But the table at the White House state banquet to be held in his and his wife Yuko Kishida's honor on Wednesday will be filled with evidence of cultural solidarity between Japan and the United States, and there will be plenty of flowers. .
The White House on Tuesday held a preview of the food and decorations that will greet guests at Wednesday's gala, which first lady Jill Biden promised will be “meaningful and memorable.” Guests who dine under silk butterflies from both countries are meant to understand the meaning: “As our two countries weather the winds of change, we will work together as partners in peace and prosperity.” said Mr. Biden.
The Bidens' state dinner style is now well established (this week marks the fifth such black-tie gathering). The menu typically incorporates elements of the visiting guest's cuisine for an elegant mashup while showcasing American produce and products. The appearance of beef is noticeable. (And yes, there's always ice cream, a dessert that presidents have famously enjoyed an affection for for decades.)
The Wednesday dinner dishes that exemplify that approach are the appetizers. White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford said she was inspired by California rolls. The California roll is a menu item found at most sushi restaurants in the continental United States and is widely thought to have been invented by the Japanese. Golden State Chef. Mr Comerford said the “iconic” bread roll was “a great culinary innovation for both countries”. The starter salad features house-cured salmon, served with crunchy watermelon radish, grapefruit, avocado, cucumber, and accented with tempura-fried shiso leaves. Perilla leaves are a mint-adjacent herb with a citrusy aroma that is often used as a garnish for sushi.
The shoutout to Japanese cuisine continues with the main course. The ribeye steak is served with buttery blistered shishito peppers, an ingredient commonly found on both Japanese and American menus. Chewy morel mushroom and fava bean fricassee is served with sesame oil sabayon. Sabayon is an interesting-sounding sauce that combines the Asian flavor of sesame seeds with a traditional French dish often found in dessert courses.
And it wouldn't be a Biden affair without a scoop to round out the meal: dessert, a salted caramel pistachio cake with Bing cherry ice cream, but with a lingering elegance and Japanese influence thanks to the matcha-flavored ganache ing. Powdered green tea (buy it at Starbucks) has become popular among American drinkers in recent years. Pastry chef Susie Morrison said the cherry is reminiscent of the flowers that ring in the Tidal Basin each spring (though we wonder if it's actually a non-fruiting variety). I think).
The White House has chosen to abandon the tradition of bringing in guest chefs to assist the regular kitchen team, but the practice continues even after the Obamas succeeded in adding more star power to their state dinners. It continues. Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, a native of Japan, helped the Obamas congratulate then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe the last time they brought a Japanese leader to the White House.
Decorations for George W. Bush and Lyndon B. Johnson's dinner in China's State Dining Room included Japanese motifs such as fans and carp, as well as 6-foot-tall hydrangeas native to the United States. Decorated. Everything in America and Japan is dazzlingly designed. Further proof that we're all in: After-dinner entertainment will be by legendary musician Paul Simon.
There's no sake on the menu, but the wines are all from the Pacific, including Chardonnay from Willamette Valley's Lingua Franca Winery, Long Shadows Pirouette Red Blend from Columbia Valley, and a bubbly rosé from Willamette's Argyle . Northwest, an area with a large Japanese American population.
Avocado, red grapefruit, watermelon radish, cucumber
shishito pepper butter
Fricassee of fava beans, morels and cipollini
salted caramel pistachio cake
Lingua Franca Bunker Hill Chardonnay 2021, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Long Shadows Pirouette 2019, Columbia Valley, Washington
Argyle Vintage Brut Rosé 2020, Willamette Valley, Oregon