Muy Deliciosa: Fiesta Latina en la Casa Blanca...The menu, and a videoA
s part of the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, First Lady Michelle Obama and President Obama welcomed Latino performers and chef Maricel Presilla to the White House last night. Sheila E. led the (White) house band from behind her drum set, and Gloria Estefan, José Feliciano, Los Lobos, Marc Anthony, Tito "El Bambino," dance-club faves Aventura, and Thalia also performed. It was the final event of the year for the White House music series, In Performance at the White House. Photos and more on the performances are below, in the jump after the menu. (At top of post: Marian Robinson, Mrs. Obama, President Obama, and Sasha dance during the Fiesta; smaller photo is Mr. and Mrs. Obama during the evening)
The fiesta was held outdoors on the South Lawn, with a huge tented stage and pavilion built for the occasion. Chef Presilla, the Cuban-American chef/owner of Cuchuramama and Zafra restaurants in Hoboken, New Jersey, is also the author of numerous cookery books. In an afternoon press preview of her menu, Presilla described the finger foods she'd be cooking, and noted that every dish was created to showcase some aspect of Latin culture, from the Cuban roast pork that's a nod to her own heritage, to the Puerto Rican Pasteles that she chose to honor new Associate Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who was born in New York to Puerto Rican parents. Even the special beverage, "Age of Discovery" cocoa, had special meaning; Presilla said it was meant to reference Mayan and Aztec royalty. (Above: Chef Presilla unwraps the Pasteles during the press preview)“I wanted to convey the richness of Latin America,’’ Chef Presilla said. “There’s no better place to do this kind of missionary work than at the White House.’’ She added that her menu included the "humble but wonderful staples of our cooking."
Chef Presilla picked tomatillos, fennel, and parsley from the White House Kitchen Garden, and used honey from the beehive.
"I felt like a farmer--a farmer at the White House," Presilla said, about visiting the garden. "I don't feel like I'm at the seat of power. I feel like I'm in a great kitchen."
Maricel Presilla's Fiesta Latina White House Menu
Finger Foods
*Argentinian Beef Empanada with Red Chimichurri
*Poached Shrimp with Nikkei Coleslaw
Miso Dressing and Dried Seaweed
*Brazilian Black-eyed Peas Arrumadinho (vegetarian)
*Honduran Enchiladas
topped with Chicken Hash, Gutemalan Slaw, Aged Cheese
*Fresh Corn Polenta with Roasted Bacon in a Guajilio-Ancho Adobo
*Cuban Roast Pork and Mango Canapes
Lulu Sauce
*Puerto Rican Pasteles with Ajilimojili
Desserts
*Chocolate-Cheese Flan
Hibiscus Sauce
*Milk Chocolate-Coffee Brulees
Candied Cacao
Special Beverage
*"Age of Discovery" Hot Cocoa
President Obama: VERY Hispanic...
When President Obama opened the Fiesta by welcoming the 380 guests, he noted that "In the end, what makes Latin music great is the same thing that's always made America great; the unique ability to celebrate our differences while creating something new."
Hosts/actors Eva Longoria Parker, Jimmie Smits, and George Lopez then took the stage, and joked that President Obama is actually Hispanic.
"Latinos everywhere!" Parker said. "You know who else is Latino? Obama. He just doesn't know it!" There was a huge laugh from the guests (and the President) and Parker continued her riff: "He lives in a house that's not his, left it white because he can't decide what color to paint it: Very Latino. Says he's gonna change and nobody believes him: Very Latino!" (Above: Lopez, Parker, and Smits)
Gloria Estefan opened the musical part of the evening, and sang her chart-topper "No Llores," accompanied by José Feliciano and Sheila E. During the event, Judge Sotomayor received a standing ovation from the crowd. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar were the other high-profile Hispanic members of the admin in attendance. There were technical glitches with the sound system all night, but by the end, the President and First Lady, as well as daughters Malia and Sasha, were dancing on stage. (Above: Estefan performs, accompanied by Sheila E. and Feliciano) Below: A fun video of the First Family jammin', from AP:
Above: The tented pavilion and stage on the South Lawn.
*In Performance at The White House: Fiesta Latina will be broadcast on PBS stations on Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 8 p.m. ET on PBS stations nationwide. Other show times: Oct. 18 on Telemundo and Dec. 25 on V-me. *Photos: AP/Reuters/ Getty/Pete Souza, White House
