What do world leaders get to imbibe at the White House in these last days of the Bush presidency?
To look at the menu for the G20 financial-crisis dinner held on November 14, 2008 at the White House, you wouldn’t even guess that world leaders flew in to discuss the economic woes of the world — and swilled wine to the tune of $500 a bottle for the main course. Shafer Cabernet Hillside Select 2003.* Pretty exclusive. And the chanterelles don’t exactly come cheap either — they weigh in at about $24 per pound.
Presidents must pay for their own groceries — and they have since the early days at the white mansion, BUT when dinners like this one take place, the taxpayer ponies up the cash:
Fruitwood-smoked Quail with Quince Gastrique
Quinoa Risotto
Landmark Chardonnay Damaris Reserve 2006 ($40 a bottle)
Thyme-roasted Rack of Lamb
Tomato, Fennel and Eggplant Fondue
Chanterelle Jus
Shafer Cabernet Hillside Select 2003 ($500 a bottle … )
Lolla Rosa, Red Oak and Endive
Cider Vinaigrette
Baked Vermont Brie with Walnut Crostini
Pear Torte
Huckleberry Sauce
Chandon Etoile Rose ($30 a bottle)
A very French menu, with the requisite vegetarian offerings — quinoa risotto and tomato/fennel/eggplant fondue.
A question you might have — what is “Lolla Rosa?” It’s the “radicchio of lettuce,” a milder (thank goodness) version of traditionally bitter radicchio.
At best we can hope that solutions for the global financial crisis flowed as easily as did the wine …
*The price for this wine varies, ranging from $219 a bottle on the Internet to $800 a bottle in New York City. Even if it sells for “only” $219 a bottle, whew, that’s still a lot of money. Too bad it all gets pissed away.
© 2008 C. Bertelsen
CYNTHIA D. BERTELSEN 
If I can find any. So far the chef doesn’t seem to be posting anything.
What do world leaders get to imbibe at the White House in these last days of the Obama presidency?
Will you list their menu as well?
I agree — it’s a crime to not have let that wine age a while longer.
According to notes about the wine on Snooth.com, “Hillside Select is aged a full four years prior to release (three years in Alliers and Tronçais oak barrels and one year in the bottle). While enjoyable today, this wine will gain richness and maturity with up to 20 years of careful cellaring.
Its dense purple color is followed by aromas of camphor, black currants, licorice, crushed rocks, and white flowers … full-bodied, powerful and enormously endowed … Impeccable balance, purity, and length suggest it will drink well for 20 – 25 years.”
What are they doing? 2003 Hillside select is not ready to drink, it needs another five years in the cellar. What a waste of a great wine. It sounds like their “Raping” the wine cellar of the good stuff, so the next President can’t have it. It’s a Crime, I tell you!