Paris is burning. Well, not quite. But the menus are. A series of lavish banquets, thrown by France's political and financial elite, have become the latest flashpoint in a country already on the brink. The radical left, led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon's La France Insoumise, has seized on these dinners as proof of a detached, decadent ruling class. British tourists, meanwhile, have been warned to avoid the upscale restaurants in the 16th arrondissement. Stay away from the foie gras, they say. It could get messy.
The first banquet made headlines two weeks ago. A three-course affair at the Hôtel de Lassay, the official residence of the National Assembly president. Guests included ministers, bankers, and a smattering of celebrities. The cost? A reported €45,000. The left was livid. Then came the leaks. Receipts showing a dinner at the Élysée Palace costing over €100,000. The president's office dismissed it as a state function. But the damage was done. The hashtag #GastronomieElite is trending on French Twitter. The streets are filling with gilets jaunes, the original yellow vests, now joined by young activists with iPads.
This is not just about money. It's about symbolism. The French elite have always been unapologetic about their love of good food. But in a country where the minimum wage is €1,400 a month, these banquets feel like a slap. Mélenchon is capitalising. He's calling for a 'food revolution' – a tax on Michelin-starred restaurants, a ban on private dining clubs. It sounds absurd. But in the current climate, it could win votes.
British tourists are caught in the crossfire. The Foreign Office has issued a low-key advisory: avoid large gatherings near restaurants, be mindful of protests. But the real danger is being caught in a restaurant that becomes a target. Last night, a group of diners at the Cinq Codices had their meal disrupted by activists who stormed the kitchen. They chanted 'Révolution! Révolution!' while chefs threw down their aprons. It was a scene straight out of 1789. Only this time, the guillotine is a hashtag.
What does this mean for Westminster? Not much directly. But the shadow of French unrest always falls on British politics. The Labour left is watching closely. Jeremy Corbyn's old allies are privately excited. They see a model for attacking the British establishment. Oxford and Cambridge colleges, with their high table dining and lavish feasts, could be next. The annual Lord Mayor's Banquet in London is already being rethought. Security will be tight. The police are on alert.
The French government is trying to defuse the situation. Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne has announced a 'transparency charter' for official hospitality. But it's too little, too late. The genie is out of the bottle. The radical left has found a new weapon. And it tastes like foie gras.
British tourists, for now, should stick to crêperies. And maybe skip the dessert. The revolution might start with a cheese course.
