Saturday, November 15, 2008

Let Them Eat Quail

George Bush hosted a dinner at the White House on Friday night for foreign leaders attending the much ballyhooed economic crisis summit. You know, George Bush, the people's president. The guy we were all supposed to be able to relate to, or perhaps even have a beer with. What would you expect this football-loving, English-language mangling, every man's guy to serve at an economic crisis dinner for a bunch of foreign heads of state? Something elegant, but yet also bespeaking a certain level of concern for the current economic state of his people, right? Nothing over-the-top that would scream luxury to the rooftops of course.

Well, apparently the Dude in Chief has forsaken his common guy image in the waning days of his presidency because here's the menu. Fruitwood-smoked quail with quince gastrique; quinoa risotto; thyme-roasted rack of lamb; tomato, fennel and eggplant fondue; an endive salad, baked brie and walnuts; and a pear torte for dessert. The main course was paired with bottles of Shafer Cabernet "Hillside Select" 2003, priced at $300 per bottle.

Now let's be totally realistic here. When the president of the United States, the leader of the free world is entertaining a bunch for foreign dignitaries, he can't realistically serve burgers and fries. I also acknowledge that this is not a case of caviar, white truffles, and Dom Perignon, a la AIG. But when the very reason for this gathering is the economic meltdown of the world's economy, the menu seems to merit a bit closer critical scrutiny. Rachael Maddow put it best (once again) when she said "Ixnay on the uxerylay guys".

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have to admit it does sound tasty and except for the wine it shouldn't be all THAT expensive. Quails , egg plant, rice, tomatoes, fennel, walnuts, brie, pears. Sounds affordable. I could do that even with the stock market news.. Lamb is a tad luxurious but what the heck? But $300 per bottle wine. Yikes!! That is over the top.

I For One..... said...

OK the whole time I was composing this post, you were the giant flaw in my whole argument. You and your ease with the culinary arts took much of the teeth out of my rant. But still, the WINE!

Anonymous said...

Nevertheless it was well written as usual.

Meredith said...

Oh c'mon like you don't bust out your good wine when you have them 'portant people over? I'd bring out the good beer! Good Beer = good cheer!

Anonymous said...

Elitist ? Not me. We buy our wine at Trader Joe's and our guests drink the same thing. I love beer but not with my French food. BUT whatever floats your boat is OK as long as it doesn't cost 300 bucks.

Meredith said...

No, your definitely not an elitist. Just nice to pop open something a little nicer for some events that's all. I know we think $300 is extreme for a bottle of whine! But we thought $500 was extreme for a hair cut on a airport runway too, didn't we? That was different though...just a little Quail for thought.(there she goes again spicing it up!!!I am ginger spice.)

I For One..... said...

For me it was a context thing. When you have a meeting to discuss an economic meltdown, it seems like you should have a meal that reflects your concerns. Maybe it was Bush's way of stimulating the economy......

Meredith said...

Dude Bush gave up, don't read too much into it. He has already giving Obama all the control, let him drink off his last 7 weeks!!! Remember good beer = good cheer! Let's go back to Garrettisms those are fun! He was a blast on the way home today, he was totally talking like Steve the whole way home, it was kinda funny~

Steve said...

"Garrett totally talking like [me]" huh, Meredith? Impossible. I'd like to take credit for even a smidgeon of his witticisms but I know better. He is of his own making.