President Obama and his former political foe-turned-ally Hillary Clinton caught up over an al fresco lunch at the White House this afternoon.

Their meeting comes amid rampant speculation that the former secretary of state is readying a presidential run in 2016. Today's get-together, however, was "chiefly social," according to the White House.

"Much has been written about over the last four years how Secretary Clinton and the president have developed not just a strong working relationship but also a genuine friendship," Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters. "It's largely friendship that's on the agenda for the lunch today, so it's not a working lunch as much as it is an opportunity for the two who saw each other on a pretty frequent basis over the course of the last four years to get a chance to catch up."

Sitting on the patio outside the Oval Office, the former rivals enjoyed a meal of grilled chicken, pasta jambalaya and salad.

Their meeting was the president's idea. He extended the invitation to Clinton, according to Earnest.

The meetings continue tomorrow. Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden are having breakfast in the morning at the Naval Observatory, a White House official confirms.