State Dinner Tuesday with the Obamas II

This was a plate (mid bites) prepared by White House Chef Sam Kass for the governor's formal dinner in February 2009.  The presidential seal is on the dessert chocolate and notice not a smudge - each one is checked for perfection.  This was Mrs. Obama's first formal dinner at the White House and she chose the Wilson China.

Watch C-SPAN for coverage that is uninterrupted and filled with salient tips from experts on everything from military protocol to the floral arrangements.  A State Occasion, let a lone a dinner, is lavish and meant to welcome a head of state with the finest of American hospitality at America's most famous address.   First Ladies traditionally show off their arrangements and release details regarding floral wonders, china selection, silverware settings and other details during the day.  The room (which is actually a tent on the South Lawn) tent is already arranged and the menu selected.  It is written by hand for each setting by the White House calligrapher's office.  Each course is designed, pre-tasted by the first lady and a small group of insiders and every seat has a handwritten name above each plate.  Mrs. Obama's press secretary Katie Lleyveld will be overwhelmed today as most microscopic minutiae will be fodder for the press and interested folks like me ... and you!

This is a state formal dinner using the Ronald Reagan dinner service. by Mrs. Bush.  Note the coloration of the American Beauty Roses and the plates.  These are decided once the gown is selected for the evening.  Photo courtesy the White House.

The custom is to not have spouses seated next to each other.  Mrs. Obama will be at a different table than her husband.  President Obama will toast his guest from the podium with the gilded eagle.  In the past year, President Obama got a sample of his first snafu at a fancy official White House dinner when the eagle podium collapsed as he was giving a toast.  The Chief Usher and the Head Butler were probably close to heart attacks as they plan down to the nano-second absolutely everything and always ensure there are back-ups for the back-ups. There is even spare pantyhose and other necessities for any guest who faces a wardrobe malfunction - within reason.  The floral designers have special pieces for the table settings and all thirty-five bathrooms, especially those on the state floor.

Mrs. Obama greets an esteemed guest at her first international state hosting assignment for the G-20 in Pennsylvania at Rosemont Farm before the world's first ladies sent down to a formal dinner on the patio.  The tablecloths and the china were a direct reflection of the dress Michelle Obama wore that evening.  Photo courtesy of the White House.

An assortment of contractors has been vetted and hired for this state occasion.  The kitchen is tense with anticipation, yet calm and orderly under the direction of veteran Executive Chef, Cristeta Comerford.  It's tight as a tick in the cramped quarters and everything is done in an efficiency experts dream of a manufacturing assembly line.  The dessert by Bill Yosses, the WH Pastry Chef and his assistant will feature a theme and down to the most exquisite drops will be completely edible. (The Pastry team from March 2009 at the White House prepare each plate in the State Dining Room.  Photo courtesy of the White House)

Here is the original post outlining protocol for the state dinner back in October.
More to come after I do my physical therapy...

11/24/09 UPDATE 1: From the Photo Spray held by FLOTUS displaying tonight's table settings on the South Lawn.  The beautiful grounds and rolling green lawn seem to be a key part of the inspiration.  It also is quite reminiscent of the Green Room with its silk moire in the White House where the Obama family had their official family portrait taken by Annie Libowitz.

Here what we can tell from this photo - Its the William Jefferson Clinton China with the gilded flatware from Barbara Bush.  The cushions on the chairs match the tablecloth and the linen napkins.  That means a stunning backdrop for what FLOTUS or Michelle Obama has chosen to wear.  (Photo courtesy CBS.)  The brand spanking new White House Chief floral designer, Laura Dowling (last week's East Wing hire is how new), will have an amazing centerpiece which we do not have photos of yet.

Update 2:  Michelle Obama held a luncheon for young women while featuring the protocol and precision involved in a state dinner.  The luncheon was held in the State Dining Room.  That Room was later used to showcase the table in a green reminiscent also of the Indian state colors of India and incredible green gems.  It is off set with plum colored stemware and vibrant floral decor. (Photo courtesy of AP)

Mrs. Gusharan Kuar at the arrival ceremony with a stunning jade and silvery moss colored sari as Mrs. Obama brings saffron or a buffed up mandarin orange with an India inspired embossed ensemble at the State Arrival ceremony.  The ceremony had to be moved indoors to the East Room so the military pomp and circumstance was absent with November weather teardrops on the White House Lawn. 

Update 3 - The piece that inspired the dinner - The Dress by Naeem Khan.

Guests run the gamut from Robin Roberts of ABC to Jeff Immelt of GE.  The tent seats 400 and the entertainment includes Kurt Elling and Jennifer Holiday.  In the above image they are in the Cross hall of the state floor where its customary to have your picture taken if the dinner was held inside the White House.  A guest chef helped with the vegetarian menu and the dessert pears were poached in the honey made by Mrs. Obamas bees. 

Weekend Fall Gardens Tour at 1600

Just outside the Oval Office and the Cabinet
Room the Rose Garden in fall bloom.  Most only see the grass during
press conferences but the area is trimmed in trees , pruned hedges and
a variety of flowers and of course, Roses.  Photo courtesy The Los Angeles Times
 
In November 2008, President Bush and President-elect Obama walk past a gorgeous visage of fall roses and flora on the West Colonnade past the Rose Garden.

Pat Nixon started the idea of a garden tour for the White House.  These 18 acres are one of the glowing crown jewels of the National Park System.  For two days each fall and spring the White House opens its doors to the public to see and tour the botanical landscape in two vastly different seasons, yet with stunning blooms. Someday I will actually arrange to take this tour and stand outside and wait for my first come first serve ticket on the Ellipse. (Fall 2008 Rose Garden courtesy all natural annie)

Burnished autumn leaves and bountiful cornucopias herald the arrival of the fall season.  Michelle Obama's bees are slowing down. The first lady has her resident carpenter/beekeeper to thank for granting her the ability to bestow a unique White House gift of homegrown local honey upon the G20 wives for her debut as international hostess.  One can only goggle what her honey would go for on the open market on eBay.  Yet, the tranquility of fall is a beautiful time at the White House as the crisp air warns of the coming holiday season and the upcoming social season in the executive mansion.  Now is the last time for 2009 to take in the tour - weather permitting, of the White House in its seasonal splendor.  Perhaps, there may be other tours once the holiday decorations go up but that is for the inside of the manor.  October 17th and 18th are the days set aside to bask in the air outdoors to view the blooms in the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, Rose Garden, Children's Garden, the South Lawn and a better look than the spring of Michelle Obama's Kitchen Garden.

The pergola is just barely visible where a great place to sit and contemplate or host a tea party in the gardens on the East side of the White House with the perfectly shaped topiary trees.

Vivid blooms will be found in the East Garden, more formally known as the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden.  The Children's Garden with its climbing tree, little iron sitting spots and the cement preserved hand prints of presidential kin is charming.  It leads to the garden most discussed around the world, Michelle Obama's Kitchen Garden.  That garden is only eight months old and produced a bumper crop of greens and vegetables that made it to the family plates and in salads a number of guests consumed, including members of congress.  On the White House website, Michelle Obama and chef Sam Kass give an overview of the idea and their thoughts about eating locally. 

Tuesday was Latina Fiesta night for an Evening at the White House performance broadcast tonight on PBS.  As a chef with two successful restaurants in New Jersey his menu blended Latin foods from a variety of geographical zones and ethnic identity.  The rare oooh & ahh moment came for Chef Maricel Presilla as he was able to go to the Kitchen Garden and harvest greens, tomatillos for spicy pepper sauce and use some of the honey.  Part of the bumper crop from the White House gets donated to a local nonprofit to feed the hungry and the homeless.  Its popularity leads to Michelle Obama kicking off the 40th season of Sesame Street on November 10th talking about gardens and local food.  It is this garden that many in the public are anxious to get a closer look atm but it is strictly look, don't touch.  You would be eating Malia & Sasha's food for next week!

This is the Children's Garden during a spring Garden tour.  The little ones are fascinated by the handprints of many of the first children started by President & Ladybird Johnson and the fish pond.

Handprints in the Children's Garden flagstone of President & Barbara Bush's granddaughters done during his time in office and not while their parents were in the White House.  Photo courtesy the Bush White House (We do not know if Sasha & Malia did their handprints over the summer - maybe someone on the tour can report back and let us know!)

It would not be the White House, rich with presidents who were farmers first, to not tie in famous quotes on the land and its use.  Thomas Jefferson rotated crops and found good crop yields at Monticello.  He brought the idea of the formal English style gardens to the White House along with the colonnades as an eighteenth century garage for horses.The magnolia tree planted by Andrew Jackson, the trees dedicated by President and Mrs. Hillary Clinton, the South Lawn treehouse loving built by grandpa, otherwise known around the world as President Jimmy Carter.

This is the Thomas Jefferson quote placed in the Obama Kitchen Garden by the White House culinary staff.  Photo courtesy Obama Foodorama.

The garden tour is almost forty years old now.  It is a ticket that will take advantage of seeing the White House scenery at its best for fall. Here is the link to the Spring Garden tour, exactly 6 months ago, Gardens of the White House.

Michelle's First State Dinner for India

The George W. Bush China Service

India, a democratic superpower has over a billion citizens with its own arsenal of nuclear weapons and the shared disgrace with America of being one of the top three polluters on the planet will have the distinct honor of being the first nation to receive the full ceremonial honors from a state visit.  No doubt, difficult topics will be discussed by the heads of state.  Yet, it is Michelle Obama who is going to hold the spotlight as she chooses, flatware, table coverings, floral design, china patterns, glassware, the menu(s), entertainment and music, seating arrangements, invitations for teas, luncheons and the attendees for the historic first state dinner on November 24th while choosing a never before seen fully formal gown to be discussed for eternity.  Believe it or not, the gown actually helps settle the detailed choices of color used in the State Dining Room's or the East Room's table decor.  Either room may be used and the East Room would hold more elegant diners, but makes the after dinner entertainment space a new challenge.  If Michelle Obama is a last minute dress chooser - oh dear. (Photo of Obamas going up the Grand Staircase back to the residence after greeting Ambassadors to the US.)

Her staff has been on the case since May.  No rest for the weary as November looms large in the Obama White House cultural portfolio.  Michelle Obama received kudos for her first turn as an international hostess with the G20 heads of state and their spouses.  Her choice of a gift for the event was rare and a keepsake.  The huge state dinner is the Tuesday before Thanksgiving which makes it doubly rich for grand and gravy leftovers.  That Wednesday the president should pardon a turkey - lately the saved pre-poultry birds have dined on some incredible tranquilizers before meeting the president due to some of the wilder pardon photos.

This is what Michelle Obama gave as hostess to the G20 spouses.  It is an exclusive porcelain tea set mirroring the Lincoln china in the White House with US national flower (American Beauty Rose) at the bottom of the teacups made by a one hundred year old Illinois company.  The little vials of honey and the larger container is honey produced directly from Michelle Obamas world famous Kitchen Garden, Photo courtesy LA Times

Mrs. Obama must also make Blair House ready and work with the State Departments protocol experts on name pronunciation, food requirements, allergies and taboos, complete with full black tie etiquette.  A briefing book has already been compiled and the secret invite right now is for the under two dozen friends and staff that get to attend a tasting menu featuring choices for the meals.  Her residence staff is theming floral pieces for all of the bathrooms and a host of contract workers need to be ready to produce the pièce de résistance of an elaborate multi-course meal for at most 140 people.  It will be the hardest ticket to obtain in Washington DC since the inaugural.  All those people who have spent time sucking up to the first lady's friend and Social Secretary while writing puff pieces about her are about to find out if the investment was worth it.

In February 2009, the Obamas had a trial run at a high level black-tie event for the US governors.  Here they dance in the East Room to Earth Wind & Fire playing live.

The East Wing communication staff will arrange a day of photo spray for the press to see Mrs. Obama in front of a fully set table complete with hand crafted calligraphy table cards while explaining which China pattern she is choosing to use.  The menus for each setting will feature the salads, American vintage wines, entrées and desserts all in the same calligraphy style.  It is usually a keepsake from the White House along with the invitation requesting the honor of their presence.  That is definitely still a secret, but the Wilson China has made a debut.  Part of the decision is made on which full sets of China are available in the right colors for a state dinner - Ronald Reagan China in a bold red, the George W. Bush set - never yet used in a green with basketweave pattern, the Clinton China with the golden rims and 24-karat gold images of the White House dead center, with which full set of flatware is available.  The last first lady to purchase a full set of gilded formal flatware, late 19th century reproductions from Kirk Steiff of Baltimore, for elegant entertaining in the White House is Barbara Bush.  Her daughter-in-law also purchased large sterling silver serving pieces.

The stunning table arrangement here is the 2007 white tie setting for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.  White tie is usually reserved as a royal honor.  This was an excellent use of the William Jefferson Clinton china service by Laura Bush.  This table is set to handle five courses rather than the usual four for a state dinner.

Formal arrival ceremony

The newly re-elected fourteenth Prime Minister of the Republic of India, Manmohan Singh and his lovely wife, Gursharan Kaur will receive the full ceremonial honors of arriving at the South Lawn.  After a troop review and opening remarks, the couples will go through the Diplomatic Reception Room and usually share some time together before the spouses go one direction and the heads of state another.  After a luncheon, the next arrival will be on the North side of the White House in view of the world's press as they are formally greeted by the president and first lady in formal attire on the red carpet.  They will go upstairs and have a moment to share in the Yellow Oval Room in the private residence.  Just before dinner, Ruffles and Flourishes will announce the president and first lady as they descend the Grand Staircase with their honored guests to stand and welcome each invited guest in the Entrance hall as the President's Own plays and photographers film. There are vast differences in height so the images will need some thinking through by the professionals.  (Gursharan Kaur with Michelle Obama from April in London during the Obamas first meeting of the G20.)

Prime Minister Singh, President Barack Obama, Mrs. Gusharan Kaur and Mrs. Michelle Obama at the arrival for the working and spouse dinner.

Michelle gives welcoming remarks at the dinner party held on a patio at Rosemont Farms for the G20 spouses.  Photo courtesy the White House

Can't wait for November 24th.  All of the public ceremony is usually covered in full by the wonderful station I love, C-SPAN.

UPDATE:  The latest Obama State Dinner post is here... State Dinner Tuesday with the Obamas