Images showing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer dining at Yizuo Yiwang restaurant (meaning "sit down and forget everything"), specializing in Yunnan province dishes in Sanlitun, Beijing, on the evening of 28/1, are being widely shared across Chinese social media.
The restaurant is famous for its 'jianzishou qing' mushroom dish, a food that can easily cause hallucinations if not properly prepared. Former US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen previously dined at this restaurant in 2023 and ordered 4 plates of 'jianzishou qing' mushrooms.
Images shared by the restaurant owner show the UK prime minister enjoying a dish cooked with these mushrooms as part of the "early Tet celebration" set menu. "The entire restaurant staff was very happy, it felt like we were celebrating Tet", the restaurant owner stated.
The restaurant later updated its profile picture on food review and delivery platforms with a photo of Mr. Starmer alongside the staff. A video released by the restaurant on social media shows that after the meal, a staff member presented the UK Prime Minister with a traditional Chinese New Year woodcut print symbolizing prosperity and success in the new year.
This person thanked Mr. Starmer in English. The UK Prime Minister thanked them in Chinese, then turned to ask those around him if he had pronounced it correctly.
The video led many internet users to believe the restaurant has now become a must-visit place, while others wondered why more foreigners are becoming skilled with chopsticks. Some compared Mr. Starmer's meal to that of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who recently dined at another Yunnan restaurant in Beijing.
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The UK prime minister (wearing glasses) converses with members of his delegation at the restaurant in Beijing on the evening of 28/1. Photo: Global Times |
Many believe this event shows Yunnan cuisine is one of China's most popular local cuisines among tourists.
"The British delegation chose Chinese food first, which shows that cultural exchange always precedes other matters", a netizen commented.
Mr. Starmer, along with about 60 British government and business leaders, are on the first state visit to China in 8 years, from 28/1 to 30/1.
During today's talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Starmer stated he wishes to build a "deeper" relationship and believes Beijing "plays a very important role on the international stage".
Hong Hanh (According to Global Times)
