More than 400 guests were invited to a dinner hosted by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden in a specially decorated gazebo on the South Lawn of the White House.
Posted Date – Fri 06/23/23 11:00am
Washington: Big names in tech, film and fashion, as well as billionaire industrialists were invited to a state dinner hosted for Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House on Thursday.
Given the dietary restrictions of the visiting prime minister, the menu is mostly vegetarian, including pickled millet, stuffed mushrooms, grilled corn kernel salad and cardamom strawberry shortcake.
More than 400 guests were invited to a dinner hosted by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden in a specially decorated gazebo on the South Lawn of the White House.
Indian billionaires Mukesh Ambani and Anand Mahindra, Apple CEO Tim Cook and corporate leader Indira Indira Nooyi is a guest. Also in attendance were CEOs of Google, Microsoft and Adobe, Sunder Pichai, Satya Nadella and Shantanu Narayen.
The state dinner started with marinated millet, grilled corn salad, compressed watermelon and tangy guacamole, with stuffed portobello mushrooms and creamy saffron risotto for main courses.
Dishes available on request include sumach grilled sea bass with lemon dill yoghurt sauce, crispy millet cake and zucchini. Dessert was Rose and Cardamom Strawberry Shortcake. Wines on the list include Stone Tower Chardonnay “Kristi” 2021, PATEL Red Blend 2019 and Domain Carneros Brut Rose.
The guest list also includes human rights activist Martin Luther King III, tennis legend Billie Jean King, filmmaker M. Knight Shyamalan, fashion designer Ralph Lauren, Grammy Award winner Joshua Bell and entrepreneur Frank Islam.
Indian-American lawmakers on the list include Pramila Jayapal, Shri Thanedar, Ro Khanna, Ami Bella Bera and Raja Krishnamoorthi.
Members of the Biden family who attended the dinner included Hunter Biden, Ashley Biden, James Biden and Naomi Biden Neal. Vice President Kamala Harris, who will host the luncheon for PM Modi, was also present.
The dinner was attended by Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar Jaishankar, as well as US diplomats and members of the Biden administration.
At the invitation of President Joe Biden and the First Lady, Prime Minister Modi will visit the United States from June 21-24.
White House social secretary Carlos Elizondo said during a preview dinner on Wednesday that the first lady was involved throughout the event.
Elizondo said every element of the dinner and decor was carefully chosen to make each guest’s experience personal and welcoming.
He said the venue’s décor features elements that respect American and Indian traditions and culture, including the Indian flag.
