WASHINGTON DC: Reliance boss Mukesh Ambani, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Apple chief Tim Cook and ace fashion designer Ralph Lauren added glitters to the star-studded state dinner hosted by President Joe Biden for PM Narendra Modi at the White House on Thursday night.
More than 400 attendees from almost every walk of life included ChatGPT creator Sam Altman, Mahindra and Mahindra boss Anand Mahindra, Tennis legend Billie Jean King, filmmaker M Night Shyamalan, Grammy award winner Joshua Bell, Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen, former Pepsico CEO Indra Nooyi, and Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath.
Indian American lawmakers Ro Khanna and Raja Krishnamoorthi, along with other influential figures like Vice President Kamala Harris and US House Representative Speaker Nancy Pelosi, relished vegetarian food curated by renowned chef Nina Curtis.
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Along with First Lady Jill Biden, other family members of President Biden’s family like Hunter Biden, Ashley Biden, James Biden, and Naomi Biden Neal also witnessed the India-US relations taking new turns with the lavish dinner at the South Lawns of the White House.
The culinary experience was a fusion of American and Indian flavors with a focus on vegetarian dishes to accommodate Prime Minister Modi’s dietary preferences. The menu featured signature Indian spices and millet – which India is promoting as the ultimate dietary food, offering guests a tantalizing blend of both nations’ cuisines.
Saffron, rose and cardamom signature flavours of India – featured strongly on the menu. “We have curated a menu that showcases the best of American cuisine seasoned with Indian elements and flavours. It allows guests from both countries to experience something of the other’s culture,” Curtis said before the dinner.
“The guests here symbolise so much about the US-India relationship – our energy, our dynamism, and our potential,” PM Modi said. “You have gathered a group of exceptionally talented and remarkable people tonight, I must commend you for that,” he said, thanking President Biden and the first lady for hosting the dinner as he raised a toast minus alcohol.
PM Modi and President Biden also shared some light-hearted moments. On raising a toast without alcohol, President Biden said his grandfather, Ambrose Finnegan, used to say “If you give a toast and you don’t have any alcohol in the glass, you must do it with your left hand. You all think I’m kidding. I’m not.”
During the dinner, President Biden expressed warmth and admiration for Prime Minister Modi, highlighting the exceptional reception he received and predicting a bright future for the Indian leader. The lighthearted atmosphere was further enhanced as the two leaders shared jokes and moments of camaraderie, reinforcing the amicable rapport between them.
First Lady Jill Biden dazzled in a custom-made emerald green Ralph Lauren design, while guests sported an array of exquisite outfits, including traditional saris and modern ensembles, reflecting the fusion of cultures and the allure of Indian fashion.
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