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Obama's State Dinner Honoring Mexico

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Obama's State Dinner Honoring Mexico

The Menu, Guest List and More Details from the State Dinner Honoring Mexico's President Felipe Calderon






The Pictures

Images from President and first lady's state dinner, held in the East Room of the White House and inside a tent on the South Lawn.

Pictures: The White House State Dinner
More Details on the Event






The Menu

Jicama with Oranges, Grapefruit, and Pineapple

Citrus Vinaigrette

Ulises Valdez Chardonnay 2007 "Russian River"

Herb Green Ceviche of Hawaiian Opah

Sesame-Cilantro Cracker

Oregon Wagyu Beef in Oaxacan Black Mole

Black Bean Tamalon and Grilled Green Beans

Herrera Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 "Seleccion Rebecca"

Chocolate-Cajeta Tart

Toasted Homemade Marshmallows

Graham Cracker Crumble and Goat Cheese Ice Cream

Mumm Napa "Carlos Santana Brut" N/V

More Details on the Event

Menus from Other White House Dinners






The China

The tables were set with china from the White House's historic collection:

Clinton - China, 2000

Trenton, N.J., Lenox, Inc. Gift of the White House Historical Association, 2000. Commissioned to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the White House.

Eisenhower - Porcelain, 1955

New Castle, Penn., Castleton China, Inc. U.S. Government purchase, 1955.

More Details on the Event






The Decor

Seating Arrangements:

For the dinner, which took place in the East Room of the White House, guests sat at a combination of rectangular and round tables set for 10, while the two presidents and first ladies sat at a head table of 20. Tables were covered in boldly striped linens made in three hues of Mayan blue.

Floral Arrangements and Centerpieces:

The centerpieces were arranged in handmade woven baskets that had been gilded. Bouquets of fuchsia flowers, including seasonal Yve Piaget garden roses, amnesia roses and Cattleya orchids, were mixed with scented geranium foliage and prickly pear cactus.

Performance Decor and Arrangements:

The performances took place inside a tent on the South Lawn of the White House. The tables were decorated in natural shades of oranges and greens. The focal point of each table was a bouquet of marzipan and chocolate flowers. The flowers are made into roses, the national flower of America, and dahlias, the national flower of Mexico.

More Details on the Event






The Guest List

The guests of honor are Mexico's President Felipe Calderon and his wife, Margarita Zavala. Other political guests scheduled to attend included Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

From the entertainment world, guests expected to attend included Eva Longoria Parker, Mark Sanchez, Whoopi Goldberg, George Lopez and Gayle King.

The Full Guest List

More Details on the Event





The Performers

Beyonce, Mexican singing duo Rodrigo y Gabriela and the United States Marine Band are performed inside the tent on the South Lawn of the White House.

More Details on the Event





The First State Dinner


Images from President and first lady's first state dinner, honoring the Prime Minister of India, held in a tent on the South Lawn of the White House.

Pictures: White House Arrivals

Pictures: Scenes from the State Dinner

All the Details from the First State Dinner




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