Culinary Diplomacy: Inside the Menu for Donald Trump and Xi Jinping's White House State Dinner

US President Donald Trump is hosting his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at the White House this week, with a state dinner scheduled for Thursday evening. It is Mr Xi's second official visit to Washington and his first in 11 years.

The White House stated that the menu blends American ingredients with subtle Chinese influence, bringing the culinary traditions of both nations together. The meal will begin with a toast of Schramsberg “Blanc De Noir”, a sparkling wine chosen to honour the “Toast to Peace” shared by former president Richard Nixon and premier Zhou Enlai in Beijing in 1972. Mr Nixon was the first American president to visit China.

The first course consists of a refined and silky-smooth veloute made of sweet yellow squash. The White House noted that this course is gently blended to highlight delicate seasonal flavours of earthy wild mushrooms, sauteed with fresh herbs, creating a rich fricassee complemented by crispy pancetta.

The second course features sea bass coated in toasted sesame seeds to create a fragrant nutty crust, served alongside crisp baby bok choy and roasted garden eggplant, finished with a vibrant sauce verte of fresh herbs.

For dessert, Mr Trump and Mr Xi will enjoy a vanilla cremeux with a sour cherry confit centre set on walnut frangipane, complemented by an ice cream made with harvested White House honey.

Entertainment for the evening includes tenor Christopher Macchio and performances by military musicians, including “The President’s Own” US Marine Corps Band, “The Commandant’s Own” US Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, the US Army Chorus, and the US Army Strings.

Mr Xi's trip follows a visit to a Brics summit in India, where reports of food poisoning were dismissed as a hoax by the Indian government. Previously, Mr Trump visited China in May, attending a state dinner featuring lobster, Peking duck, salmon, tiramisu, fresh fruit, and pan-fried buns.