What the royals fed the US president and Tom Hanks
It wasn't quite as grand as the royal wedding feast last month, but Buckingham Palace managed to roll out another multi-course affair studded with champagne for US President Barack Obama's state dinner Tuesday night.
After a whirlwind day of visits to Westminster Abbey where Obama was ribbed about his tone-deaf singing voice; an impromptu match of table tennis against a team of school boys; diplomatic talks about the crisis in the Middle East; and a belated congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their recent nuptials, Obama and the First Lady sat down to a sumptuous state dinner that was decidedly French in menu.
Guests at the lavish affair included a confetti of stars like Tom Hanks, Kevin Spacey, film director Tim Burton and his wife Helena Bonham Carter and splashy entrepreneurial tycoon Sir Richard Branson.
The playlist that accompanied guests as they tucked into their sole starter and lamb mains ranged from Bach and Offenbach to pipe music.
To see how the royals entertain -- or for entertaining inspiration -- here's a full list of the menu for the Obama's official state banquet:
Starter
Paupiette de Sole et Cresson (sole with white wine sauce)
Sauce Nantua (crayfish béchamel sauce)
Main
Agneau de la Nouvelle Saison de Windsor au Basilic (lamb)
Courgettes et Radis Sautées (sautéed zucchini and radish)
Panaché d'Haricots Verts (green beans)
Pommes Boulangère (oven-baked gratin-style potatoes)
Salade
Dessert
Charlotte à la Vanille et Cerises Griottes (sponge cake or Lady Finger-based cake filled with fruit custard, mousse and sour cherries)
Fruits de Dessert (fruit desserts)
Wine list
Ridgeview Cuvée Merret Fitzrovia Rosé 2004
Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 2004 (Domaine William Fèvre)
Echézeaux Grand Cru 1990 (Domaine de la Romanée-Conti)
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, Vintage Rich 2002
Royal Vintage Port 1963
