A Lunch Fit for a President

 A few days ago I stumbled on a Huffington Post article highlighting the menu for the inaugural luncheon that will be served at the US Capitol on Monday.  A luncheon, in some form, has been served during every inauguration since President McKinley's inauguration in 1897.  This year’s luncheon is being hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, headed by Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York.

Usually, the menu for the luncheon features ingredients native to the President and Vice President’s home states.  However, this year the menu will feature ingredients from the chairman’s home state of New York.  I am not exactly sure why the menu doesn’t highlight products from Illinois, Hawaii, or Delaware.  Maybe the committee feels less of a need to follow tradition for a second inauguration?  Maybe Senator Schumer felt it was his right as chairman to throw some tasty bones to producers in his home state?  I believe the latter to be the more likely of the two. 

All I know for certain, the menu is making me green with envy.  I guess my invitation got lost in the mail.

First Course: Steamed lobster with New England clam chowder sauce, served on sautéed spinach with sweet potato hay.
Wine: Tierce 2009 Finger Lakes Dry Riesling (NY)
Main Course: Hickory grilled bison with wild huckleberry reduction, strawberry preserve and red cabbage, red potato horseradish cake, baby golden beets and green beans and butternut squash purée.
Wine: Bedell Cellars 2009 Merlot (Long Island, NY)
Dessert: Hudson Valley apple pie with sour cream ice cream and maple caramel sauce. Aged cheeses and honeycomb will also be served, including Toma Celena and Jersey Girl Colby from Cooperstown Cheese Company (Milford, NY).
Wine: Korbel Inaugural Cuvee (California)

As a lover of apple pie, I am crushing hard on the dessert course.  If I get inspired, I may make it myself.  The inaugural committee posted all the recipes; just in case you feel the need to bust out your best place settings and throw your own mock inauguration on Monday.  The site also features a video of Senator Schumer trying his hand at making the dessert.  It really should be titled Senator Schumer puts food on plate.