France cancels official dinner with Iran's President Rouhani... because he wants it to be wine-free

Guess who’s not coming to dinner — or even breakfast or lunch?

Ahead of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s landmark European trip kicking off this weekend (November 14), French officials nixed plans for a formal meal in Paris with President François Hollande following a dispute over the menu.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani during the Caspian Sea summit in Astrakhan, Russia, 29 September 2014

The Iranians insisted on a wine-free meal with halal meat — a request based on Islamic codes that amounted to culinary sacrilege in France, a nation that puts the secular ideals of the Republic above all else. The French counter offered with a presumably alcohol-free breakfast — which the Iranians promptly rejected because it appeared too “cheap.”

French President François Hollande in January 2012

As a compromise, the two leaders will now settle for a face-to-face chat next Tuesday (November 17).

Quiche - a savoury, open-faced pastry crust with a filling of savoury custard with cheese, meat, seafood, and/or vegetables; this one is filled with mushroom and leeks

France is in the grips of a domestic culture war, with some of its political parties raising alarms over “Islamification” that has spilled into its deep national relationship with food. The National Front, for instance, has railed against the rise of kebab stands in the country of quiche.

Iranian kebab, a popular dish in the country

The food fracas comes as Rouhani is staging his first official trip to Europe as president, one meant to herald Iran’s economic coming out after a long period of international sanctions. Rouhani will meet with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, Pope Francis and Italian companies in Rome on Saturday before moving on to France, where he is set to deliver a speech at the Unesco, and meet with French officials and companies.

Paris is a symbol of France and fashion, known for its cultural environment

(All images - credit: Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licence)