MESEBERG, Germany (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush, a fan of Texas beef, declared his fondness for German asparagus on Wednesday, kicking off a news conference with a culinary comment before turning to Iraq and Iran.



Bush, who met German Chancellor Angela Merkel north of Berlin, caused a stir two years ago when, at another joint appearance with the German leader, he referred repeatedly to "the pig", or roast wild boar, that awaited him that evening.

On Wednesday, he praised a dinner of white asparagus, a seasonal delicacy in Germany, which the two leaders had enjoyed the previous evening.

"I loved dinner last night," Bush said.

"And for those in the German press who thought I didn't like asparagus. You're wrong. The German asparagus are fabulous," he said, before the news conference switched focus to the conflict in Iraq, Iran's nuclear programme and climate change.

In 2002, Bush fainted and fell from a couch after choking on a pretzel.

His father, former President George Bush, famously angered American broccoli growers by publicly declaring his aversion to the vegetable.