President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump are set to host Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla at a White House state dinner Tuesday night, with a menu designed to showcase American culinary artistry and the first lady's personal touch. The White House confirmed that Melania Trump led the planning for the evening, which includes four courses and a selection of wines chosen to underscore the U.S.-U.K. alliance.
The meal opens with a garden vegetable velouté, a creamy soup accompanied by a hearts of palm salad topped with toasted shallots and micro mint. The first course reflects the administration's emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients, a theme that continues through the evening.
For the second course, guests will be served handcrafted spring herbed ravioli, filled with herbs harvested from the White House Kitchen Garden—a project championed by Melania Trump. The dish highlights the garden's ongoing role in White House entertaining, a tradition she has maintained.
The third course features Dover sole meunière, described as "bathed in a nutty brown butter," paired with spring ramps, snow peas, and a potato pavé, finished with parsley oil. The fish course is a nod to classic French technique, adapted for the state dinner's refined setting.
Dessert takes a whimsical turn with a beehive-shaped chocolate gâteau, filled with vanilla bean crémeux custard and served with crème fraîche ice cream and White House honey. The beehive motif ties directly to a new White House-shaped beehive that Melania Trump unveiled on the South Lawn earlier Tuesday for the royal couple, a gesture highlighting her interest in pollinator conservation.
The wine selection was curated to complement the menu while "honoring the shared heritage and enduring friendship between the United States and the United Kingdom," according to the White House. The lineup includes a Hopkins Riesling "Heritage" 2024, a Penner-Ash Pinot Noir "Willamette Valley" 2022, and a Newton Chardonnay "Unfiltered" 2022, all representing American winemaking regions.
The state dinner comes amid broader political dynamics, including recent GOP mockery of Democrats for cheering King Charles after their "No Kings" slogans, a controversy that has sparked partisan debate. Meanwhile, the White House has taunted critics with a "Two Kings" photo of Trump and Charles, underscoring the administration's embrace of the royal visit.
King Charles also addressed Congress earlier this week, urging lawmakers to defend the alliance amid global threats, a speech that drew both praise and criticism. The dinner itself serves as a diplomatic highlight, reinforcing ties between the two nations even as domestic political tensions simmer.
