Marcus Samuelsson Weighs In On The State Dinner Crashers...And He's Hosting A Second, Crash-Free State Dinner In Chicago

In an unprecedented move, the White House gives Chef Marcus Samuelsson a free pass to hold a replica State Dinner at his Chicago restaurant...
Marcus Samelsson, guest chef for the Nov. 24 State Dinner at the White House, says he's been asked about State Dinner Crashers Tareq and Michaele Salahi "about a thousand times" since the event. Of course since Samuelsson was in the kitchen and the South Lawn tent overseeing the dinner that received lauds from all present--including President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, as well as the guest of honor, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh--Samuelsson was unaware that his history-making dinner was having a different kind of history made. (Above: Samuelsson prepping in the White House kitchen for the State Dinner)

"It's a weird thing," Samuelsson said about the Dinner Crashers, during a recent chat with Ob Fo. "I wouldn't show up to my neighbor's house unannounced. I don't know how you can even think about doing that at the White House."

Samuelsson was born in Ethiopia, raised in Sweden, and has traveled the world cooking and attending all kinds of crash-worthy events in his high-profile career as chef, cookbook author, and restaurateur. Obviously, he's got an outlook on the world that's profoundly different than that of the Crashing Couple, who are reality TV show aspirants from Virginia.

"How about achieving something in the world...how about going out and inspiring people?" Samuelsson said, pointing out that the Crashers didn't merit an actual invite to the State Dinner to begin with. "Whatever happened to that? You have to work and do positive things and inspire people...then you get invited to the White House." Clearly that's how Samuelsson wound up being guest chef for the State Dinner. He's inspiring, and has worked incredibly hard.

The C House Replica State Dinner...Tomorrow Night
The White House must have been mightily impressed with Samuelsson, because in an unprecedented move, there has been no official protest about the fact that Samuelsson is holding a replica State Dinner tomorrow, in Chicago, at his restaurant C House, a newish eatery at the Affinia Hotel. Usually, the White House frowns upon activities such as this, under the idea that profiting from president-related events, or using his image is a no-no. The White House has also been mum about Samuelsson employees going on the record in media with details of their experience inside the kitchen; during the event, the kitchen was completely off limits to all journalists. Your intrepid blogger was at the White House all day on Nov. 24, and didn't even see Samuelsson once, nor did anyone else from the media. (Above: Samuelsson harvested herbs from the White House Kitchen Garden to use in his dishes)

Samuelsson's Executive Chef at C House, Nicole Pedersen, and his Pastry Chef Toni Roberts were among the team of ten chefs Samuelsson brought to the White House to cook the State Dinner, and they'll be doing the cooking duties tomorrow night at C House. The menu and wine pairings are exactly what was served to the 329 invited guests at the White House State Dinner--except there will be no Roasted Potato Dumplings offered as an entree. Rather, the Green Curry Prawns with Caramelized Salsify, accompanied by smoked Collard Greens and Coconut Aged Basmati--which Samuelsson noted was the most-ordered entree at the White House State Dinner--is the entree item being offered. Also on the menu: The State Dinner Potato and Eggplant Salad, with Arugula and Onion Seed Vinaigrette and Red Lentil Soup with Apples and Fresh Cheese. Desserts are from the State Dinner, too: Pumpkin Pie Tart and Pear Tatin. The wine pairings are of course the same: 2008 Sauvignon Blanc, Modus Operandi, Napa, California; 2007 Grenache, Beckmen Vineyards, Santa Ynez, CA; and Sparkling Chardonnay, Thibaut-Janisson Brut, Monticello, Virginia. The cost of the dinner is $54; the wine pairings are an extra $20. Samuelsson noted during our chat that the State Dinner at the White House cost about $50 per person to create, so this excellent menu is a bargain, in foodie terms. The pubic is invited to C House...and no Crashers are expected. Reservations are still available, and the State Dinner menu will be served throughout the dinner evening service.

C House is at 166 East Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60611 Phone: (312) 523-0923.

*Photos by Gate (Maya) Haile, who also happens to be Chef Samuelsson's wife.

The 2009 Obama Foodorama Holiday Gift Guide

An Obama-centric gift guide...with Obama foodie fun for every budget...
'Tis the season to Reflect, Rejoice, and Renew, so herewith, the Official Obama Holiday Foodie Gift Guide for 2009, which will help you do all three as we approach the end of the first year of what's been a history-making presidency--in food, and every other area. From cookbooks through community service, there are twelve kinds of President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama food-centric gifts for the twelve days of Christmas, and every item on this unique list is under $80--and some are just $2.50. That makes it easy to indulge all those people in your life who are that winning combination of Obama-ites and Foodies. Happy Holidays, whatever holiday you celebrate!

1. Seeds That Are Used In The White House Kitchen Garden. Mrs. Obama's world famous South Lawn edible garden has a special bed in honor of President Thomas Jefferson, and it's been growing all kinds of vegetables that Jefferson himself cultivated in his own huge kitchen garden at Monticello, his plantation home in Virginia. Jefferson varietals planted at the White House include Tennis Ball Lettuce, Brown Dutch Lettuce, Prickly Seeded Spinach, Arugula, Florence Fennel, Scarlet Runner Beans, Caseknife Pole Beans, and Whippoorwill Cowpeas (also known as crowder peas), and these are all still available at the Monticello online store. At $2.50 per seed packet, these are a bargain. Go here for the online, alphabetized seed catalogue; all proceeds benefit the Thomas Jefferson Foundation.

2. The Barack Obama Xmas Nutcracker. This fab one-of-a-kind art creation is currently selling on EBay, and right now the top bid is just $12.78. It's pure Obama foodie genius, especially if the Obama-ite you give it to happens to be a nutcracker enthusiast, too. What are the chances? (Photo at top of post, obviously)

3. Answer The Call To Community Service; Support Our Troops. Of course to really make it an Obama foodie holiday, you must gift the entire world, and go and donate food to your local food bank, or join Mrs. Obama's holiday anti-hunger project, Feed A Neighbor, which is a joint initiative with USDA and Serve.gov. The online portal will match you with local anti-hunger organizations; click the link to find out how you can give the very best gift of all. You can also send a special foodie care package to some of our heroic deployed troops; check out USO, or Soldiers' Angels to learn how you can give the gift of thanks, holiday style. (Above: Mrs. Obama with Marines at the Holiday Decorations Preview)

4. A Five Guys Burgers and Fries Gift Card. The President has publicly dined at Five Guys twice, and the First Lady took a group of East Wing staff once, making Five Guys the only eatery to have enjoyed three Obama visits during the presidency. There are locations nationwide, and even better, Five Guys has model food safety protocols: They inspect their own meat, and cook all burgers well done just to make sure. Preloaded gift cards are available in $10, $20, $40, $60, and $80 denominations. Accepted at all Five Guys locations. Go here to order.

5. Obama Cookbooks: The President and Mrs. Obama frequently laud Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses's pies, and the President has even nicknamed him "The Crustmaster." Yosses is the author of Desserts For Dummies, which is the only cookbook currently on the market that's written by someone who is actually working in the White House. Don't let the title fool you: It's a swell book, and has almost twenty pages on how to you, too, can become a Crustmaster. It's $13.59 from Amazon. State Dinner guest chef Marcus Samuelsson has a new cookbook out, and while it doesn't have State Dinner recipes in it, New American Table does have recipes that are Samuelsson's signature pan-world style, and it's wonderful. $40, wherever fine books are sold. New York's Michael Psilakis was the very first chef to show up in the White House kitchen as a guest chef; he cooked a huge variety of Greek foods for a reception for Greek Independence Day in March. His just-published How to Roast a Lamb: New Greek Classic Cooking has been getting rave reviews, and it contains some of the recipes he cooked at the White House. A bargain for $18.90 at Amazon; $30.00 elsewhere.

6. For Obama Tableware/History Enthusiasts: Replica Lincoln China is available at The Library of Congress Gift Shop. It's handpainted, and accurately recreates the "solferino" color that Mary Todd Lincoln chose for the border of the White House china. Even one plate makes a swell serving dish, or a conversation piece. $65/plate. The Library of Congress is also selling Jefferson China, which has a beautiful blue and gold border, and TJ's own monogram inside the presidential seal; it'll look swell holding veggies from your home White House Kitchen Garden. Choose dessert plate ($45) or dinner plate ($65).

7. Obama Cupcakes and Cookies: Eleni's New York is one of the few bakeries that is still regularly making cupcakes and cookies with the President's smiling face on them--and they ship nationwide. Eleni's began selling their Obama cookies and cupcakes during election season, and they're still a hit. The bakery uses a technique called Edible Image, which uses edible sugar paper to transfer the President's visage onto the frosting on baked goods. Michelle Obama baked goods can be ordered, too. And even better, they're delish. Prices vary. Click the link for info and ordering.

8. For The Obama Oenophile: Two wines that have been used at White House events are standouts for holiday gift giving. From Virginia and served at the State Dinner, the Thibaut-Janisson Monticello Brut Blanc de Chardonnay is exceptional, and has the excellent Jefferson homage tossed in, because it's made with 100% Chardonnay grapes from the Monticello Appellation. The vineyard doesn't sell online, but go here to find a retailer who will ship to you; about $25.99/bottle (in photo). From Michigan, and served at the first formal dinner held at the White House for the National Governor's Association, Black Star Farm 2007 "A Capella" Riesling Ice Wine is one of the few true ice wines produced in America...and it's a stunner. Currently on sale from the winery for $79.50/bottle, here.

9. Favorite Obama Food, Chicago style: The President still likes to give Garrett's Popcorn as a foodie gift--and with good reason: The Chicago popcornery makes incredibly delicious popcorn confections. The President gifts pals with "The Chicago Mix," which is a blend of two signature flavors: CaramelCrisp and CheeseCorn (sounds unlikely, but is highly addictive). Cute tins are available: Choose the Sox tin to really get presidential, or there's a Christmas tin, or an All-American tin in red, white and blue. Prices vary, depending on size of tin.

10. For the Obama Beerophile: A sixer of the President's favorite beer, Bud Light, makes a good budget gift at $6.99. Or you can be super creative, and gift a White House Beer Summit mixed six-pack, which would include two Bud Lights, two Samuel Adams Lights (Henry Louis Gate's Jr.'s beer choice) and two Blue Moons (Sgt. James Crowley's beer choice--and it's really an ale, but...let's ignore that). Less than $20.00 for an Obama Beer Summit Six.

11. For the Aspiring Obama Food Policy Wonk: Former FDA commissioner David Kessler published The End of Overeating: Taking Control of The Insatiable American Appetite in April, and it has rapidly become one of the handbooks for those who work on all kinds of policy initiatives at the White House. The book is a fascinating read that will alter everything you think you understand about food, brain chemistry, and behavior. In the future, it will be regarded as one of the important volumes that was a critical turning point in the national conversation about food and health. Available here, or at your friendly local bookseller.

12. The 2010 Sam Kass Hot Chef Calendar: Mrs. Obama's Food Initiative Coordinator has become as well known for his looks (a spot on People magazine's 100 Most Beautiful list, and a raving following in the blogosphere) as he has for his ongoing efforts to transform 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue into the White House Center For Food and Health. The Kass Calendar has it all: 13 months of healthy, easy and delicious White House recipes, nutrition information, Kitchen Garden planting tips by month, all capped off with fabulous photos of Kass snapped by Obama Fooodrama during his first year at the White House. Priceless; available at WHMarketingIsNotThisSavvy.com.*

Photos of Mrs. Obama and Kass by Obama Foodorama.

*Yes, the Kass calendar is a foodie joke, for those who don't get that from the faux website name....

The White House Kitchen Garden, Ready For Winter--And Just In Time For Snow

Hooping it up at the White House, so the Kitchen Garden continues to grow...about 1,000 pounds of crops to date
First Lady Michelle Obama made international headlines when she hula hooped on the South Lawn of the White House in October, but now there's a different kind of South Lawn hooping going on. White House gardeners, led by chief horticulturalist Jim Adams, installed what are known as hoop houses in Mrs. Obama's White House Kitchen Garden at the end of last week, in order to ensure that crops can be grown through the winter. Fabric-covered aluminum hoops have been placed over the crop rows and these capture passive solar energy and boost the interior temperature dramatically, so the garden soil and air is warmed, and crops can flourish--even in winter. Hoop Houses are often tall enough to walk through, but the White House is using mini versions, about two feet tall, which some farmers and gardeners refer to as "low tunnels" or just simply "row covers." (Photo at top: The Kitchen Garden with the newly installed hoop houses, right before a weekend snowfall. Small photo is the First Lady, doing her own hooping)

White House Holiday Party For Congress

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama are hosting a holiday party on the State Floor at the White House this evening for members of Congress. It's the fifth of 17 holiday parties that'll be held at the White House in the next few weeks. The State Floor is looking pretty traditionally Christmas-y (this is the "Cross Hall"), with two huge Christmas trees front and center, and garlands of greens and red bows laced around light fixtures. The event is closed press, since the Egg Nog will be flowin' and lawd forbid anyone gets caught chatting off the record...but perhaps someone will pop a Santa hat on Abe Lincoln.

*Photo by Obama Foodorama

Copenhagen Begins.

Greenpeace is running the ad, above, all around Copenhagen, as the UN Climate Change Conference begins. The White House announced last week that President Obama will arrive at the Copenhagen summit for the final day, on Dec. 18, considered a crucial period when more international leaders will be in attendance, as opposed to his previously scheduled stop in Denmark this Wednesday on his way to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo. Climate protesters have been outside the White House for the last week, urging the President to take action.

In DC, climate change and agriculture is a much-discussed topic, when health care reform isn't taking up all the air on The Hill. A good recap of the issues is here.

President Obama Hosts White House Reception For Kennedy Center Honorees

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted a reception this evening in the East Room for the 2009 recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors. The five honorees in the photo, above, are (from left) comedian/film director Mel Brooks, pianist/composer Dave Brubeck, opera pathbreaker Grace Bumbry, actor/director/restaurateur Robert DeNiro, and singer/songwriter Bruce Springsteen. The group was gathered for the taping of the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors tribute program, which took place at the Kennedy Center, and which will air on December 29th.

"On a day like this I remember, I'm the president, but he's the Boss," President Obama told the audience of 300 guests, as he paid tribute to Bruce Springsteen.

StateGate Update: Lynn Sweet, In Defense of Desiree Rogers

The resident Obama expert at the White House weighs in on "the sport of ruining people"
Flotus Daily writer and Chicago Sun-Times Washington bureau chief Lynn Sweet has been following President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama exclusively for almost three years, since Mr. Obama was Candidate Obama. Sweet doesn't hesitate to send criticism Obamaward when she believes it's due, but Sweet has just posted one of the few in-defense-of-Desiree Rogers columns to appear in mainstream media. (Photo: Rogers at the State Dinner)

Sweet maintains that Rogers does not deserve to have her entire professional reputation on the line because of the security breach at the State Dinner, and notes that Rogers has managed about 170 events at the White House since Jan. 21, without a single problem: Bill signings, the 2009 Easter Egg Roll, St. Patrick's Day and Halloween parties, a breast cancer awareness event, the White House music series, and a high-profile dinner for the nation's governors. Rogers has also been crucial to including students from area schools in most of these events, something that has transformed the White House. (Rogers, above)

On the ongoing character attacks on Rogers, Sweet notes:

The events that have unfolded in the past few days, and the attacks on Rogers, reminded me of a line in the 1993 suicide note left by Vincent Foster, the deputy counsel in the Clinton White House, who observed that in Washington, "ruining people is considered sport."

The Saturday Night Live State Dinner Crash Spoof

More Unbearable Lightness of TV-ing, courtesy of the gang at SNL...
In the skit, the "President" speaks at The White House to Main Street event in Allentown, and gets "crashed" once again by Tareq and Michaele Salahi...and the Secret Service gets skewered...

StateGate Update: Rogers's Privileged Lunch, A BizBash Story That's Causing Problems; Maureen Dowd Weighs In Again

An old Rogers interview about White House crashers causes new trouble...and Maureen Dowd calls Rogers "an entitled and insulated swan"...
It's unlikely that any of the telephoto lens gang who regularly hang around the White House would've bothered to snap this photo of Social Secretary Desiree Rogers, before the State Dinner Crash became a national obsession. Rogers was shot Friday by a Reuters pool photographer, while she was carrying a tray of lunch across White House grounds.

State Dinner Guest Chef Marcus Samuelsson, On & Off The Record

The White House got an "official" photo of the State Dinner Crashers, but not one of the esteemed guest chef who created the menu. Are TV stars--and wannabe TV stars--the only ones who rate official photos?
During the State Dinner for India, no media was allowed in the White House kitchen for a peek at the historic goings on, even though it was the very first State Dinner of the Obama presidency, and the very first time in White House history that a guest chef--the wonderful Marcus Samuelsson--had been invited to create a menu for a State Dinner. Your intrepid blogger was on the White House campus the entire day, but didn't lay eyes on Samuelsson even for a second. Nor did any other journalists.* (Above: Samuelsson in the White House kitchen cooking the State Dinner)

President Obama Goes From The White House To Main Street To Hamilton Family Restaurant...For A Cheeseburger

Saving and creating cheeseburgers...
President Obama visited the Hamilton Family ("Ham Fam") Restaurant in Allentown, Pennsylvania, today, after giving a speech at Lehigh Carbon Community College. It was the first stop on his White House to Main Street Tour, in which the President will bring his thoughts on the economy and jobs directly to The People. New unemployment stats came out this morning, and these were better than expected, so POTUS celebrated with a cheeseburger at Ham Fam (lettuce, pickle, mustard, hot sauce, cheddar cheese). He was joined by Allentown Mayor Ed Pawloswki and other local notables. AP got the shot above, while the President's own photograher, Pete Souza, posted an "official" photo on the White House website of other restaurant goers watching the President dine (above). It has to be noted, again, that taking official photos of the President that don't actually have the President in them is a bit like taking a photo of the cast of Twilight without the vampires present...

The State Dinner Crash & The Birthers...Of Course

It's unclear who made this bit of State Dinner satire...but it was bound to happen.The comic was sent in by the charming Saul M. of Milwaukee, a devoted Ob Fo reader (thanks Saul!). Saul found it at the website I Hate The Media...and they're looking for the creator, too. The photo is the official White House photo of the State Dinner crash in action, snapped by WH photog Samantha Appleton, and then posted--in a weird stab at transparency--on the official White House Flickr. Oddly, yesterday Sarah Palin raised the spectre of Birtherism again, and told radio show host Rusty Humphries that everything having to do with President Obama's birth certificate is "a fair question to ask."

First Lady Reads Foodie Christmas Book At National Christmas Tree Lighting

It's been two weeks of holiday firsts for the Obamas, and tonight the entire First Family was on the National Mall to light their very first National Christmas Tree. Of course they put the Obama stamp on the proceedings, and threw in a pitch for literacy. Natch, First Lady Michelle Obama chose the foodiest Christmas book possible to read at the fun little ceremony. 'Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Moore is loaded with food imagery: "Visions of sugar plums danced in their heads..." "..his nose like a cherry..." "...his cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry...."a little round belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly..."

The kids loved it. The First Family jointly pushed the button to light the tree, and voila! It was officially Christmas in America. 'Twas the Night before Christmas can now be added to the list of Obama Foodie Kids Books.

Related: Mrs. Obama debuts the White House holiday decorations here. Mrs. Obama receives the White House Christmas tree here.

House Holds Hearing On State Dinner Crash; Gibbs Invokes Executive Privilege; White House Changes Visitor Policy

White House invokes Executive Privilege to keep Social Secretary Rogers from testifying; Secret Service puts agents on leave; White House announces policy changes for all social events... VIDEO below
White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers was not present at today's House Homeland Security Committee hearing on the State Dinner Crash, nor were crashers Tareq and Michaele Salahi. The lone witness to receive the excoriating questions from the shocked Members of the House about the stunning security breach last Tuesday was Mark Sullivan, director of the Secret Service. At the dinner in honor of the Prime Minister of India, the Salahis managed to go through three different Secret Service check points and gain entrance to the White House despite not having an invitation. Once inside, the couple were photographed with the President--as well as Vice President Joe Biden, Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, and other guests. They roamed the White House grounds, and actually made it inside the dinner tent. It's still unclear if they actually sat and ate dinner, or left before guests were seated. (Sullivan, at the hearing today)

At the hearing, the exchanges with Sullivan were heated. Committee members tried every angle of questioning to try to get Sullivan to admit fault, as well as to indict Rogers and White House Social Office staff (Rogers, in photo). Sullivan did admit fault; he maintained that the security breach was a breakdown in Secret Service protocol.

In a hearing filled with weird moments--including House Members holding up poster-size photos of the Salahis at the State Dinner--Sullivan admitted that he'd found out about the Dinner Crash via Facebook--and the media.

After long questioning, Sullivan finally admitted that a member of the Social Office helping to verify IDs and check invitations at security stops on the night of the State Dinner would have helped prevent any uninvited guests from entering the dinner. But this was not enough for some House Members.

Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA) was among those who thought that Rogers should be thrown under the bus, and take blame for the security breach.

"We expect Secret Service to take a bullet for the President," Rep. Dent said. "We don't expect them to take a bullet for the president's staff."

White House Birthday Party: Larry Summers

President Obama celebrated Larry Summer's 55th birthday with a cake in the Oval Office on November 30. Summers is the Director of the National Economic council...and the cake, carried by a White House valet, looks appropriately...small. Maybe next year it'll be...bigger. The photo was taken by President Obama's official photog, Pete Souza, who's getting better and better at snapping presidential foodie shots. However, it was Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel's fiftieth birthday on Sunday, and Souza hasn't posted any photos from the White House celebration. The cake for Summers is a fun departure from the White House cupcake habit.

The White House Gingerbread House: Beehive Honey Used, A Marzipan Kitchen Garden, A Shadow Box State Dining Room...and Bo!

At the White House, an understated holiday celebration...except for the stunning White House Gingerbread House
White House Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses has been as busy as an elf in Santa's workshop--for months. In addition to a loaded schedule that includes making the thousands of sweets for all the White House holiday events (17 parties, 11 Open Houses)--and for private Obama family consumption--Yosses has also had a whole architecture project going on for the past six weeks, during the creation of the annual White House Gingerbread House, a holiday tradition that in the past was brought to stunning heights of creativity by former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, the only chef to last for 26 years in the Executive Mansion. (Above, the 2009 White House Gingerbread House). Yosses's latest version, debuted today at First Lady Michelle Obama's Holiday Decorations Preview, can hold its own with past holiday gingerbread extravaganzas. And it was a big team effort, according to Yosses, something of a pet project for White House staff.

"We had everyone working on this," Yosses noted at the press preview. "Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, lots of staff." (Yosses, above, speaking with the media)

And, according to Yosses, Malia and Sasha Obama also came in to check on holiday house progress, and loved what they saw. The incredibly detailed, 390-lb white-chocolate covered gingerbread house (250 pounds of chocolate and 140 of gingerbread), at 56 X 29 inches, is based on White House architect James Hoban's original design, but cheats a little: Windows are missing from the South Portico, so it doesn't have the dramatic "bow" effect of the real South Portico, and the doors at the base of the Portico are straight on top, rather than arched. The balconies for both levels are not true to scale, either; these are where the President speaks during big events on the south Lawn. That's quibbling--the house is a masterpiece. Mrs. Obama referred to Yosses as "brilliant" in her holiday remarks. (Yosses and the GB White House, above)

Yosses became Exec Pastry Chef in 2006, and this year's White House Gingerbread House is his third. Last year's, for former First Lady Laura Bush, was also a white chocolate-covered house, with a view of the North Portico, and featured a marzipan fife & drum corps. The Obama version has a view of the South Portico, and contains some very Obama elements: A marzipan replica of the White House Kitchen Garden, and an over-sized Bo the First Dog sitting at the bottom of the South Portico stairs. The south wall of the State Dining room has been removed, so there's a shadow box view into the room. And yes, White House Beehive honey was used to bake the gingerbread. That honey has now been used in a lot of projects; most recently, Yosses used it for the desserts for the State Dinner, and in the thousands of cookies that were handed out on Halloween to Trick or Treaters. The White House bees are now asleep for the winter, and Yosses estimates that there are about 70 pounds of honey left, down from the original 134 pounds.

First Lady Michelle Obama Unveils White House Christmas Decorations...UPDATED

No fake snow, no Santa: White House Christmas focuses on "Reflect, Rejoice, Renew"...an anti hunger initiative announced, a toy drive launched, and the elegant, understated decorations revealed
The press preview for the White House Holiday decorations had a fairly serious tone to it. First Lady Michelle Obama chose a contemplative, comparatively low key decorating scheme for the White House, which focuses on the spiritual, rather than on giddy holiday excess. There was no fun American Christmas goofiness in evidence--no Santa, no fake glittery snow, no Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, no mischievous felt elves peeking out from behind historic drapery. Instead, there's an elegant--even spartan--decorating scheme in place at the White House, muted colors to match the color palette of each public room, wreaths hanging from long ribbons in windows, dried flowers, ropes of greens.

Food Initiative Coordinator Sam Kass: A Trend For 2010, a Trending Topic on Google

Whether he's perceived as serious or sexy, Kass is swaying policy....
It's that time of year when folks are putting out their lists...either looking back, or looking ahead. The Epicurious blog, a culi clearing house, has just listed White House assistant chef and Food Initiative Coordinator Sam Kass as a top trend for 2010...as "sexy chef." The blog refers to him as a "hot dish;" another blog recently referred to Kass as "Sam Kiss."

First Lady Michelle Obama Unveils White House Holiday Decorations; 28 Events Scheduled, Thousands of Guests Expected

The top-secret decorating scheme with a Souza sneak peek below; A whirlwind season with heightened security...
Today, Michelle Obama will hold the First Lady’s Holiday Decorations Preview, in which she'll reveal the much-anticipated decorating scheme and theme for the first Obama holidays at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The White House has been filled with busy elves--er, volunteers--this week, preparing for the holiday season: Christmas trees, lights, and long garlands of evergreens have been appearing in and around the White House since last Friday. At today's event, Mrs. Obama will explain all the top-secret decorations, which are certain to have historic and contemporary referents--and which will likely include everything from Kwanzaa to Hanukkah. The White House has made it a point to honor all holiday celebrations that Americans participate in, from Passover to Diwali. This holiday season will continue that tradition. (Above: Last week, when previewing the State Dinner menu, Mrs. Obama seemed to be gearing up for the holidays: Her sweater was covered in sparkles)

StateGate Update #3,331: The Salahis Appear On Today Show, Claim "Misunderstanding"

The unbearable lightness of TV-ing.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

As More Troops Head to Afghanistan, The Next Generation Is Too Overweight To Serve

School nutrition programs are a critical part of national security...
As President Obama heads to West Point this evening to announce a boost of 30,000 troops for Afghanistan, it's worth looking at a new report from Mission: Readiness, a non-profit, bipartisan coalition of nearly 90 retired military leaders, including two former Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and six other four-star generals and admirals. The group's report, Ready, Willing, and Unable to Serve, finds that 75 percent of young people ages 17 to 24 are unable to enlist in the military for a variety of reasons. Of these, about 27 percent can't enlist because they're overweight. And in some states, the rate is far higher. It's a huge series of numbers, but it's also reflective of our national obesity epidemic, especially among children.  The report from Mission: Readiness proposes aggressive early childhood interventions, and Education Secretary Arne Duncan is on board with the advisory.

The State Dinner Tent: Deconstruction

The massive "tent" used for the first Obama State Dinner on Tuesday, Nov. 24, is almost gone from the South Lawn of the White House. Yesterday, workers were still deconstructing what turned out to be ground zero for the most high-profile party crash in US history. (Above: At left in photo, the remains of the raised flooring for the bottom of the tent)

The glass-ceilinged pavilion, which had a view of the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial, featured carpet, drapery, a food service staging area, heating, a performance stage, theatrical lighting, flower-covered chandeliers, a professional sound system, and a long, covered walkway. Thirty-one round dining tables for ten accommodated guests. There were also two satellite tents attached to the structure.

The "tent" took five days to build. The Thanksgiving holiday interrupted the demolition on the South Lawn...but perhaps it was also being combed for evidence for the Secret Service investigation into the Dinner Crash. (Above: A worker walks through what was formerly the floor area of the tent. Below: The exterior of the tent, in all its glowing glory....)

*Top 2 photos by Obama Foodorama; bottom photo by Pete Souza/White House

Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food, Know When To Thank The USDA

Roots of Change launches campaign to encourage USDA...
As we come to the end of a year that's seen big changes in food initiatives emerging from both the White House and USDA, it's not quite time for an annual review, but it is time to say thanks. Roots of Change, a coalition of sustainable food groups based in California, is running a Thank You Campaign directed at Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan. It's pretty simple, but very important: ROC is asking folks to sign the thank you note on their website, to encourage Vilsack and Merrigan to continue USDA's focus on local food systems, which began with the creation of the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative.

StateGate: The Daily Show Takes On The State Dinner Crashers

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
The Real Asswipes of Washington, D.C.
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

StateGate Update: Desiree Rogers Asked To Testify Before Congress; Robert Gibbs Takes 8 Minutes of Q's on State Dinner Crash From WH Press Corps

StateGate needs its own blog...VIDEO, below
As noted yesterday, the State Dinner crash story will get weirder, and it already has: CNN is now reporting that the Salahis, the Virginia couple who crashed the State Dinner last Tuesday, apparently also crashed the Congressional Black Caucus Dinner in September, which the President and First Lady also attended. Social Secretary Desiree Rogers is now coming under increasing fire after admitting on Friday that no one from her office was monitoring the guest list for the State Dinner. Rogers was a guest at the dinner, rather than working it, which is very different from previous White House protocol. And things have gotten very, very serious. (Photo: Rogers at the State Dinner, in the East Wing during guest arrivals)

The Latest White House Flickr Update: President Obama Noodling Around In China

Is taking presidential archive photos without the President in them a little like snapping the "Twilight" cast without the vampires?
White House photographer Pete Souza has gotten more and more creative as the months have passed since he became President Obama's official chronicler. Souza's most recent set of photos posted to the official White House Flickr has some stunners from the President's recent trip to Asia, earlier in November. But unfortunately, there are numerous shots that don't even have the President in them. Still, above is a really good foodie shot from Souza's oeuvre: It's noodles as tools of democracy. The President joins in a noodle making demonstration with Chinese President Hu Jintao, left, while attending a dinner at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing, China, Nov. 16, 2009.

On Stigma, Access to Federal Food Assistance, and Entering The 21st Century

"Stigma" has become a favored adjective when advocating for change in federal feeding programs...
The front page story in today's New York Times. "food Stamp Use Soars Across US, and Stigma Fades," is about the dramatic rise in the US over the last two years of federal nutrition assistance; about ten million Americans have newly joined the program, which is run by USDA and officially called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). More than 1 in 8 Americans rely on SNAP, and 1 in 4 of these is children.

StateGate Update: Rep. Towns Calls For A Briefing, Ms. Salahi Wasn't A Cheerleader...And PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi

It's hard to imagine the details of the State Dinner Crashers getting weirder...and yet they will. And Michaele Salahi getting photographed with PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi speaks to a level of cunning that makes the entire Crash even more alarming...
Rep. Edolphus "Ed" Towns (D-NY), the chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, announced his demand for a briefing about the StateGate incident yesterday on Twitter, in what might be the first time in history an elected representative has used the microplatform to discuss security initiatives. Tareq and Michaele Salahi, the two uninvited guests who managed the astounding crash of Tuesday's State Dinner for India, were (sadly!) not using Twitter when the potential federal crime occurred. Towns is a fairly savvy user of social media; he has his own Youtube channel, and a Facebook page. Still, there's no mention of the demand for a preliminary briefing about StateGate on his Congressional homepage.

At The Obamas' State Dinner For India, Some Top-Secret Dishes Served: The Menu Additions

From Sumac-Crusted Bay Scallops to Quince Chutney, a number of items were not printed on the official White House menu...
On Tuesday evening, just hours before hundreds of guests were scheduled to arrive at the White House for the first State Dinner of the Obama Presidency, First Lady Michelle Obama held a media preview event in the State Dining Room to reveal the official menu. The much-anticipated, vegetable centric menu caused a big stir in the food world as soon as it was posted online, but the official menu left off some items that were also served to diners on Tuesday night. These were hand-passed appetizers, and what could theoretically be called a "bread course," but it's far more than that.

White House Christmas Tree Arrives; First Lady Michelle Obama Meets History-Making Tree Farmers - UPDATED

Octogenarian West Virginia farmers provide White House Christmas Tree...Lovely ceremony marred by crowd control issues...
First Lady Michelle Obama was presented with the official White House Christmas Tree on Friday afternoon, in an annual White House holiday event that occurs the day after Thanksgiving each year. The tree, as is tradition, arrived in a horse-drawn carriage that pulled up under the North Portico, as a brass horn section played a slightly wobbly version of "O Christmas Tree," accompanied by the jingling of the sleigh bells on the horses' harnesses. Mrs. Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha met the carriage halfway up the drive, and walked it up to the North Portico, accompanied by Christmas tree farmers Eric and Gloria Sundback.

State Dinner Crashers Tareq and Michaele Salahi Get Through White House Security, Meet President and First Lady... UPDATED, With Video

*UPDATE, Dec. 3 is here
*UPDATE, Nov. 30 is here

Prime Minister Singh Dubs the State Dinner Unforgettable, "Magnificent" & "Unique"

India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has lavished praise on President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for their efforts this week during the State Dinner held in his honor on Tuesday.

The Obama Family White House Thanksgiving Menu: Turkey, Ham...Six Kinds of Pie

50 guests, 6 kinds of pie, 1 surprising side dish
The First Lady's Press Office has just released the Obama Family Thanksgiving menu to today's designated press pool reporter. Yesterday, staff said no menu would be released. This morning, President Obama made phone calls to ten deployed service members, to thank them and send Thanksgiving greetings (in photo). See this post for all other First Family/White House Thanksgiving activity.

At the White House, the First Family is hosting fifty family members, friends, and staff for Thanksgiving, and the press office report states that President Obama's favorite dishes are Turkey and Pumpkin Pie. There are six different pies on the menu, in keeping with the fact that President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama frequently praise White House Executive Chef Bill Yosses as "The Crustmaster." Two weeks ago, Yosses went on the record that Banana Cream Pie is the President's favorite, and that's on the Thanksgiving menu, too. No word on sourcing for the ingredients for the dishes, or if any of the ingredients were pulled from the Kitchen Garden, or which White House chef is in the kitchen. Interestingly, macaroni and cheese is on the menu as a side. Last year, when visiting St. Columbanus Church in Chicago the day before Thanksgiving, the President led gathered school kids in a cheer for macaroni and cheese for Thanksgiving. Here's the menu:

The Obama Family White House Thanksgiving Menu

Turkey
Honey Baked Ham

Cornbread Stuffing
Oyster Stuffing

Greens
Macaroni and Cheese
Sweet Potatoes
Mashed Potatoes
Green Bean Casserole

Pumpkin Pie
Banana Cream Pie
Apple Pie
Sweet Potato Pie
Huckleberry Pie
Cherry Pie

*Photo at top of post by Pete Souza/White House. Emily Cadei from CQ-Roll Call is the designated pool reporter. *Perhaps due to some pressure from reporters yesterday, including your intrepid blogger, the menu was released.

The First Obama Thanksgiving in The White House: "Traditional" And "At Home" --UPDATED

Phone calls to troops...a special Weekly Address...a Thanksgiving Proclamation...the Feed A Neighbor initiative...the First Family food bank service...the Turkey Pardon...and late in the day, the White House menu is released...

Another Obama First In Food: Courage The Turkey Gets A Presidential Pardon

The President spares Courage the Turkey from "a terrible and delicious fate"
It's been a week of historic food initiatives for President Obama. Yesterday, he and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted the first State Dinner of his presidency, and today he tackled food issues of another kind. This morning it was time for the National Turkey Pardon, a White House event that's gone on every Wednesday before Thanksgiving for the last twenty years, thanks to former President George H. W. Bush--though the tradition has been conducted sporadically by various presidential administrations (Snopes does a good wrap up on the misinfo surrounding presidential turkey pardons here). "Courage," a forty pound tom turkey from North Carolina, is this year's lucky recipient of the presidential pardon. (Above: The President waves his hand over courage as he gives the "official pardon;" Malia and Sasha look on)

The turkey pardoning is usually held in the Rose Garden, site of important policy announcements, but today it was moved to the North Portico--the front porch of the White House--due to rainy weather. Conveniently, there was still a huge platform for media set up in the driveway, which was for yesterday's State Dinner arrival with Prime Minister Singh. The President, accompanied by daughters Malia and Sasha, addressed the media and a small crowd of invited guests, including the farming family that raised Courage, and officials from the National Turkey Federation. (Photo: Courage the turkey)

President Obama Gets Courage At Annual White House Turkey Pardon--And The Pre-Event Video

It's another first for the Obama presidency: Today at the White House, President Obama will pardon a turkey, an annual Thanksgiving tradition. The event will take place in the Rose Garden, site of many other critically important policy announcements. The lucky gobbler is named Courage, and he's a 20-week-old, 40-pound turkey from Princeton, N.C. It's safe to say that the staff in the press office at the White House is getting very creative. Check this pre-event video out:



Yes, your intrepid blogger will be there.

Inside The Tent At The Obamas' State Dinner At The White House...[UPDATED]

The secret garden...with the monumental view
President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama's State Dinner guests --a heady combination of Hollywood execs, political powerhouses and cultural visionaries, as well as members of the administration--took their seats in the "tent" on the South Lawn about forty minutes after arriving at the White House (above). Before that, the guests had passed through a scrum of photographers in the East Wing during their arrival, then enjoyed cocktails in the East Wing, and then they were escorted to the tent, where they mingled among the green-cloth covered, flower-laden tables.

The State Dinner In Honor of India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh: The Arrival

The State Dinner begins...
President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama formally greeted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur on the North Portico of the White House at about 7:00 PM this evening. A full military guard was arrayed behind the First Couple, and right inside the doors, a string quartet played softly. After greeting Prime Minister Singh and Mrs. Kaur, President and Mrs. Obama escorted them inside the White House. (Above: The Obamas and the guests of honor pose for a formal photo under the North Portico)

Mrs. Obama's gown was absolutely stunning: A shimmering gold column that referenced a sari with it's sheer silver overlay--but very modern. Of course it was designed by Indian-born designer Naeem Khan, as a nod to the country being honored. At the menu preview event in the State Dining Room earlier today, Mrs. Obama wore a long, cream and grey skirt by Rachel Roy, who is also Indian. The State Dinner gown glittered, and Mrs. Obama also wore long, dangling earrings, and the an armload of bangles as another nod to Indian tradition. She also seemed to have some kind of glittery lotion on her skin; she was very sparkling--and seemingly unaffected by the very cold, damp evening in Washington. (Above: Before the formal photo op, The President and First Lady greet the Prime Minister and Mrs. Kaur, as White House Chief of Protocol Capricia Marshall looks on)

Many of the female guests arriving for the State Dinner were actually wearing brightly colored silk saris, including Indra Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo, who was just named to a new India-US advisory board for the Treasury Department. The guests arrived through the East Wing, the traditional entrance for social affairs; they were then escorted down to the "tent" on the South Lawn. Related: The Obamas wait for the Guests of Honor.

The State Dinner menu, created by White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford and guest chef Marcus Samuelsson, is here. The guest list--all 329 guests--is here.


*Photos by Obama Foodorama

At The State Dinner, The Obamas Wait For the Guests of Honor

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama stood under the North Portico of the White House at about 7:10 PM in the evening, waiting for India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur to arrive for the start of the State Dinner. In the photo, above, they're chatting right before the Prime Minister's limousine pulled up, but the conversation was inaudible.

Members of the press were stationed on a two-tier platform directly across from the North Portico, which was elevated to give a direct shot onto the top of the stairs. White House Chief of Protocol Capricia Marshall had been greeting arriving guests and escorting them inside the White House for about ten minutes before the First Couple came outside, and she joked with media about the weather. It was very cold and raining, and Marshall didn't have on a coat (in photo, above).

"Got long johns under that gown?" A photographer who was on the media platform called out to Marshall. "I need them!" Marshall replied, laughing.

*Photos by Obama Foodorama; photos from the formal arrival are here.

The Obamas At The State Dinner Arrival: Backstage

Official White House photographer Pete Souza gets the "backstage" shot right before President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama emerge onto the North Portico of the White House to greet India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Mrs. Gursharan Kaur as they arrive for the State Dinner. Directly across the driveway, your intrepid blogger was standing in the rain on the media platform in that scrum of photographers that's visible beyond the Obamas. See that POV of the arrival here.

The Obama State Dinner Tent, Part V: The Night of The Gala

Stately structure...
The top of the Washington Monument is visible above the roof of the Obamas' State Dinner "tent" on the South Lawn of the White House. At left in picture, a covered walkway extends from the White House across the lawn to the pavilion. The massive structure had thirty-one dining tables, a bar, eight chandeliers with magnolia branches twisted in their arms, massive flower arrangements, a theatrical lighting rig in the roof beams, an orchestra platform, a professional sound system for the Academy and Grammy-award winning musical performers, as well as two side structures. The roof panels were translucent so the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial were visible in the distance. The gold chairs, green cushions and green dinner napkins and tablecloths were rentals, in a cost-cutting maneuver, according to White House staff--previously, linens for state dinners had been specially commissioned. The President's helicopter, Marine One, usually lands on the South Lawn, but has not done so since last Friday because the structure is so large.

Related: The President and First Lady greet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Mrs. Kaur here. The menu is here; the guest list is here; the list of musical performers is here. See also Building the Dinner Tent, Part I and Part II and Part III and Part IV.

The State Dinner in Honor of India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh: The Menu With Wine Pairings; China & Flowers--UPDATED

[This was originally posted from inside the State Dining Room, during the preview event]
A sustainable, regional, mostly vegetable menu--with Arugula and herbs from the Kitchen Garden, honey from the White House Beehive, American wine pairings...a bridge of friendship between Indian and American cultures...
First Lady Michelle Obama discussed State Dinner Protocol, local foods, and petits fours in the State Dining Room this afternoon, with the members of her new girls' Mentoring and Leadership program, during the press preview event for tonight's State Dinner in honor of India. She was introduced by Social Secretary Desiree Rogers, and the event was a combination White House history lesson and unveiling of the much-anticipated State Dinner menu, as well as the china patterns and place settings that will be used this evening. The affair is meant to continue Mrs. Obama's focus on fresh, sustainable, and regional foods, the best of American cuisine, with a green garden theme for the decor in the dinner tent that underscores this. (Above: Mrs. Obama during her remarks; Rogers looks on, as does White House Curator William Allman )

Guest Chef Marcus Samuelsson helped Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford create the menu--but he wasn't present at the preview event, nor was she. Nor were any of the dishes from the menu--save for a lone plate of Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses's desserts (photo below). Mrs. Obama told the girls and the media a little bit about the kitchen action, but focused more on events outside of the kitchen--protocol, diplomacy, why State Dinners are important for any White House, but particularly for the Obama White House, which is seeking to strengthen our global relationships, particularly with India, the world's other largest democracy. She emphasized that there are many traditions surrounding State Dinners and Official Visits, but forging friendships, exchanging knowledge, and "building bridges" is chief among these. The menu, which blends American and Indian cuisine, is something of a bridge between cultures. Mrs. Obama called Samuelsson "one of the finest chefs in the country," and noted that there had been a flurry of activity all over the White House to prepare for the evening (A place setting of Eisenhower china, above).

"It takes all the folks in the kitchen -- we have our incredible White House Chef Cris Comerford -- who some of you guys met -- and the rest of our kitchen staff," Mrs. Obama said to the girls in her mentoring program. "It's going to showcase the best of American cooking. It's going to include the freshest ingredients from area farmers and purveyors."

The State Dinner Menu

First
Potato and Eggplant Salad
White House Arugula with Onion Seed Vinaigrette
2008 Sauvignon Blanc, Modus Operandi, Napa, California

Red Lentil Soup with Fresh Cheese
2006 Riesling, Brooks "Ara," Willamette Valley, Oregon

Entree
Roasted Potato Dumplings
with Tomato Chutney
Chickpeas and Okra

or

Green Curry Prawns
Caramelized Salsify
with smoked Collard Greens
and Coconut Aged Basmati
2007 Grenache, Beckmen Vineyards, Santa Ynez, CA

Dessert
Pumpkin Pie Tart
Pear Tatin
Whipped Cream and Caramel Sauce
Sparkling Chardonnay, Thibaut-Janisson Brut, Monticello, Virginia

Petis Fours and Coffee
Cashew Brittle
Pecan Pralines
Passion Fruit and Vanilla Glacee
Chocolate-Dipped Fruit

*A number of items that were served at the State Dinner did not appear on the official menu; these are here.

The Guest List For The Obamas' First State Dinner

The White House has just released the guest list for the State Dinner. It's fourteen pages long, and has 329 names on it. There are many notables, including a Nobel Laureate (other than the Laureate who lives at the White House).

Vice President Biden, Secretary of State Clinton Host State Department Luncheon For Prime Minister Singh

State Department Luncheon: Diplomats, Journos, Politicos...
At 2:00 PM today at the State Department, Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hosted a luncheon in honor of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur. Second Lady Jill Biden also attended.

The Vice President led a toast in honor of Prime Minister Singh and Mr. Singh returned the favor. He acknowledged the work of former Presidents Clinton and Bush for bringing India and the US, together and said that President Obama is going to "follow the same tradition." (Above: VP Biden, PM Singh, and Sec. Clinton at the luncheon)

The Menu: Fish with green beans and barley was served. Vegetarian food was served for many of the Indian guests, including the Prime Minister. (No other details available)

The Guests: The Indian Delegation, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, Christina Romer of the Council of Economic Advisers, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senators Chris Dodd(D-Conn), and Joe Lieberman(I-Conn); Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and Reps. Gary Ackerman(D-NY), Howard Berman(D-Calif) and Jim McDermott(D-Wash). Other prominent Indians were Ratan Tata, Ranjana Khanna,Vinod Shah, President of AAAPI, CEO of Infosys, S. Gopalkrishnan, Indra Nooyi of Pepsico, Dr. Rajwant Singh, Chairman of Sikh Council on Religion and Education, Sant Singh Chatwal, Swadesh Chatterjee, Rajesh Soin from OH, Dr. Sanjay Gupta from MI, former Ambassadors Frank Wisner and Thomas Pickering, author Thomas Friedman, TV journalist Fareed Zakaria, Assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke.

*Photo by Reuters

First Lady Michelle Obama and Mrs. Gursharan Kaur, Welcoming Ceremony at The White House

Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Kaur following the ceremony, which was held in the East Room, rather than outdoors, due to bad weather. In the background, to left, is Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel; Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in the center.

Backstage At White House, Below N. Portico

Waiting for press escort to arrival ceremony, which was moved indoors to the East Room, due to inclement weather. Big screen in front of portico...windy, chilly in DC, rainy.

Official White House Schedule: President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama Host India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

9:10 AM - Welcoming Ceremony: President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will welcome Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Mrs. Gursharan Kaur to the White House South Lawn, in an elaborate ceremony that White House staff rehearsed on Friday afternoon. Livestreamed here.

UPDATE: The Welcoming Ceremony was moved indoors to the East Room, due to inclement weather.

11:35 AM - Joint Press Conference: President Obama and Prime Minister Singh will speak from the East Room of the White House. Not much will go on: Each will take one question from an India media outlet and one from an American media outlet. Livestreamed here.

2:00 PM - Mrs. Obama Hosts History Lesson/Dinner Preview: Mrs. Obama will host young women from the White House Leadership and Mentoring Program for a presentation on the history and protocol surrounding State and Official Visits in honor of the first State Dinner for Prime Minister Singh of India. Mrs. Obama will make remarks and be joined by White House Curator William Allman and Tanya Turner, Protocol Officer for the Visits Division at the US Department of State. State Dining Room. There will be two tables set with the flatware, china, and linens being used this evening at the State Dinner, and the menu will be "unveiled." Livestreamed here.

Also at 2:00 PM: Vice President Joe Biden, Mrs. Jill Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton host a luncheon in honor of Prime Minister Singh and Mrs. Kaur.

7:00 PM - State Dinner Arrivals: Prime Minister Singh and Mrs. Kaur arrive at the White House for the State Dinner. President Obama and the Mrs. Obama will greet Prime Minister Singh and Mrs. Kaur at the North Portico.

8:00 PM - State Dinner, South Lawn: President Obama and Prime Minister Singh will lead toasts at the State Dinner, in the "tent" on the South Lawn. Guest chef Marcus Samuelsson will join the White House chefs in preparing the dinner. Musical performances by an incredible array of artists. Livestreamed here.

*All times Eastern US time zone. Refresh the blog for live updates. Check sidebar for Twitter updates, and background information.

Music at The State Dinner: Jennifer Hudson, A.R. Rahman, Kurt Elling...With an Orchestra Directed by Marvin Hamlisch

Academy, Grammy, Tony award winners...
Social Secretary Desiree Rogers has outdone herself with the cultural line up for the State Dinner this evening, when President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama host India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The music will not so much be entertainment as it will be a tour through an incredible wonderland of styles by artists who are at the top of their powers.

Academy Award (and Grammy and Tony award) winning composer Marvin Hamlisch will conduct the orchestra that will accompany Academy/Grammy award winning actress/singer Jennifer Hudson, who is just returning to performance after having a baby--although she's starring in a new biopic as Winnie Mandela. A.R. Rahman, a two-time Academy Award winner and composer of Jai Ho, the theme for Slumdog Millionaire (among many other global hits) will also perform; he's a musical nod to India, so to speak, and incredibly popular in the US too. Kurt Elling, a Chicago-based jazz vocalist who's considered a legend and who also plays around the world, will be joined by his pianist and musical director, Laurence Hobgood. Elling's an Obama pal from back in the old Chicago days, though he's reportedly relocated to New York.

The Hollywood contingent...
Hudson has performed for President Obama since the inauguration: She sang at his DNC fundraiser in Los Angeles last May, where she was joined by the White House house band, Earth Wind & Fire. Amusingly, on that same evening, which featured a lavish dinner at the Beverly Hilton Hotel (home of the Golden Globe Awards), Ari Emanuel, Rahm's brother, was hosting a dueling fund raising dinner for President Obama in the penthouse of the same hotel. Ari will be at the State Dinner tonight, too, along with a Hollywood contingent that reportedly includes Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, David Geffen, Brad Pitt and George Clooney--some of whom were present at Ari's dinner in LA. (Photo above of Hudson at the DNC fundraiser)

*Photo by Obama Foodorama. Washington Post reported Jennifer Hudson; Nikki Finke of Deadline Hollywood reported the Hollywood guest list.

Deepak Chopra Announces His Invite To State Dinner on Twitter

From Joe Windish, one of the editors at the excellent blog The Moderate Voice, Chopra's tweet:

Fly tomorrow to DC to attend State Dinner on Tuesday hosted by President Obama for Indian PM at White House. V honored to be invited.

...Hmm, will Chopra be tweeting during the State Dinner? Chopra is one of the high-profile Americans of Indian origin--or Indian expats--who have been invited to the State dinner, including CNN's Sanjay Gupta and Fareed Zakaria, and actor Kal Penn of Harold and Kumar fame, who now actually works at the White House. No one's mentioned Padma Lakshmi lately, however. Windish does the wrap on the latest on-the-record Hollywood invitees: Oprah; George Clooney; Brad Pitt; Steven Spielberg, David Geffen, and Jeffrey Katzenberg, the former triumvirate that made up Dreamworks (via Nikki Finke, of Deadline Hollywood).

Among the politicos invited: Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm; Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick; Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, a Republican of Indian descent; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi; Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, Energy Secretary Stephen Chu. The full list will be released by the White House tomorrow.

The First Obama State Dinner: The Tent, Part IV

Tourists mistaking it for a greenhouse....
It's a good thing the "tent" for the State Dinner is elevated off the ground...because it's raining here in DC. And it's chilly, and a bit windy. The photo, above, is from late this afternoon. The "tent" is more of a bullet-proof pavilion, though the White House is referring to it as a "tent." It has glassed-in windows, lights, a sound system, heaters, and hard floor...as well as two satellite structures on each side. It's obscuring the view of the South Lawn portico for tourists who are braving the rain to check out the White House. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs has noted a few times that Marine One, President Obama's helicopter, has not been able to land on the South Lawn. Yesterday, your intrepid blogger overheard tourists telling each other that the tent is in fact a greenhouse for the winter Kitchen Garden. If that was true, it'd be feeding the entire District. See also Building the Dinner Tent, Part I and Part II and Part III. Check the sidebar for other State Dinner links.

The State Dinner For India: The Invitation

The difference between a "state visit" and an "official visit"
Via Lynn Sweet, Chicago Sun-Times Washington bureau chief, and the mastermind behind The Daily Flotus, the wording for the most sought-after invitation in DC--or possibly the world:

The President and Mrs. Obama request the pleasure of the company of Mr. _____ at a dinner in honor of His Excellency Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of the Republic of India, and Mrs. Gursharan Kaur, to be held at The White House on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at seven o'clock
 

On the bottom it says "Black Tie," and the words "East Wing," a reference to the usual entrance for White House social events. The invitation is printed on cream paper with a gold Presidential Seal, and black ink. The official guest list will be released by the White House tomorrow. The invitation was hand-delivered to Prime Minister Singh by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, when she visited India in July. While this is a "State Dinner," the Prime Minister's visit is not considered a "state" visit but rather an "official" visit. The Prime Minister is not the head of state. India’s head of state is President Pratibha Devisingh Patil. Her position has rnominal little constitutional power, but she is considered the Rashtrapati, or lord of the realm.

Obama State Dinner Challenges: Planning a Menu For a Vegetarian Guest of Honor...& The Myth of Using Vegetables Only From The Kitchen Garden

Vegetable veracity: The garden is low on crops, Mr. Singh is fond of fish, and about that beehive gift for dinner guests...
Mainstream media reports are trumpeting the fact that India's vegetarian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur will be served dishes that are made of produce raised entirely in the White House Kitchen Garden, when President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama host their very first State Dinner tomorrow night. Bluntly, that's factually incorrect. The Kitchen Garden is currently wintering over, and not producing enough vegetables to feed hundreds of guests a multi-course vegetable-based State Dinner; the photo of the garden, above, was taken yesterday afternoon. It's a little barren. There's still some lettuces, some spinach, and a variety of herbs growing, but that's pretty much it at the moment. (Above: President Obama and Prime Minister Singh at the G20)

The White House has not released details of the menu yet, but it will probably feature some produce from the garden--and things that could be in the garden--but it's not going to be a 100 percent "homegrown" extravaganza, as reports are insisting. The State Dinner menu will undoubtedly encompass Mrs. Obama's now-signature focus on fresh produce and local-ish sourcing; the presence of guest chef Marcus Samuelsson implies a certain risk-taking, a blending of cultural influences. Something extraordinary, without seeming to show off. The White House, these days, is meant to be The People's House, after all, so perhaps the menu will be a foodie homage to The Immigrant Experience in America...Samuelsson, who was born in Ethiopia, raised in Sweden, and is now a naturalised American citizen, is a living metaphor for this, as is Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford herself (born in the Philippines...). Prime Minister Singh noted just a few days ago that he believes every citizen in India now has a relative living in America; there are more than 2.5 million citizens here that are from or trace their roots to India.

Perhaps more important for menu mythologists, as a hint to what will be served tomorrow, vegetarian doesn't mean vegan. The dinner dishes are not going to be made solely of vegetables, which your intrepid blogger heard from very reliable sources. No, not going to name names, or spill details; menu items will all be revealed at the combined learning event/press preview Mrs. Obama is holding tomorrow afternoon in the State Dining room. But what can be said, for those who are convinced an all-veggie State Dinner is going to happen: Mr. Singh is on the record as a devotee of fish. And the final time he shared a meal with President George Bush in the White House--last year--fish was on the menu. Needless to say, the White House chefs are busy as bees right now...the weekend was spent prepping in the White House kitchen; there's a lot of slicing and dicing and mixing and stirring that goes on, when you're cooking for hundreds of people. (Above: Comerford, L, assistant chef Sam Kass, and Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses in the White House kitchen)

A beehive gift as party favor? No.
And speaking of bees, a special State Dinner gift for guests made from honey from the White House beehive is another fun food fantasy swirling around the media that's being reported as fact, although the White House has neither confirmed nor denied this. The myth sprang up thanks to the G-20 spouse gifts including little honey pots from the beehive--but those gifts were for 21 people, and there are hundreds expected for the state dinner (the G20 honey jar, in photo). 134 pounds of honey--or 11 gallons, to put things in perspective--were produced from the beehive, and the hive is now dormant for the winter. Given the fact that more than 2,000 special cookies were made for trick-or-treaters at Halloween using honey from the beehive--among many other creations, starting last Spring--it's a dwindling supply, and it's just unlikely that honey gifts will be handed out. But more than likely, honey from the beehive will be used in one or more dishes for the dinner. Still, the fact that beehive myths and veggie myths are coursing around the world is an excellent testament to the far-reaching influence of Mrs. Obama's garden, but other than that, it's all an amusing side note to the State Dinner.

Photo, above: Still life of tent with beehive. Ob Fo has been tracking the progress of the "tent"...and it's almost done. Handily photographed with the beehive visible at left, since there are so many White House beehive fans.

*Clearing things up further: The crops that were pulled from the Kitchen Garden at the Fall Harvest event weren't canned or stored in a root cellar to be used for the State Dinner; the 224 pounds of late Fall veggies were donated to Miriam's Kitchen, the local social services agency that's been the beneficiary of Kitchen Garden bounty since it was planted. The White House doesn't have a root cellar, according to Sam Kass. Here's just one of the State Dinner menu myth stories that's appearing around the globe, courtesy of the internet.

Related: Mrs. Obama teaches State Dinner history here. Rehearsing the Arrival Ceremony is here. Building the Tent, part I and part II. New White House florist Laura Dowling makes her debut at the State Dinner.

For The State Dinner Menu Preview, First Lady Michelle Obama Hosts High School Girls, Teaches White House History, State Protocol

The First Lady explains protocol tomorrow...Obama Foodorama will be there
Tuesday's State Dinner at the White House is being regarded as the most high-profile event hosted by President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama to date--but Mrs. Obama has just added a seriously signature move to the day's festivities. Just hours before hundreds of guests arrive for the dinner honoring Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur, Mrs. Obama will be giving a history lesson--in the State Dining Room. She's invited the twenty high school students who are part of the new White House girls' mentoring and leadership program for an afternoon event, where she'll explain some of the intricacies of hosting important foreign visitors, including protocol and White House history.

Mrs. Obama will be joined by White House Curator William Allman and the State Department's Tanya Turner, a protocol officer, and they'll be giving a first-hand look at the myriad critical considerations in the complicated process of planning and carrying out an event that involves international dignitaries--and which will be scrutinized for years to come. (Above: Mrs. Obama in Denver last week)

"The First Lady is excited to provide the mentees a behind-the-scenes look at Tuesday’s State Dinner," said Semonti Stephens, Mrs. Obama's deputy press secretary, when announcing the event.

It will be quite a look behind the scenes--because it's happening on a day when the White House will be filled with the most formal pomp and circumstance, with a big welcoming ceremony for the Prime Minister planned in the morning, and all kinds of other extraordinary things going on (color guards in formal attire; a joint press conference by the President and Mr. Singh...).

Mrs. Obama is reportedly seeking to make the mentoring initiative her signature program, and welcoming the high school girls on such an important day personalizes the State Dinner for Mrs. Obama further. The dinner history lesson is also a continuation of Mrs. Obama's efforts to make the White House what she calls "The People's House," more open than it has ever been before. Hundreds of school children have been welcomed since January, including the group of Bancroft Elementary School Students who worked regularly in the Kitchen Garden. Students have participated in the music series programs; a group of culinary students were invited into the kitchen before the Governors Dinner in February. But Tuesday's event is perhaps the top rung on the ladder of using the White House itself as an educational tool.

"The goal of Mrs. Obama’s [mentor] program is to have a concrete impact on the lives of young women by engaging, encouraging, and inspiring students from different walks of life to pursue their dreams and achieve their full potential," Stephens said.

There could not be anything more concrete--nor more inspirational than what Mrs. Obama will be discussing at the event; she'll be revealing the china pattern(s) and flowers for the dinner. These seemingly simple domestic objects are actually loaded with American history, especially the china. During each administration, first ladies create their own patterns with symbols and colors that reflect the values of the presidency; often, critical events become symbols on the china. While discussing china and flowers is a traditional role for a first lady, bringing in high school girls for a first-hand look at the whole process is not. Mrs. Obama will explaining exactly why the china pattern for the State Dinner was chosen--and it's a fair bet that she's used more than one pattern, to boost the history value, and to make a point (Mrs. Obama has already mixed patterns at White House events; she's the only first lady to ever do so). The flowers, too, will no doubt be emblematic of White House and American history--and no doubt the history of India. Flowers have their own language, as flower enthusiasts know, and a simple bouquet can tell a profound story, if it's "read" correctly. Mrs. Obama explaining these stories to the group of girls is a whole different kind of story, too, its own piece of history. The girls will be served dessert after the history lesson--a not-so-subtle message that success is sweet. (Above: A plate from the Truman china set)

Mrs. Obama took the mentoring initiative to Denver last week, to launch it in that city, and at the White House, top-op level staff have signed on for the mentoring duties, including Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett; Mrs. Obama's Chief of Staff Susan Sher; and social Secretary Desiree Rogers. But it should also be noted that the bevy of female staff in all the positions around the White House are terrific role models for girl visitors, too, from the women Secret Service agents to the staff that micromanage events, armed with BlackBerries, clipboards, and patience. If having the First Lady wrap her arm around your shoulder seems like a dream for the high schoolers in the program, seeing White House staff in action is another way of making the whole idea of dreaming big and working for success very concrete (as is having a female Top Toque...). The media will also be getting schooled at the afternoon history event--it's being melded with the press-preview for the dinner--which will put to rest all the speculation that's run rampant, particularly over the past week. And yes, your intrepid blogger will be getting schooled, too. (Above: Mrs. Obama and Susan Sher, at the launch of the mentoring program)

*The guest list for the State Dinner is still a closely guarded secret; even the number of guests has not been revealed by the White House, but 400 guests are believed to have been invited. The guest list will be announced on Tuesday.

Related: The Prime Minister is a vegetarian, and the Kitchen gGarden is mostly dormant: No problem! Rehearsing the Arrival Ceremony is here. Building the Tent, part I and part II. New White House florist Laura Dowling makes her debut at the State Dinner. Marcus Samuelsson will be guest cheffing with the White House chefs.

*The White House Museum has a good photo essay on the China Room, where presidential china is displayed.

Video: Former White House Staffers Parse Desiree Rogers' State Dinner Worry List

Video, after the jump...
It's just a little more than 24 hours until the Obamas' first State Dinner, and Politico checked in with Ann Stock and Anita McBride, two former White House staffers, for some insight into State Dinners. Stock was Social Secretary when President Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton hosted the biggest State Dinner of his presidency--for India's Prime Minister Atal Bhari Vajpayee, on Sept. 17, 2000. That event was also held in a tent on the South Lawn, with 700 guests in attendance.

McBride was Chief of Staff to former First Lady Laura Bush, and oversaw 21 State Dinners in her time in Washington, including the last time Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was honored at the White House, on July 18, 2005. Current White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford cooked for both these dinners--but the staffers are discussing other things First Lady Michelle Obama's Social Secretary, Desiree Rogers, has to worry about: Weather...china selection...protocol. Tomorrow afternoon, Mrs. Obama will reveal all the details of her own china and flower selections...and give a brief history lesson, too. (Photo: An arty shot of the Bushes and PM Singh & his wife at the White House during their State Dinner in 2005)

Singh Sings On Facebook, Doesn't Tweet On Twitter

India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has a Facebook page. For someone from a country with such a huge population--he's low on friends: Just a little over 13,300. Why not follow PM Singh here? Maybe he'll update during tomorrow night's State Dinner.  There's no verified account for the Prime Minister on Twitter. Obama Foodorama is on Twitter, however, and will be live tweeting from the joint press conference at the White House tomorrow, with President Obama. Follow along here on the sidebar of the blog, or on Twitter.

The PM's last Facebook update, from Nov. 21: I am leaving today for Washington on a bilateral visit to the United States at the invitation of President Barack Obama....