White House State Dinner: The Menu, Entertainment, and Decor
EmailABC News’ Sunlen Miller reports: Tonight’s guests at the White House’s state dinner honoring India’s Prime Minister Singh will be treated to a night – in food, decoration, and entertainment, that will include not only some Indian elements but also American elements with the Obama White House’s touch as well.
The round tables seating ten will be draped with apple green linens. In honor of the state bird of India, the Indian Peacock, deep purple flower arrangements sit in the middle of each table. The centerpieces – put together by the new White House florist Laura Dowling and her team – are meant to evoke “the classic American garden,” The First Lady’s Office says, made of purple, plum and fuchsia hydrangea, garden roses, and sweet peas.
On the walls of the large tent on the South Lawn will be arrangements of magnolia braches. In addition locally grown ivy, and nandina foliage will be used to decorate the sides of the tent where guests will eat.
The First Lady’s office says that all bouquets from the dinner re-used through the White House, as a means to recycle the flowers.
The tables will be set with china, all from the White House’s historic collection:
-Service Plates- Eisenhower administration- 1955 New Castle, PA Castleton China – US government purchase, 1955.
-Service Plates- Clinton State China Service- 2000 Trenton NJ Lenox – Gift of the White House Historical Association, 2000 – commissioned to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the White House.
-Dinner Plates- George W Bush State China Service 2008-2009 Kinston, NC Lenox, Inc. Gift of the White House Acquisition Trust, 2009.
The menu – created by Guest Chef Marcus Samuelsson and White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford, with the First Lady is respectful of the Prime Minister’s dietary concerns, being a vegetarian, as well putting an emphasis on healthy eating from the Obama White House. White House Pastry Chef William Yosses and his team created the desserts
The First Lady’s office says that the menu “reflects the best of American cuisine, continues this White House’s commitment to serving fresh, sustainable and regional food, and honors the culinary excellence and flavors that are present in Indian cuisine.”
Herbs and lettuce from the White House garden will be included in the meal. The pears poached with honey are from the White House beehive. And the desserts will be garnished with mint and lemon verbena grown in the White House Kitchen Garden.
Here is the complete menu:
Potato and Eggplant Salad
White House Arugula with Onion Seed Vinaigrette
2008 Sauvignon Blanc, Modus Operandi, Napa Valley, California
Red Lentil Soup with Fresh Cheese
2006 Riesling, Brooks “Ara”, Wilamette Valley, Oregon
Roasted Potato Dumplings with Tomato Chutney
Chick Peas and Okra
or Green Curry Prawns with caramelized salsify with smoked Collard Greens
and coconut aged basmati
2007 Granache Beckman Vineyards, Santa Ynez, California
Pumpkin pie tart
Pear Tatin
Whipped Cream and Caramel sauce
Sparkling Chardonnay, Thibaut Janisson Brut, Monticello, Virginia
Petits fours and Coffee
Cashew Brittle
Pecan Pralines
Passion fruit and vanilla Gelees
Chocolate dipped fruit
Tonight’s entertainment also includes elements from India as well as from the United States.
Kurt Elling, an eight-time Grammy nominee ad American jazz vocalist and composer will perform. Chicago born, Jennifer Hudson, winner of the third season of American Idol will sing. In addition the gust will hear from the National Symphony Orchestra, with Marvin Hamlisch as the Conductor, and the United States Marine Band.
A.R. Rahman, an Indian composer, musician and singer who wrote the “Slumdog Millionaire” Score will also perform.
-Sunlen Miller
Rick Santorum Sweeps 3 States 
Pentagon to Open Additional Jobs to Women
First state dinner – what was the one in February the “state supper”
Posted by: jamescbuilder | November 24, 2009, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm
Jennifer Hudson was not the winner of the third season of American Idol. She was a runner-up. She does have an an Oscar though. More impressive than and “Idol” involvement.
Posted by: LindseyB | November 24, 2009, 5:01 pm 5:01 pm
Meanwhile layed off employees are hoping their food stamps will cover Turkey Day dinner and unemployment check make their house payment too!
Posted by: S. Morgan | November 24, 2009, 5:02 pm 5:02 pm
You have state dinners so you can employ people S. Morgan…that’s how it works.
Posted by: Periday | November 24, 2009, 5:08 pm 5:08 pm
May be worth mentioning that Kurt Elling is a Chicago resident, near the President in Hyde Park… Along with Typhanie Monique, one of the best jazz vocalists in Chicago.
Posted by: JR | November 24, 2009, 5:25 pm 5:25 pm
Oh to return to Camelot! The post event reports will swoon over the magical event exclaiming that Queen Bee Michelle transformed the White House with her charm and darned good gardening skills.
It is an insult to all hard working Indian Americans that Michelle thoughtlessly ignored Dunkin Donut and 7-11 Slurpees! This outrage must be addressed!!
Posted by: Otto bin CalSag | November 24, 2009, 5:27 pm 5:27 pm
Meanwhile layed off employees are hoping their food stamps will cover Turkey Day dinner and unemployment check make their house payment too!
________________________________
Fortunately for unemployed people the Recover and Reinvestment Act contained a lot of money in both unemployment insurance and food programs.
Posted by: tierra | November 24, 2009, 5:29 pm 5:29 pm
Go ask the unemployed or those spending
their Thanksgiving at a shelter how
impressed they are with their menu and
who will be there. Yes, while Rome
burns the emporerer fiddles.
Posted by: wis134 | November 24, 2009, 5:34 pm 5:34 pm
This is a really crappy night to have an event in a tent.The White House lawn is going to be absolute muck.Who is the genius who came up with this idea?I hope they have the space heaters going-its freezing out there!
Posted by: Nephron | November 24, 2009, 5:38 pm 5:38 pm
Go ask the unemployed or those spending
their Thanksgiving at a shelter how
impressed they are with their menu
___________________________________
Fortunately for unemployed people the Recover and Reinvestment Act contained a lot of money in both unemployment insurance and food programs.
What do you expect the White House to serve – Kraft Dinner? Do you have any idea of international protocol, or the hospitality served to our heads of state abroad?
Posted by: tierra | November 24, 2009, 5:42 pm 5:42 pm
For vegetarians it will be very good, all others will most probably leave the table a bit hungry. A nice time will be had by all, I am sure. There are a lot of Indian-Americans in this country, can you imagine what would be said if there were Dunkin donuts and slurpees at a formal state dinner.
Posted by: Joyce Becker | November 24, 2009, 5:42 pm 5:42 pm
“Meanwhile layed off employees are hoping their food stamps will cover Turkey Day dinner and unemployment check make their house payment too!”
It should be noted that right wingers think food stamps and unemployment are only used by leeches, parasites and other colorful terms right wingers here have used to describe people that have been on assistance.
Posted by: Ryan C | November 24, 2009, 7:01 pm 7:01 pm
I think it is fantastic that they are touting/perhaps really even using produce from the White House garden (but lettuce from the garden in November – is that possible?) and having a fully vegetarian meal.
The outdoor tent idea – with heaters? – is just terrible; one of the biggest energy wasters of all, ever. Besides simply wasting energy, they also pollute the air with their fumes.
I am sure the Obamas will be out helping the less fortunate at Thanksgiving, too. That has a long tradition, which of course doesn’t mean it helps; it’s just a gesture, just like state dinners. But nice gestures are remembered; this one sounds thoughtful and welcoming, which is what one expects/hopes of the first family as hosts. Asking the guests to bring/suggest something might have been weird but would have made it more interactive.
Posted by: Ter | November 24, 2009, 8:17 pm 8:17 pm
It should be noted that right wingers
Posted by: Ryan C | Nov 24, 2009 7:01:34 PM
What’s funnier than the sarcastic comments is the righteous indignation of the defenders of all that is good. Oooo. So serious.
Posted by: Live for NY It's Sat Night! | November 24, 2009, 8:22 pm 8:22 pm
I wonder if the Indian prime minister knows or cares about American Idol. What a low class event.
Posted by: Lucila | November 24, 2009, 9:08 pm 9:08 pm
Find something else to complain about. The whining is soooo boring now.
Posted by: M | November 24, 2009, 10:13 pm 10:13 pm
Find something else to complain about. The whining is soooo boring now.
Posted by: M | November 24, 2009, 10:14 pm 10:14 pm
I wonder how much it’s going to cost to heat that tent? Did the Obama’s purchase carbon credits from Al Gore?
Posted by: Mrs. Black | November 24, 2009, 10:56 pm 10:56 pm
Interesting, colorful old fashioned social page post. Love the flower description. Where does one obtain Sweet Peas this time of year, New Zealand? At the risk of being called a hater, I do hope Santa will bring Ms. Miller Spellcheck and an Editor for Christmas, however.
Posted by: Fascinated | November 24, 2009, 11:38 pm 11:38 pm
Ms. Miller, just a little correction, Jennifer Hudson did not “win” season Three of American Idol. She was on Season three, however Fantasia won Season three.
Posted by: AHM | November 24, 2009, 11:47 pm 11:47 pm
Find something else to complain about. The whining is soooo boring now.
_________________________________
It’s true, all the right wing seems to do is whine . ..
Posted by: tierra | November 25, 2009, 12:23 am 12:23 am
The White House is not grand enough! a tent on the lawn in November? collard greens and corn bread? this tent has electricity, plumbing and heat? This sounds really expensive and kinda tacky at the same time. Isn’t that what the WH State Dining Room is for?
Posted by: Rhonda | November 25, 2009, 12:23 am 12:23 am
That is so classey and I love the decor! I find it amazing and imperitive that the first family can have some balance in there lives in such a so messed up and corrupt country that he inherited. And oh yes I am out of work,59, living off of savings,paid over $15,000 in state and federal taxes for 2008 because of early withdrawals. But I can’t blame the president for that.I also volunteer at a women’s and children shelter and see first hand what is going on and you can’t blame that on him. Get the picture?
Posted by: sheila | November 25, 2009, 1:08 am 1:08 am
It’s heartening that Sunlen Miller’s report captures every detail that has gone into the preparation of the state dinner for the visiting Indian PM rendering every moment a memorable piece of history. I’m surprised how ABC could not have acknowledged that AR Rahman bagged TWO Oscars last year!This significant achievement would have rendered the dessert more enjoyable. Cheers!
Posted by: BKS | November 25, 2009, 1:08 am 1:08 am
People seem to think this is an exclusively vegetarian menu which will be hard on / boring for non-vegetarians. In fact this is the way menus are often planned in India. The main course has a choice of vegetarian and non vegetarian. Prawns are shrimps, folks.
Posted by: Surinder Sidhoo | November 25, 2009, 7:27 am 7:27 am
It’s funny how everyone is complaining about how the Obama’s are handling these social functions. Where were you guys when Bush was running the country down? Why is it a low class event because Jennifer Hudson is going to entertain the guest? I think Jennifer has handled herself very respectably and deserves to be noticed. Find something better to complain about. Sorry if you lost your job or are struggling right now but we all are and news flassh folks he (Obama) is not the reason these things are happening he is merely trying to fix a problem some other person created! Let them have their dinner outside if they want to the people that attended are not complaining and I bet if soem of you were invited you would’nt be either. I served in the military and I am greatful that we have people like the Obama’s who are willing to engage everyone. Grow-up folks!
Posted by: Cinata | November 25, 2009, 8:50 am 8:50 am
Nice to see they are serving Virginia wine with dessert.
Posted by: geoc | November 25, 2009, 12:38 pm 12:38 pm
I think better use could have been put to the money wasted on the tents and heaters. Go inside where there is heat and plumbing already, save the money and donate it to the national debt or the homeless. Waste of taxpayers money on all the fluff
Posted by: Lori | November 25, 2009, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm
Yes – It is but ‘natural’ that an average tax payer of US is more aghast and annoyed at the White House ‘exquisite dinner’ in honour of the visisiing foreign dignitory – the Indian Prime Minister and his entourage at a time when the country is not doingg enough to alleviate the human anxieties caused by the recent economic-breakdown,
It is the same story the world over – The Political Showmanship and the Increase in the citizen-neglect seem to be inversely proportionate !!
Posted by: Vedapushpa | November 25, 2009, 8:13 pm 8:13 pm
Oh by the way…..I am having trouble finding out just how much this fiasco cost american taxpayers….ah yes, transparency at it’s finest.
Posted by: Jack Carter | November 26, 2009, 10:38 am 10:38 am
I am neither democrat or republican, I am for mankind, all mankind regardless of skin color or gender.I do wonder however how our political leaders can justify wasting taxpayer dollars all the while wining and dining other corrupt leaders with a clear conscience, knowing that the country is facing one the worst economical times in history. This state dinner is just the tip of the iceberg, we waste who knows how much on a giant tree for christmas Wouldnt it be nice if a politician came out in public and stated that because of the economy it is just not justifiable to continue wasting money on some of the traditions which are nice but not necessary, in lieu of saving taxpayers some money. I think that would go over great with all americans regardless of their political associations. Also as I read some of the other blogs I noticed several which think wasting taxpayers money is ok and Obama is just trying to correct what the Bush administration is responsible for. If the economy continues to decline even after all of Obamas policies are in effect. In what year can we expect the Obama administration to accept responsibility for their policies. Maybe 2012 when they are predicting cataclysmic occurences for the earth. I tell you, that would be the end of the world when we finally get a politician that takes responsibility for his own actions.
Posted by: mike | November 26, 2009, 12:25 pm 12:25 pm
I believe it was widely reported that the event was held in the heated tent because there was no place big enough, including the state dining room, inside.
Posted by: Rebecca Gavin | November 29, 2009, 11:49 am 11:49 am
Ravishing setting, beautifully handled. And as for the complaints, state dinners have been given at the White House for decades. I presume the complainers are just as outraged by past administrations’ entertaining.
Posted by: An Aesthete's Lament | December 1, 2009, 9:17 am 9:17 am
Why are people suddenly so upset about these presidential dinners?? Our present president is greener and more aware of being ostentatious (overly displaying) than most other administrations. Foreign dignitaries have to be entertained; what would you suggest??????
Posted by: lenore | December 3, 2009, 5:17 pm 5:17 pm
Vinaigrette??
Posted by: Paul | December 4, 2009, 4:45 pm 4:45 pm
You people are so Crazy, The Obamas has nothing to do with everything that goes on at the White House. The White House has a management firm that plans, schedule and everything else at the White House. Yes they get the First Family Option but the White House has been runned like this for years. Yes you can blame the Bushes for the war but you can blame them for any activity that go on in the White House. Every house has to have a house man or women.
Posted by: Faith | December 8, 2009, 11:48 am 11:48 am
I don’t like the menu. I didn’t find anything appetizing. :-[
Posted by: NMnm | January 19, 2011, 9:10 pm 9:10 pm
Why wasn’t the calories and fat content published by each item on the menu card? Don’t the White House guests need to be able to make informed decisions about what they’re eating?
Posted by: kd iver | January 25, 2011, 3:45 pm 3:45 pm