Obama’s first State Dinner heavy on veggies

The menu for President Barack Obama’s State Dinner for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Tuesday night will feature only one item from the White House garden, hardy arugula lettuce.

As for the main course, red meat is off the menu; guests will be given a choice of potato dumplings or curried prawns.

Three kinds of gold and white presidential china will be used at the dinner, the Eisenhower, Clinton, and George W. Bush sets. The reason is simple: there are more than 400 guests, which will require more place settings than any one First Lady ever ordered for her china, although Hillary Clinton came close with 300 twelve-piece settings in 2000. All three of the represented china patterns have been used during state dinners for Indian prime ministers in the past.

State Dinner Menu:

First course: Potato and Eggplant Salad. White House Arugula with onion seed vinaigrette


– 2008 sauvignon blanc, Modus Oprendi, Napa Valley, California

Second course: Red lentil soup with fresh cheese


– 2008 Riesling Brooks “Ara” Wilamette Valley, Oregon

Third Course: Roasted Potato Dumplings with tomato chutney
, chick peas and okra 
or 
green curry prawns
, caramelized salsify with smoked collard greens and coconut aged basmati

– 2007 granache, Beckman Vineyars, Santa Ynez, California

Fourth Course: Pumpkin Pie tart, 
pear tatin
, whipped cream and caramel sauce


– Sparkling Chardonnay, Thibaut Janisson Brut, Monticello, Virginia


Fifth Course: Petits Fours and Coffee
 Cashew Brittle
, Pecan Pralines, 
Passion Fruit and Vanilla Gelees,
 Chocolate dipped fruit