Inaugural Luncheon Menu

President's Inaugural Luncheon Menu

Following the swearing in, our new President Barack Obama, will be enjoying his first Presidential luncheon in the Statutary Hall. We couldn't find a picture of the new President dining anywhere fancy, but we did manage to find one of him enjoying a piece of pizza for an informal "presidential luncheon." Back to affairs, or should I say "meals of state... " For those whose enquiring minds wish to know, the following will be the substance of the Presidential Inaugural meal:

Apparently, the courses reflect the tastes of Abraham Lincoln, rather than our new President. Here is a brief rundown of what Obama and his guests will be genteely ingesting. For the first course there will be a seafood stew which will include Maine lobsters, sea scallops, large shrimp and black cod (which seems to be a favorite menu item here in the city at the moment also). Along with carrots, celery, leek and Idaho potato and heavy cream, the seasonings will include nutmeg and dry vermouth.


For the second course, there will be a brace of American birds: Pheasant and duck. These will be served with sour cherry chutney and Molasses sweet potatoes. This will be paired with Goldeneye, a 2005 Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley. The State Department did not state whether this was implying any connection between our President and James Bond, an interesting choice, nonetheless.

Dessert will be an Apple Cinnamon Sponge cake, served with sweet cream glace and paired with a California champagne (sparkling wine) from Korbel: which will be a special inaugural cuvee. A further California connection is provided with the hanging of a picture: "View of Yosemite Valley" in Statutary Hall where the President and his guests will dine.

Despite reports of inaugural tickets being sold for up to $1,000 on Ebay, the above, alas, is probably the closest most of us will ever get to joining the President for lunch... I know, I know, the invitation was in the mail...

The inaugural luncheon menu

It may be a bit crazy, but I've always been kinda fascinated by what presidents eat. I read the presidential Thanksgiving and Christmas menus. I make sure to check out the menus for state dinners. I read about White House chefs and presidential food preferences. It's just interesting to me.

Here's the luncheon menu for today's inaugural lunch:

The first course, a seafood stew filled with lobster, scallops, shrimp and cod, will be served with Duckhorn Vineyards's 2007 Sauvignon Blanc.

"The wine was released April 3, 2008. It's the only white wine we make as a company. It's a little richer, there's some barrel fermentation and I think it has benefited from being in the bottle a little longer," Duckhorn's chief winemaker Bill Nancarrow said of the harvest that yielded 30,000 cases.

"They've had Duckhorn wines at the White House before, so they know us. But still this is quite something," he added.

The main course, a brace of duck and pheasant served with sour cherry chutney and molasses sweet potatoes, will be accompanied by Goldeneye, 2005 Pinot Noir, from California's Anderson Valley.

"I have to say that among the many honors and awards in the world of wine, this is one of the most gratifying," Zach Rasmuson, Goldeneye's 35-year-old chief winemaker, said.

"I didn't know anything really about the selection until we found out last week. They didn't ask us to submit anything," he added.

"But I think, especially when I heard it was going to be served with duck and the sour cherry sauce, that our wine will go great with that dish. One of the descriptors of Pinot Noir is sour cherry."

Korbel's Heck, who has been in the wine business for 43 years, said he had sent about 18 magnum cases to Washington to be served with the dessert course - an apple cinnamon sponge cake with sweet cream glace.

"It's the same wine as in our Korbel Natural. These are just special bottles," he said.

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