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First Lady of The United States, Jill Biden hosted a media preview in advance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s State Dinner at The White House in the 22nd Of June. PM Modi arrived in the US on Wednesday and after hosting a record-setting yoga session, is set to dine with President Biden and 400 other distinguished guests at a pavilion on the South Lawn later today.
The predominatly vegetarian menu has been conceived by Jill Biden in collaboration with Guest Chef Nina Curtis, White House executive chef Cris Comerford, and White House executive pastry chef Susie Morrison. The menu celebrates the International Year Of Millets and reflects Indian-inspired flavours. "We have been working on this menu for the State Dinner for a few months. The First Lady and I are thrilled, and I believe we have successfully fulfilled our mission," Chef Curtis has said, adding that she was very excited to incorporate millets into the menu.
The meal will begin with a Marinated Millet and Grilled Corn Kernel Salad with a fruity Compressed Watermelon and Tangy Avocado Sauce. The main course is set to be Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms with Creamy Saffron-infused Risotto, with an option to order Sumac-roasted Sea Bass with a delectable Lemon-Dill Yogurt Sauce with Crisped Millet Cakes and Summer Squashes. The meal wraps up with a simple but elegant Rose and Cardamom-infused Strawberry Shortcake. Alongside the meal will be choices of a 2011 Stone Tower Chardonnay “Kristi”, a 2019 Patel Red Blend and a Domaine Carneros Fruit Rose.
The theme for the decor was inspired by the peacock, India’s national bird and the tables will be draped in green with saffron flowers to honour the Tricolour. A forest green backdrop with an eagle and a peacock has been created for the occasion to represent the coming together of the two nations, with the peacock clutching stalks of millet.
Post dinner, they’re set to enjoy musical performances by Grammy Award winner Joshua Bell, and Penn Masala, a South Asian acapella group from the University of Pennslyvania who Jill Biden says will be “ bringing a little piece of my hometown to the White House along with songs inspired by the sounds of India.”
