Washington: Big names from the tech, film and fashion industries as well as billionaire industrialists were among those invited to a state dinner in honor of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House on Thursday. In keeping with the visiting Prime Minister’s dietary restrictions, the menu consisted of mostly vegetarian dishes, including Marinated Millet, Stuffed Mushrooms, Grilled Corn Kernel Salad and Cardamom-Infused Strawberry Shortcakes.
More than 400 guests were invited for the dinner hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the specially decorated pavilion on the South Lawn of the White House. Guests included Indian billionaires Mukesh Ambani and Anand Mahindra, Apple CEO Tim Cook and corporate leader Indira Nooyi. The CEOs of Google, Microsoft and Adobe – Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella and Shantanu Narayen – also attended the event.
#Watch , Washington DC. , Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani arrive at the White House for the State Dinner pic.twitter.com/qJ1wP3KZym– ANI (@ANI) 22 June 2023
The first course of the State Dinner included marinated millet, grilled corn kernel salad, compressed watermelon and a tangy avocado sauce, and the main course included portobello mushrooms and a creamy saffron-infused risotto. Dishes, upon guest request, included sumac-roasted sea bass, lemon-dill yogurt sauce, crispy millet cakes, and summer squash. For dessert, strawberry shortcake with rose and cardamom was served. Wines on the list were Stone Tower Chardonnay “Christie” 2021, Patel Red Blend 2019 and Domaine Carneros Brut Rosé.
#Watch , US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo arrives at the White House for a state dinner. pic.twitter.com/DWnoI2fe59– ANI (@ANI) 22 June 2023
The guest list also included human rights activist Martin Luther King III, tennis legend Billie Jean King, filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, fashion designer Ralph Lauren, Grammy Award winner Joshua Bell and entrepreneur Frank Islam. Indian American lawmakers on the list included Pramila Jaipal, Mr Thanedar, Ro Khanna, Ami Bera and Raja Krishnamurthy.
#Watch , Google CEO Sundar Pichai arrives at the White House for a state dinner. pic.twitter.com/BrwzGHj1ar– ANI (@ANI) 22 June 2023
Members of the Biden family at the dinner included Hunter Biden, Ashley Biden, James Biden and Naomi Biden Neal. Vice President Kamala Harris, who will host the lunch for Prime Minister Modi, was also present. India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attended the dinner along with US diplomats and members of the Biden administration.
Prime Minister Modi is on a visit to the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of President Joe Biden and the First Lady. White House social secretary Carlos Elizondo previewed the dinner on Wednesday, saying the first lady has been involved with the event every step of the way. Elizondo said that every element of the dinner and decor was chosen to make each guest’s experience personal and warm.
He had said that the decor of the venue included elements that respected the tradition and cultures of the US and India, including the Indian flag.