in may 1998, the g8 summit was held in birmingham and the summit banquet was held in birmingham botanical gardens. the menu was constructed by jonathan harrison, chef de cuisine of the swallow hotel (see above), for the world leaders, including president bill clinton of the united states and chancellor helmut kohl of germany, and it was necessary to take note of foods which the leaders could not eat (chancellor kohl did not eat shellfish or lamb and president clinton would not eat chocolate) and food eaten at other meals by the leaders beef and asparagus were being served elsewhere and so could not appear on harrison's menu. the final menu was made up of pan-fried dover sole served with baby leeks and seasonal mushrooms and a mediterranean sauce; basque-style pork wrapped in parma ham, roasted and braised served with quenelles of polenta and braised artichoke base filled with roasted peppers, aubergines, fennel and courgettes; and, for dessert, glazed lemon and mascarpone tart. the menu reflected jonathan harrison's previous experience of working under alain ducasse at hotel de france and his wish to combine british food with mediterranean-style cuisine. harrison provided the banquet for 56 guests; the 18 vip guests being seated in the pavilion of the botanical gardens. jonathan harrison left birmingham in 1999 to become chef patron of the sandpiper inn in leyburn in north yorkshire.