Guest List for Obama’s First State Dinner
Posted on: November 24, 2009
Tonight’s State Dinner in Washington, D.C. is being held in honor of the Prime Minister of India. While I’m not usually the one into blogging about “all things Indian,” I came across a link on the President’s Web site with the guest list. These are the names that jumped out at me at first glance:
Deepak Chopra
Katie Couric
Dr. Sanjay Gupta
The Honorable (Governor) Bobby Jindal, Governor of Louisiana
Mrs. Supriya Jindal, First Lady of Louisiana
Gayle King
General Colin Powell
Mrs. Marian Robinson
Brian Williams
I also found it quite interesting to see the number of American dignitaries and statesmen on the list who are of Indian origin. Goes to show what a melting pot America truly is.
Tonight’s menu, by Guest Chef Marcus Samuelsson, combines American and Indian cuisines. Here’s the menu, course by course:
Potato and Eggplant Salad
White House argula with onion seed vinaigrette
Wine: 2008 Sauvignon Blanc, Modus Oprendi, Napa Valley, California
Red lentil soup with fresh cheese
Wine: 2008 Riesling Brooks “Ara” Willamette Valley, Oregon
Roasted Potato Dumplings with tomato chutney
Chick peas and okra
or
Green curry prawns
Carmelized salsify with smoked collard greens and coconut aged basmati
Wine: 2007 Granache, Beckman Vineyards, Santa Ynez, California
Pumpkin Pie tart
Pear tatin
Whipped cream and caramel sauce
Wine: Sparkling Chardonnay, Thibaut Janisson Brut, Monticello, Virginia
Petits Fours and Coffee
Cashew Brittle
Pecan Pralines
Passion Fruit and Vanilla Gelees
Chocolate dipped fruit
Personally, I think the pumpkin pie is a befitting nod to the Thanksgiving holiday this week, and pecan pralines are a wonderful way to highlight not only an American classic, but also Gov. Bobby Jindal’s home state.
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November 26, 2009 at 12:23 am
I was really delighted to hear that they were preparing food that they incorporated the culture of the visiting dignitaries in the menu…they sound so appetizing!
November 30, 2009 at 11:50 am
It is my understanding that it is part of the White House’s tradition, that everything said and done has meaning befitting the occasion. I know Michele Obama’s decision to use a guest chef for the dinner stirred up some controversy, but personally, I was delighted to see that her choice was Marcus Samuelsson, an Ethiopian adoptee to Sweden….a nod to our agency’s origins in adoption travel!