Washington, September 2026 : US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will host Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan at a White House state dinner on Thursday evening, with the formal event bringing together American culinary traditions and influences from Chinese cuisine.
The dinner will be held in the White House East Room, with members of the official US and Chinese delegations joined by business leaders and government officials. The Office of the First Lady said Melania Trump personally led preparations for the evening.
The three-course menu has been designed to reflect culinary elements from both countries while maintaining a distinctly American foundation.
The evening will begin with a toast featuring Schramsberg “Blanc De Noir”, an American sparkling wine selected as a historical reference to a similar toast shared by former US President Richard Nixon and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai during Nixon’s 1972 visit to Beijing.
The White House said the wine choice was intended to recall what it described as the “Toast to Peace” from that historic visit.
Three-course menu combines American and Chinese influences
The first course will be a yellow squash velouté accompanied by wild mushroom fricassée, crispy pancetta and scallion oil. The soup is described as a smooth preparation made from sweet yellow squash, with mushrooms sautéed with fresh herbs.
Crispy pancetta will add a smoky and savoury element, while scallion oil will provide the finishing touch, introducing an ingredient commonly associated with Chinese cooking.
The main course will feature sesame-crusted sea bass served with braised baby bok choy, roasted garden eggplant and a green herb sauce.
The sea bass will be coated with toasted sesame to provide a nutty crust while retaining the tenderness of the fish. The accompanying vegetables will offer a combination of textures, with the bok choy providing a softer, crisp element and roasted eggplant adding depth to the dish.
Dessert will consist of vanilla crémeux and White House honey ice cream, accompanied by walnut frangipane and sour cherry confit.
The dessert will be presented in a fruit-inspired form, with the cherry confit placed at its centre. The ice cream will incorporate honey harvested from beehives at the White House.
The menu incorporates Chinese-inspired ingredients such as scallion, sesame and bok choy into preparations based on American ingredients and culinary techniques. The White House described the combination as an effort to bring the food traditions of the two countries together.
Military bands and tenor Christopher Macchio to perform
The formal dinner will also feature a programme of music and entertainment.
Classically trained tenor Christopher Macchio will headline the evening’s entertainment. Macchio previously performed at Trump’s 2025 presidential inauguration.
Military musicians from the US Marine Corps and US Army will also perform during the state dinner.
The performers will include “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band and “The Commandant’s Own” United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps. The United States Army Chorus and United States Army Strings are also scheduled to take part.
Red-themed décor highlights Chinese cultural symbolism
The East Room will feature a predominantly red colour scheme, reflecting the colour’s longstanding cultural significance in China.
According to the First Lady’s office, urns in the room will be filled with red blossoms, while the tables will feature rich red linens decorated with dahlias and ranunculus.
The table settings will combine elements from the White House collection with pieces from the Reagan State Service. Vermeil from the White House collection will be used alongside the formal dinner service.
The décor is intended to combine Chinese cultural references with traditional White House elements. The use of red flowers, linens and table arrangements will provide a visual connection to Chinese culture, while the silverware and formal service will reflect the setting’s American presidential traditions.
Dinner recalls Nixon’s landmark 1972 Beijing visit
The choice of sparkling wine is particularly significant because of its connection to Nixon’s 1972 visit to China.
During that trip, Nixon and Zhou Enlai raised a toast in Beijing, an event later associated with the beginning of a major new phase in US-China relations. The White House release said the same American sparkling wine continues to be served at White House functions.
Nixon’s visit represented a major diplomatic step towards the opening of relations between Washington and Beijing.
Thursday’s state dinner draws on that historical moment while providing the ceremonial setting for Trump’s reception of Xi and Peng. Through its menu, entertainment and décor, the event combines American presidential traditions with references to Chinese culture and the history of US-China engagement.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
