As Donald Trump and Xi Jinping met at the White House for a state dinner on Thursday, culinary diplomacy was on the menu for the guests who included business leaders and government officials.
“The menu showcases American ingredients with subtle Chinese influence, bringing the culinary traditions of both nations together,” the office of American first lady Melania Trump said.
Xi was dressed in a black Zhongshan suit – colloquially known as a “Mao suit” – while Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan wore a long red gown.
Trump wore a black suit with a black bow tie, while his wife was dressed in a white blouse with a large bow paired with high-waisted dark trousers and heels.
Guests began the evening by raising their glasses of blanc de noirs from California in a toast. The sparkling wine is from the same vineyard – Schramsberg – that supplied wine for the historic 1972 “Toast to Peace” between then US president Richard Nixon and Chinese premier Zhou Enlai in Beijing.
The dinner menu featured a smooth yellow squash veloute, paired with a wild mushroom fricassee, crispy pancetta and a drizzle of scallion oil to start.
For the main course, sesame-crusted sea bass was paired with braised baby bok choy, roasted garden eggplant and a sauce verte of fresh herbs.
And for dessert, a smooth vanilla cremeux with a sour cherry confit centre set on a walnut frangipane was accompanied by ice cream made with harvested White House honey.
Entertainment for the evening featured classical tenor Christopher Macchio, who performed at Trump’s presidential inauguration last year, alongside elite military ensembles the Marine Band, the Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, the Army Chorus and Army Strings.
The White House also leaned into the cultural significance of red in Chinese history, with plenty of red linen and red flowers including dahlias and ranunculus.
On the tables were vermeil from the White House collection and china from the Reagan State Service with alternating gold and red bands.
During Trump’s visit to Beijing in May, the state bouquet at the Great Hall of the People featured lotus flowers and miniature replicas of local landmarks, including the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests.
In Beijing, beneath glittering chandeliers, officials and business leaders mingled before Xi and Trump toasted a successful summit.
The Chinese menu featured lobster in tomato soup, crispy beef ribs, Peking duck, stewed seasonal vegetables, slow-cooked salmon in mustard sauce and pan-fried pork buns.
The dessert selection featured trumpet shell-shaped pastries, tiramisu, fruit and ice cream. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
