It was by invitation only as the well turned-out guests arrived at the White House on Tuesday evening (US time) for the first state dinner hosted by the President and the first lady. The lavish affair was held in honour of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. While there is an important diplomatic purpose to all this, America's first couple threw quite a party.
It was by invitation only, as the well turned-out guests arrived at the White House on Tuesday evening (US time) for the first state dinner hosted by the President and the first lady. The lavish affair was held in honour of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. While there is an important diplomatic purpose to all this, America’s first couple threw quite a party. (AFP Photo)
The first state dinner of Barack Obama's presidency, in honor of visiting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, took place in a tent set up on the White House South Lawn, with a view of the Washington Monument. (AFP Photo)
With a carefully planned out list of just 320 guests, the dress code for the dinner party was black tie. President Obama and the first lady Michelle seen here waiting at the red carpet to greet the Indian PM Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur. (AFP Photo)
Soon the Indian PM arrived, dressed in a Nehruvian jacket accompanied with his wife Gursharan Kaur who was dressed in a traditional Indian saree. (NYT Photo)
Seen here, President Obama and his first lady Michelle greeting PM Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur. (AFP Photo)
Both the couples posed together for photographs. Then, PM Manmohan Singh and his wife were escorted inside the dining hall, by America’s first couple. (AFP Photo)
Tables set in apple green, ruby and gold with arrangements of roses, hydrangeas and sweet peas awaited guests to Tuesday's White House state dinner.
The place settings in fine china from three previous administrations - Eisenhower, Clinton and George W. Bush - are flanked by crystal glasses and five pieces of silverware. Place cards are handwritten, including two that read "The President" and "Mrs. Obama." (AFP Photo)
Guests sat at round tables for 10, with the floral arrangements intended to pay homage to the state bird of India, the Indian peacock, and the dinner featuring a seasonal menu reflecting American and Indian flavours. (AFP Photo)
The first course was a potato and eggplant salad made with White House-grown arugula and accompanied by an onion-seed vinaigrette. Red lentil soup with fresh cheese followed, and then a choice of entrees: roasted potato dumplings with tomato chutney, chickpeas and okra for vegetarians, or green curry prawns and caramelized salsify with smoked collard greens.
Dessert was pumpkin pie tart or pear tatin with whipped cream and caramel sauce. Each course is paired with its own wine, all of American vintage. (AFP Photo)
Michelle Obama worked with guest chef Marcus Samuelsson and White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford to "create a menu that 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.
The herbs and lettuces were harvested from the White House Kitchen Garden started by the first lady, and honey from the White House beehive is being used to poach the dessert pears. (AFP Photo)
The entertainment lineup promised to be as stellar. Singer-actress Jennifer Hudson and jazz vocalist and composer Kurt Elling, both Grammy Award winners from the Obamas' hometown of Chicago, were performing. Hudson also won an Academy Award for her role in "Dreamgirls." Indian musician and singer A.R. Rahman, who won two Academy Awards for the music in "Slumdog Millionaire," also was in the lineup. (AFP Photo)
The guest list, which the White House released a few hours before dinner was to begin, was a mix of wonky Washington, Hollywood A-listers, prominent figures from the Indian community in the U.S., and Obama friends, family and campaign donors.
Among them were actors Alfre Woodard and Blair Underwood, Hollywood moguls Steven Spielberg, David Geffen and Jeffrey Katzenberg. Guests with ties to India included spiritual adviser Deepak Chopra, director M. Night Shyamalan and PepsiCo chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi. Katie Couric of CBS News, Brian Williams of NBC News, Robin Roberts of ABC News and CNN Medical Correspondent Sanjay Gupta were among the media representatives invited. (AFP Photo)
