President Barack Obama hasn’t hosted many White House State Dinners, but tomorrow night Hawaii Governor David Ige and his wife will get to attend a highly anticipated one honoring Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. We’ve already reported on the politics behind the dinner and Abe’s visit to Washington (click here for that story), but some in Washington are more interested in the culinary aspects of dinner.
According to this Politco story on the dinner, Ige’s in for a treat–in fact, Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto himself will be a guest chef. The menu is appropriately impressive:
After a sake toast of Dassai 23, a pure-rice Junmai Daiginjo sake from Asahi Shuzo, the multi-course meal kicks off with a toro tartare and Caesar sashimi salad—an inspired take on two classic dishes, one American, one Japanese.
That’s just the first course, which also includes “A palate-cleansing Bok Choy vegetable consommé” and “shikai maki, which is like a giant, decorative maki roll, but with more ingredients, and typically shaped in a square.”
Here’s the deal with the dinner entrees:
Entrées shift towards more regional fare, including an American Wagyu beef tenderloin with spring vegetables, including young carrots, baby cauliflower and ramps from the farmers’ market. The roasted beef is topped with a Maui onion veal jus—another hat-tip to Hawaii, Obama’s native state. The main course wine is a Morlet Family Vineyards Pinot Noir.
Yeah, I guess that sounds good. Anyway, Politico has a lot more detail on the meal (including dessert) and the new “Kailua Blue” China pattern that all that lovely food will rest on: Politico.com/story/2015/04/white-house-state-dinner-honors-japanand-china-117379.html
Official White House photo of President Barack Obama checking out the new White House “Kailua Blue” China: Pete Souza
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