After the swearing in ceremony and President Obama's inaugural address, before the parade, a select group will proceed to Sanctuary Hall for the traditional inaugural luncheon. In addition to the president and vice president and their families, the approximately 200 guests will include the Supreme Court, Cabinet designees and members of the Congressional leadership.
The White House does not host the inaugural luncheon, but rather the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies who have designed a them around “A New Birth of Freedom,” which celebrates the bicentennial of the birth of President Abraham Lincoln..
According to the Committee's press release:
"The menu, created by Design Cuisine, a catering company based in Arlington, Virginia, draws on historic ties to the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. Growing up in the frontier regions of Kentucky and Indiana, the sixteenth President favored simple foods including root vegetables and wild game. As his tastes matured, he became fond of stewed and scalloped oysters. For dessert or a snack, nothing pleased him more than a fresh apple or an apple cake."
Inspired by Abraham Lincoln's favorites, here is the menu for the formal inaugural luncheon:
First Course:
- Seafood Stew
- The wine: Duckhorn Vineyards, 2007 Sauvignon Blanc from the Napa Valley in California
Second Course:
- A Brace of American Birds (pheasant and duck), served with sour cherry chutney and molasses sweet potatoes
- The wine: Goldeneye, 2005 Pinot Noir from the Anderson Valley in California
Third Course:
- Apple cinnamon sponge cake and sweet cream glacé
- The wine: Korbel Natural 'Special Inaugural Cuvée,' from California
The Obamas have added their personal touch to the day's festivities, too. Obama's favorite pizza in their Chicago hometown comes from Italian Fiesta Pizzeria. Not deep-dish “Chicago Style,” this restaurant is known for its thin-crust pizza and spreading toppings to the edge of the pie. Michelle Obama says she grew up on that pizza. Her parents used to reward her with the pizza for good grades.
The Obamas plan to bring the chef of Italian Fiesta Pizzeria to Washington to make pizza for the inauguration. Patti Harris-Tubbs and her husband will fly out with their secret ingredients to help the Ritz Carlton recreate the pie from Italian Fiesta Pizzeria. Harris-Tubbs said she doesn't expect her pizza to be on the menu at fancy inauguration events, but it will be served to the media at the expo.
Guests at two D.C. area Ritz Carltons, whether they are invited to any of the inaugural festivities, will be treated to Michelle Obama's Shortbread Cookies.
What else might Barack Obama nosh on that day? Here's a good bet: The president-elect's 87-year-old Kenyan grandmother, Sarah Obama, is set to attend her grandson's presidential inauguration ceremony in Washington. Sarah said she will take Obama's favorite food, chapatti, a traditional Kenyan pastry, with her when she goes to the ceremony.
What might president Obama rather be eating? If the luncheon had been potluck, he might have brought his own favorite recipe for Barack Obama's Sinus-Clearing Chili. Or if it were any other Tuesday night at the Obama house, and maybe it would have been Michelle Obama's Macaroni and Cheese.
Larry Ervin - Foodie, self-taught cook and cookbook addict, I never met a recipe I didn't want to twist, simplify, add or switch out ingredients.
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