'Toast to Peace'. Crusted sea bass, baby bok choy on Trump-China dinner menu - USA Today
President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will break bread at the White House tonight as the foreign leader continues his three-day state visit.
Trump and first lady Melania Trump are hosting Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, for a state dinner on Sept. 24 after a grand arrival ceremony on the White House grounds. Xi's state visit officially began on Sept. 23 after he and Liyuan touched down outside of Washington.
Though Trump has likened his unopened White House ballroom to China's Great Hall, the space is not ready to go on display for leaders like Xi. Instead, the state dinner will take place in the White House's East Room.
Beside the delegations, other expected attendees of the dinner include tech industry leaders like Apple's Tim Cook, Tesla's Elon Musk and Open AI's Sam Altman. At least one lawmaker, House Speaker Mike Johnson, intends to join, USA TODAY previously reported.
Here's a look at the menu and other details for the dinner.
Melania Trump led the preparations for the dinner, which features a menu of items with American ingredients and "subtle Chinese influence," according to a release from her office.
The meal will begin with a toast of Schramsberg Blanc De Noir sparkling wine, a nod to the "Toast to Peace" between former President Richard Nixon and Premier Zhou Enlai with the same drink in Beijing in 1972, the release said.
"The first course offers a refined and silky-smooth velouté made of sweet yellow squash. This course is gently blended to highlight its delicate seasonal flavors of earthy wild mushrooms, sautéed with fresh herbs. Together, these ingredients create a rich fricassée, complemented by crispy pancetta for a savory and smoky contrast. A finishing drizzle of scallion oil adds vibrance and a subtle allium brightness to the dish."
"The second course is prepared delicately with fresh seabass and coated in toasted sesame seeds. This combination creates a fragrant nutty crust while keeping the fish tender. The fish is served with crisp baby bok choy and roasted garden eggplant, creating lightly caramelized flavors. The dish is finished with a vibrant sauce verte of fresh herbs, which add brightness, acidity, and a garden character."
"The dessert course is a smooth vanilla crémeux with a vibrant sour cherry confit center, set a top a rich walnut frangipane. The dessert’s fruit shaped form is complimented by a delicate ice cream made with harvested White House honey."
In addition to the fixings, the Trump administration is also cooking up a slate of entertainment for the state dinner with Xi.
Opera singer Christopher Macchio, who has performed at several Trump-backed events in the past, will headline the lineup. Musicians from the US Marine Corps and the US Army – including the US Marine Band, the US Army Chorus and US Army Strings – will also perform.
The decor for the event will draw on the color red and its "longstanding cultural significance throughout Chinese history," including red table linens and urns with red blossoms, according to the White House.
Contributing: Francesca Chambers and Miles J. Herszenhorn, USA TODAY
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. Keep up with her on X @melinakh and Instagram @bymelinakhan.
