White House hosts state dinner for Chinese President Xi with American-Chinese menu

On Sept. 24, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed President Xi Jinping to a state dinner in the White House’s East Room. The menu, released by the White House, combined American ingredients like sea bass, baby bok choy, and yellow squash with subtle Chinese touches, aiming to showcase culinary ties between the two nations. Red table linens and urns of red blossoms were chosen to reflect a color important in Chinese culture.

Guests began with a toast of Schramsberg sparkling wine, the same brand Nixon drank during his historic 1972 trip to Beijing. The three-course meal featured a yellow squash velouté starter, a sesame-crusted sea bass main, and a vanilla crémeux dessert with White House honey ice cream. Entertainment was provided by opera singer Christopher Macchio, who had performed at the Republican midterm convention, along with musicians from the U.S. Army and Marine Corps.