Photo Gallery: 5 Obama Dinner Menus

1. State Dinner Honoring Indian PM Manmohan Singh

November 24, 2009

The menu for President Obama's first state dinner was created by guest chef (and Food Republic co-founder) Marcus Samuelssson and White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford. Regional American cooking was featured with an Indian flare, of course, for the guest of honor.

THE MENU

FIRST: Potato and eggplant salad; White House arugula with onion seed vinaigrette

SECOND: Red lentil soup with fresh cheese; roast potato dumplings with tomato chutney

MAIN: Chickpeas and okra or green curry prawns with caramelized salsify with smoked collard greens and coconut-aged basmati

DESSERT: Pumpkin pie tart; Pear tatin; Whipped cream and caramel sauce

2. State Dinner Honoring Chinese President Hu Jintao

January 19, 2011

White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford and Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses constructed this "All-American" meal requested by the Chinese delegation. What could be more American than steak and potatoes, followed by apple pie?

THE MENU

FIRST: D'Anjou pear with farmstead goat cheese; fennel, black walnuts, and white balsamic

SECOND: Poached Maine lobster; orange-glazed carrots and black trumpet mushrooms

MAIN: Dry aged ribeye with buttermilk crisp onions; double-stuffed potatoes and creamed spinach

DESSERT: Old fashioned apple pie with vanilla ice cream

3. "Return State Dinner" for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

May 25, 2011

After a state banquet was held in President Obama's honor at Buckingham Palace, the Obamas hosted the Queen for an intimate dinner at the Windsor House in London. Sticking to the familiar, the President and First Lady arranged an American-inspired feast for Her Majesty and Prince Philip, plus a few choice guests including J.K. Rowling, Colin Firth and David Beckham.

THE MENU

FIRST: Lobster ravioli

MAIN: Griddled filet of aged highlands beef; crushed Jersey Royals potatoes with rosemary asparagus and minted broad beans

DESSERT: pecan pie with brandy ice cream 

4. The Obama 2011 Super Bowl Menu

February 6, 2011

The Obamas celebrated last year's big game, Super Bowl XLV, with a smorgasbord of bar food and their own White House home-brewed Honey Ale. (According to Obama Foodorama, they kept it chill this year as they watched the Giants beat the Patriots, ordering pizzas.) But don't go thinking that it was all unhealthy—there is a salad buried somewhere on this party menu. 

THE MENU

MAINS: Bratwurst; kielbasa; cheeseburgers; Buffalo wings; deep dish pizza

SIDES: German potato salad; twice-baked potatoes; salad

CHIPS: Snyders potato chips and pretzels

DESSERT: Ice cream

DRINKS: Yuengling Lager and Light; Hinterland Pale Ale and Amber Ale; White House Honey Ale

5. State Dinner Honoring Chancellor Angela Merkel

June 07, 2011

This "Spring Harvest Dinner" featured a bounty of seasonal ingredients. But the real highlight was dessert—the White House chefs daringly prepared an apple strudel for the Chancellor of Germany. That took guts.

THE MENU

FIRST: White House garden chopped salad with fine herbs and White House honey gastrique

SECOND: Tuna tartare with rye crisps; pickled young carrots and mustard oil; spring pea salad; shaved ham and ginger snaps

MAIN: Petite filet with Maryland crab ravioli; wild ramp puree

DESSERT: Apple strudel with golden raisins and topfen