In picking a theme for the decor for the Obama administration’s first state dinner with India, the first lady went for the obvious: garden.
Michelle Obama’s green thumbprints were all over the decor, food and flower arrangements at Tuesday’s big event held outside in the South Lawn under a big tent.
The tent was decorated to look like a garden with magnolia branches hugging the walls of the structure. And the flower arrangements — composed of hydrangeas, garden roses and sweet peas — were to mimic the look of a “classic American garden,” we’re told. White House arugula, from the garden, was served in the salad, along with vegetables from other local sources.
“It’s going to include the freshest ingredients from area farmers and purveyors,” Obama said of the food, as she debuted the menu and place settings Tuesday afternoon for a gaggle of reporters and young women from the White House’s Leadership and Mentoring Program. “And because of all of the hard work of some other kids in the community, we’ve got this wonderful White House kitchen garden out in the South Lawn and we’re going to use some of the herbs from that garden in tonight’s dinner as well,” she gushed.
In a affair where every choice sends a message, the Obamas’ zeal for gardening and sustainable foods was clear, but they made sure the dinner included touches of India as well. The deep purple flower arrangements placed at the center of the round 10-person tables were to pay homage to the state bird of India, the India peacock, according to the first lady’s office. And White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford and guest chef Marcus Samuelsson flavored one of the dishes, prawns over salsify and collard greens, with curry, and included a tomato chutney with the vegetarian option of roasted potato dumplings with chick peas and okra.
America’s history in dealing with India was given a nod to as well, in selecting Dwight D. Eisenhower’s china as part of the table setting. Eisenhower was the first United States president to visit an independent India. Gold-rimmed china from the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations were used as well.
