Washington - With arugula straight from his garden and entertainment by two Oscar winners, President Barack Obama took a fresh take on the state dinner in Washington's top social event since his inauguration.
For a youthful president who often draws comparisons to John F Kennedy, Obama reserved the glamour of his first White House state dinner for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India, in a bid to show his commitment to the world's largest democracy.
More than 300 guests including film director Steven Spielberg dined under the stars and drizzle in a warm tent on the South Lawn.
Each table was decked with candles and flowers in a festive feel Obama likened to India's gala outdoor parties.
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"It's been said that the most beautiful things in the universe are the starry heavens above us and the feeling of duty within us,"
Obama said in a toast to Singh, quoting an Indian proverb.
The appetizer came from just a few feet away - arugula grown in the White House garden, set up by First Lady Michelle Obama in her drive to encourage healthier eating.
It may also have been one of the more daring choices of the evening. While campaigning for president in Iowa in 2007, critics hoping to portray Obama as elitist attacked the then senator for speaking to farmers about arugula.
In a nod to Singh, who like many Indians prefers not to eat meat, the menu was all vegetarian save for an option of green curry prawns with smoked collard greens.
The guests' other choice, which also pays tribute to both Indian and African-American cuisine, was roasted potato dumplings with tomato chutney, chickpeas and okra.
Brought in as the guest chef is Marcus Samuellson, who was born in Ethiopia, raised in Sweden and lives in New York where his Aquavit restaurant has won acclaim for transcending cultural boundaries.
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