the AP makes sure we don't miss a beat

sandwitched between NATO's future role (or non-role, as the case may be) in Iraq and agreements reached at the recent G-8 summit:

"I can tell you that over the last few days, this cuisine here in America was certainly on a par with French cuisine," Chirac said.

"He particularly liked the cheeseburger he had yesterday," Bush said.

"It was excellent," Chirac said.

Bush later said he had conveyed Chirac's compliment to the chef. "It's a whole lot better to hear the food is good from Jacques Chirac than from George W. Bush."