World leaders are set to enjoy toasted marshmallows over fire pits as they gather for their first in-person summit in almost two years to discuss the global response to COVID-19.
At the G7 summit in Cornwall, the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US, as well as the EU, will meet to discuss how to recover from the coronavirus crisis.
In one of the most high-profile moments of his premiership so far, Boris Johnson will be expecting the world’s leading democracies to strike new agreements on COVID vaccines, pandemic preparedness, climate change and international trade.
And the prime minister will hope the serving of Cornish fare – some of which will be prepared over a beach BBQ – will help encourage leaders to reach a consensus on coordinated action.
Leaders will hold talks at the Carbis Bay hotel
Cornish “mizzle” has hung over the Carbis Bay venue ahead of their arrival, but brighter weather forecast over the weekend should allow G7 leaders to make the most of the Atlantic coast venue of Carbis Bay.
On Friday night, after talks focussed mainly on the immediate recovery from the COVID crisis, the leaders will have dinner at the Eden Project after attending a reception with members of the Royal Family, including the Queen.
This will be cooked by chef Emily Scott from the nearby Watergate Bay hotel.
She will serve spiced melon, gazpacho, coconut and high note herbs, followed by Turbot roasted on the bone – caught off the Cornish coast by a fisherman from Newquay – with Cornish new potatoes and wild garlic pesto with greens from the local Padstow kitchen gardens.
Local cheeses – including Cornish yarg – will then be followed by English strawberry pavlova and petit fours of clotted cream fudge, mini clotted cream ice cream cones and chocolate earl grey truffles.
And, after a second day of discussions on Saturday – including on the global economy, foreign policy and future pandemic resilience and for which the G7 will be joined by guest nations Australia, South Korea, South Africa and India (via videolink) – world leaders will be offered what is likely to be a more relaxed dinner with a BBQ on the beach in Carbis Bay.
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Cooked by chef Simon Stallard from the Hidden Hut in Portscatho, canapes will include sparkling scallops, Curgurrell Crab Claws and Portscatho Mackerel.
A main course will include seared and smokey Moorland sirloin, Newlyn lobster and scorched leeks served with sides of layered Cornish potato chips, St Just purple sprout broccoli and salt baked beetroot.
First Lady Jill Biden enjoyed time on the beach with the PM’s wife Carrie Johnson and her son, Wilfred, ahead of the summit Pic: Simon Dawson /Downing St
A dessert of beach hut sundaes will then be followed by baked brie, hot buttered rum and toasted marshmallows around fire pits on the beach.
Meanwhile, drinks will include Cornish sparkling wine, German Riesling, Australian Shiraz, Cornish beer and hedge row fizz cocktail.
Sunday’s final talks will focus on the environment, with leaders set to be addressed via a pre-recorded video from Sir David Attenborough.