State papers reveal Haughey grumbling about venison pâté and trout sauce

The annual release of State papers from the National Archives reveals the then-Taoiseach expressed his displeasure at the quality of the food served at a European Council summit in Dublin in April 1990.

Charles Haughey’s reputation as a lover of fine dining came under threat in 1990 when he hosted EU leaders in Dublin and branded a venison pâté served to his guests as “a disaster”. 

The annual release of State papers from the National Archives reveals the then-Taoiseach expressed his displeasure at the quality of the food served at a European Council summit in Dublin in April 1990, describing it as “only of good pub grub standard”.