President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump served a refined menu for King Charles and Queen Camilla during a formal White House state dinner on April 28. According to reports, comfort food was completely off the menu as they focused on a deeply curated spring feast.
While Trump has famously served fast food to championship teams in past White House events, this evening took a very different culinary route. Per People magazine, Melania Trump led the menu planning, leaning into seasonal French-inspired cuisine, White House-grown ingredients, and nods to Anglo-American ties.
© Getty Images“This menu was designed to reflect spring’s renewal and the friendship between our two nations,” a White House official said in materials released ahead of the dinner.
The Elegant First Course
Dinner began with a garden herb velouté, a silky soup inspired by the classic French mother sauce, paired with a hearts of palm salad topped with crispy shallots and micro mint.
© Getty ImagesWhite House Garden Ingredients
The second course came straight from the White House Kitchen Garden. Guests were served spring herb ravioli filled with ricotta, morel mushrooms, and fresh-picked herbs, finished with a light Parmesan emulsion.
© Getty Images/FoodcollectionThe use of produce grown on the grounds stretches from Michelle Obama’s vegetable garden initiative to Melania Trump’s own expanded beekeeping project. “It enhances the essence of the dish,” the White House described of the Parmesan emulsion.
Classic Royal Touch
For the main course, Melania chose Dover sole meunière, one of the most classic dishes in French cooking and famously championed by Julia Child.
The fish was reportedly prepared in nutty brown butter and accompanied by spring ramps, snow peas, pavé potatoes, and parsley oil.
© WireImageThis selection was intended to appeal to the royal guests. Dover sole has long been associated with European fine dining and old-world formality.
Honey From the White House Beehive
Melania Trump shone through dessert, as guests were served a beehive-shaped chocolate gâteau layered with vanilla bean crémeux, almond joconde, and brown butter crumble, paired with crème fraîche ice cream and White House honey.
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesKing Charles and Queen Camilla even tasted the presidential honey the day before.
American Wines to Toast
The wine pairings were framed as a tribute to “the shared heritage and enduring friendship” between the United States and the United Kingdom. Selections included Hopkins Riesling “Heritage” 2024, Penner-Ash Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2022, and Newton Chardonnay Unfiltered 2022.
© AFP via Getty ImagesThe White House took the opportunity to spotlight American winemaking and source of domestic pride.
The East Room Transformation
The food was only part of the story. The Trumps hosted the dinner in the East Room rather than the traditional State Dining Room, so décor played an even larger role. Interior Designers placed cherry blossoms in the Grand Foyer, while trees and greenery transformed the interior to make it look like an English garden.
Tables had arrangements of lilac, butterfly ranunculus, phlox, and lily of the valley.
© WireImageMusic and Tradition
The night also had an entertainment moment starring the U.S. military musicians representing the Marines, Army, and Air Force.
So while President Trump has made headlines multiple times with his selection of burgers as part of banquets, on this occasion, Melania made sure the meal offered the best of European cuisine.
