World leaders feast on culinary delights at White House

THE WORLD IS COMING CLOSER

As they discussed the global financial meltdown at a working dinner in the White House, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other leaders of the G-20 were treated to a range of mouthwatering dishes from quail and lamb to eggplant fondue, a Swiss delicacy.

The banquet hosted by US President George W Bush and First Lady Laura Bush was attended by top world leaders like Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Chinese President Hu Jintao, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The office of the First Lady said the menu included ‘fruitwood-smoked quail with quince gastrique’, ‘quinoa risotto’, ‘thyme-roasted rack of lamb’, ‘tomato, fennel and eggplant fondue’ and a salad course of ‘endive’, ‘baked vermont brie’ and ‘walnut crostini’.

 

To top the meal in the State Dining Room of the White House, there were ‘pear torte’ and ‘huckleberry sauce’.

Among the wines were Shafer Cabernet “Hillside Select” 2003 — about $300 per bottle - for the main course and Landmark Chardonnay “Damaris Reserve” 2006 (about $40 per bottle) with the appetiser. The Chandon Etoile Rose sparkling wine accompanied the desserts.