There was no cake on the menu as Theresa May hosted Donald Tusk for Brexit talks.
Brussels has frequently dismissed the “have your cake and eat it” approach to Brexit, with critics claiming the UK wants to secure many of the economic benefits of EU membership without the obligations.
As well as the “cake philosophy”, the EU’s negotiators have also warned against “cherry picking” – but Downing Street’s chefs avoided an awkward moment over dessert by shunning sponge and serving chocolate pavlova with poached pear.
Theresa May hosted Donald Tusk for a lunch meeting at Number 10 (Frank Augstein/PA)
The Prime Minister and European Council president were served a main course of poached fillet of lemon sole with brown shrimp, chervil cream sauce, potato terrine and seasonal vegetables as they discussed the latest developments in the Brexit process.
Downing Street said the talks were “positive and constructive”.