Sea bass leads menu for Trump-Xi state dinner

President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will be served a fish-centered menu at Thursday’s state dinner, with sea bass as the main course and no traditional red-meat entrée.

The menu released by first lady Melania Trump’s office and reported by Fox News lists three courses. Although it was described as pescatarian, the opening course includes pancetta, a cured pork product.

Three courses on the menu

The first course is a yellow squash velouté, a smooth soup, accompanied by wild mushroom fricassee, crispy pancetta and scallion oil. The mushrooms are prepared with fresh herbs, while the pancetta adds a smoky element.

The main course is sea bass coated with toasted sesame seeds. It will be served with braised baby bok choy, roasted garden eggplant and sauce verte, a French-style green herb sauce.

Dessert combines vanilla crémeux with a sour cherry confit center and walnut frangipane. It is paired with ice cream made using honey harvested at the White House.

What is not being served

The menu does not list a beef or other traditional red-meat main course. Fish is the centerpiece, while the small amount of pancetta in the starter is the only listed non-seafood meat.

Trump, Xi and their guests are scheduled to attend the dinner as part of the Chinese president’s visit. The event places the two presidents together in a formal setting alongside their broader diplomatic meetings.