Keir Starmer and his entourage dining at the In and Out restaurant in Beijing have caused a sensation, with the establishment now fully booked and offering a special prime minister's menu based on his meal. The visit, which took place in January during the first trip by a British prime minister to China since 2018, has generated significant buzz on Chinese social media.
Viral Fame for In and Out
In and Out, an upmarket restaurant specializing in Yunnan cuisine, has been fully booked since Starmer and his team dined there. The restaurant now offers a specially printed menu listing the dishes Starmer ordered, including mint leaves wrapped in thinly sliced beef, grilled asparagus with porcini, pork ribs in plum sauce, sweet pineapple rice, and deep-fried shards of goat milk cheese. However, Starmer did not try the restaurant's most famous dish: hallucinogenic mushrooms ordered by former US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen during her 2023 visit.
Chinese Public Embrace Starmer's Choice
The prime minister's menu has gone viral in China, with the restaurant seeing a surge in customers asking about his visit. A waiter who worked the night Starmer visited said about half of the diners since then have been influenced by the UK prime minister. Customers frequently inquire about the dishes he ordered and request recommendations. Diners Su Yajun and Sun Chen traveled from Hebei province after seeing news of Starmer's visit on Douyin, the Chinese sister app of TikTok. "We heard the British prime minister came here to eat, so thought the food must be really good," Su said.
Soft Power Beyond Beijing
The impact of Starmer's visit extends beyond Beijing. In Yunnan, over 1,500 miles away, restaurants have also begun serving prime minister menus, showcasing the soft power appeal Britain retains in parts of China. Despite post-Brexit challenges, British culture remains popular, from Premier League football to actors like Rosamund Pike. Starmer's China trip was generally welcomed by the Chinese public, contrasting with domestic criticism in the UK over pursuing closer ties with Beijing.
Potential Political Fallout
Starmer's visit aimed to reset relations with Beijing, but political challenges at home could undermine the goodwill earned. If his government faces instability, international affairs may take a backseat. As one diner noted, the trip has inspired travel plans to the UK, with Sun expressing a desire to visit the University of Cambridge for her child's education. The long-term impact of Starmer's culinary diplomacy remains to be seen.
