A formal dinner at the White House comes with plenty of protocol, but the food on the table can sometimes say just as much about the evening.US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump is hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuan for a State Dinner in the White House’s East Room. The guest list includes members of the US and Chinese delegations, along with business leaders and government officials.Melania Trump has overseen preparations for the evening, including a menu that brings together familiar American ingredients and cooking traditions with subtle Chinese influences.And the dinner will begin with a drink that has its own place in US-China diplomatic history.
A toast that goes back to 1972
Guests will start the evening with Schramsberg “Blanc de Noir”, an American sparkling wine that was also served during the historic “Toast to Peace” shared by US President Richard Nixon and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai in Beijing in 1972.The same sparkling wine has continued to feature at White House functions over the years.
First course: Yellow squash velouté
The first course is a yellow squash velouté served with wild mushroom fricassee, crispy pancetta and scallion oil.
The menu for a state dinner hosted by US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump for Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at the White House in Washington, D.C., US, September 24, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
The soup is smooth and delicate, while the mushrooms add an earthy note. Crispy pancetta brings a salty, smoky element to the plate, with scallion oil adding a fresh finish.
Main course: Sesame-crusted sea bass
For the main course, guests will be served sesame-crusted sea bass with braised baby bok choy, roasted garden eggplant and sauce verte.The fish gets a fragrant sesame crust, while the bok choy and roasted eggplant bring different textures and flavours to the dish. It’s finished with sauce verte, a fresh herb-based sauce that adds a sharper, brighter note.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump speak during a state dinner at the White House in Washington, D.C., US, September 24, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
The sesame and bok choy also give the course a subtle nod to Chinese flavours without moving too far from the American-inspired menu.
Dessert: Vanilla cremeux with White House honey ice cream
Dessert is a little more elaborate.The plate combines vanilla cremeux, walnut frangipane, sour cherry confit and White House honey ice cream. The cherry confit sits inside the smooth vanilla cremeux, which is placed over walnut frangipane.The dessert is shaped to resemble fruit and comes with ice cream made using honey harvested at the White House.
Who is performing at the State Dinner?
Food won’t be the only highlight of the evening.
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping sit together during a state dinner at the White House in Washington, D.C., US, September 24, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
Classically trained tenor Christopher Macchio, who performed at the 2025 Presidential Inauguration, will headline the musical programme.Military musicians will also perform, including “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, The Commandant’s Own United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, the United States Army Chorus and the United States Army Strings.
Red takes centre stage at the White House
The decor has been planned around warmth and celebration, with red playing a major role.The colour was chosen in part for its longstanding cultural significance in Chinese history. Red flowers will fill urns around the White House, while the tables will feature rich red linens along with dahlias and ranunculus.The tables will also be set with vermeil from the White House collection and the Reagan State Service.Taken together, the food, flowers, tableware and music are designed to bring American traditions and Chinese influences together for an evening centred on the two countries’ diplomatic relationship.