Thursday, January 22, 2009

But what did they have to eat??

At the inauguration luncheon, that is. That is my question about almost every event or occasion, especially a luncheon, which we all know is vastly more important than just a lunch.

In case you're wondering, here's what they had, with wine pairings:

First Course
Seafood Stew in puff pastry
Duckhorn Vineyards, 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley
Second Course
A Brace of American Birds (pheasant and duck), served with Sour Cherry Chutney Molasses Sweet Potatoes
Winter Vegetables
Goldeneye, 2005 Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley 
Third Course (some people call this Dessert)
Apple Cinnamon Sponge Cake and Sweet Cream Glacé
Korbel Natural “Special Inaugural Cuvée,” California Champagne
Well, then. That sounds like a lot of food and beverage for a midday meal. Was it followed by an inaugural nap?

And I have a few other questions:

Since when is asparagus a winter vegetable? According to the recipes Di Fi has thoughtfully made available, the vegetables included carrots, Brussel sprouts, wax beans, and asparagus. Asparagus in January? That's just unpatriotic. No way that was grown in the U.S. At least Di Fi used her clout to insist all wines be from California.

What is a brace of birds? I looked it up. Merriam-Webster's 11th lists a panoply of definitions, many of which are clearly not what is meant here. But there is 6: a position of rigid attention. Could be. Maybe they had those birds sort of propped up. Or 7: something that arouses energy or strengthens morale. Yes—that's got to be it.

Why didn't they let George Bush stay for lunch? According to the schedule, they put him on his helicopter and waved him away just before lunch. Maybe he got a boxed lunch. Could that be what Michelle had in that box?


13 comments:

ms. mindless said...

i want to know so bad what was in that box!

Anonymous said...

I think the box contained Mrs. Obama's gift to Mrs. Bush, which was a diary/journal and a pen to begin writing her memoirs.

On the food stuff: You crack me up. Was there anything on that menu that even sounds appetizing? Maybe the spongecake. I'm not convinced about the seafood stew or the brace of birds, especially since both were sort of "borrowed" from Lincoln's inaugural meal.

Midwest Mom said...

I remember a line from Tolkien where Sam Gamgee talked about cooking "a brace of coneys," meaning a pair of rabbits.

I'm sure a definition is out there somewhere, but it sounds colloquial to me.

- Julia at Midwest Moms

Erin said...

A brace is two, or a pair. Generally used in British English, not American.

Jennifer S said...

I can't remember the last time I attended a luncheon.

I'm so fancy.

Adelaide said...

I bet the food was more delicious than we think.

As for the box, a pair of men's shoes so Laura can whack the ol'boy a good one when he pisses her off.

Rachella said...

A brace of birds would be something like pheasant and duck. That is very Old World! I wonder if there were any vegetarians at the lunch? If so, I quess they were out of luck.

Debie Napoleon said...

I had read that President Obama loved the first course and though he had to get up and make round before it was finished, he told the waiter not to take it away.

Broady said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Broady said...

I know, the lunch vs. luncheon thing is so pretentiously lame. Same principle applies to businesses who call themselves a "shoppe" instead of a "shop." That extra "pe" makes them high brow and klassy! And this is coming from someone who loves a good luncheon. And shoppe-ing.

Anybody know what was in that box???

Kate said...

Yep - a brace is two.

Seafood stew, followed by pheasant - er... ick.

KK said...

A brace of birds just doesn't sound very good. Even if it only means a pair. Just say pheasant and duck. haha.

Kate said...

Well, I love both pheasant and duck, but wouldn't pair them with a seafood stew first course. I'm curious about that box now too!