tried to impress the French. From 2006.

Chris Bowlby presents stories from the men and women charged with eating for their country and laying down their livers in the national cause.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2006.

Chris Bowlby hears what it's like to eat for Britain from such wined-and-dined luminaries as Chris Patten and Christopher Meyer.

In this episode, he hears how Britain has tried to improve the image of its cuisine in the eyes of the French and some of the more challenging dishes the diplomats have to eat for Queen and country.

Producer: Mark Savage.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2006.

Chris Bowlby hears how Britain has tried to impress the French. From 2006.

Chris Bowlby presents a series of anecdotes about diplomatic meals.

Chris Bowlby hears what it's like to eat for Britain from such wined-and-dined luminaries as Chris Patten and Christopher Meyer.

In this episode, he hears how Britain has tried to improve the image of its cuisine in the eyes of the French and some of the more challenging dishes the diplomats have to eat for Queen and country.

Producer: Mark Savage.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2006.

Chris Bowlby hears how Britain has tried to impress the French. From 2006.

Chris Bowlby presents a series of anecdotes about diplomatic meals.

In this episode, he hears how devilish Soviet shenanigans are thwarted by the great British sandwich.

Producer: Mark Savage.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2006.

Chris Bowlby presents a series of anecdotes about diplomatic meals.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2006.

3/5. Medallions de Guerres.

Devilish Soviet shenanigans are thwarted by the great British sandwich.

Chris Bowlby presents stories from the men and women charged with eating for their country and laying down their livers in the national cause.

3/5. Medallions de Geurres

In this episode, he hears how devilish Soviet shenanigans are thwarted by the great British sandwich.

Producer: Mark Savage.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2006.

Chris Bowlby presents a series of anecdotes about diplomatic meals.

Chris Bowlby hears what it's like to eat for Britain from such wined-and-dined luminaries as Chris Patten and Christopher Meyer.

In this episode, he hears how devilish Soviet shenanigans are thwarted by the great British sandwich.

Producer: Mark Savage.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2006.

Chris Bowlby presents a series of anecdotes about diplomatic meals.

4/5. High Spirits

How to stand up for your country when all you feel like doing is falling down.

Chris Bowlby presents a series of anecdotes about diplomatic meals. 4/5: High Spirits. How to stand up for your country when all you feel like doing is falling down.

Chris Bowlby hears what it's like to eat for Britain from such wined-and-dined luminaries as Chris Patten and Christopher Meyer.

In this episode he hears about the perils of alcoholic customs and vodka-soaked diplomacy. Tasked with standing up for their country what do diplomats do when all they are only capable of is falling down? From Churchill and Stalin through to the Cold War, the toasting rituals at diplomatic gatherings remained warm, but what was the real reason behind this cordiality?

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2006.

Chris Bowlby presents a series of anecdotes about diplomatic meals. From 2006.

In this episode, he hears about the perils of alcoholic customs and vodka-soaked diplomacy.

Producer: Mark Savage

Producer: Mark Savage

Chris Bowlby hears what it's like to eat for Britain from such wined-and-dined luminaries as Chris Patten and Christopher Meyer.

In this episode, he hears about the perils of alcoholic customs and vodka-soaked diplomacy.

Tasked with standing up for their country what do diplomats do when all they are only capable of is falling down? From Churchill and Stalin through to the Cold War, the toasting rituals at diplomatic gatherings remained warm, but what was the real reason behind this cordiality?

Producer: Mark Savage

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2006.

Chris Bowlby presents a series of anecdotes about diplomatic meals. From 2006.

Chris Bowlby hears what it's like to eat for Britain from such wined-and-dined luminaries as Chris Patten and Christopher Meyer.

In this episode, he hears about the perils of alcoholic customs and vodka-soaked diplomacy.

Tasked with standing up for their country what do diplomats do when all they are only capable of is falling down? From Churchill and Stalin through to the Cold War, the toasting rituals at diplomatic gatherings remained warm, but what was the real reason behind this cordiality?

Producer: Mark Savage

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2006.

Chris Bowlby presents a series of anecdotes about diplomatic meals. From 2006.

Chris Bowlby presents a series of anecdotes about diplomatic meals. From 2006.

5/5. Badoit versus Bollinger

The importance of diplomatic dining today and the tension between the need to entertain and the pressure to get the job done.

Chris Bowlby presents a series of anecdotes about diplomatic meals. From 2006.