Main Content

Italian State Dinner Dessert - 1998: A Tribute to Bologna

Italian State Dinner Dessert - 1998: A Tribute to Bologna

"When I visited the Italian Embassy in preparation for this dinner, I discovered that Professor Romano Prodi was originally from Bologna, where there are two well-known medieval towers. A little more research revealed to me that peaches and chestnuts are popular in that region of Italy. From my own travels, I knew that Italians are very fond of rich cakes soaked in liqueur and filled with custard cream.

That's all the information I needed to create this dessert, a brioche cake soaked in Amaretto syrup, filled with vanilla custard and fresh peach slices, and covered in a honey meringue... The piece de resistance was a replica of one of the Bolognese towers, made of chestnut ice cream and decorated with nougat pieces." - Excerpt from "A Sweet World of White House Desserts" by Roland Mesnier

Date of Work
May 6, 1998
Credit
Collection of Roland Mesnier

Share

Related

Related
Next Italian State Dinners at the White House

You Might Also Like

  • Page

    Italian State Dinners at the White House

    January 14, 1964: State Dinner for Italian President Antonio Segni was hosted by President Lyndon Baines Johnson. Featured entertainment included Robert Merrill of the Metropolitan Opera and the New Christy Minstrels. President Segni and his wife were given a silver box, engraved with maps of both countries and a sentence from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (“Italy remains to all, the land of dreams an

  • Collection

    State Dinners

    A State Dinner honoring a visiting head of government or reigning monarch is one of the grandest and most glamorous of White House affairs. It is part of an official State Visit and provides the president and first lady the opportunity to honor the visiting head of state and his or her spouse. In this collection, explore the history of

  • Collection

    Dining in the Executive Mansion

    A dinner at the White House has always had significance beyond the gastronomical delights. The elegance of the State Dining Room and the intimacy of the Family Dining Room set the stage for the politics and diplomacy that takes place between courses. In this collection, learn how the style of each room has evolved with its purpose, and how the

  • Collection

    The Hospitality of Diplomacy

    The White House has hosted many important heads of state over the years. Typically, the president and first lady join the visiting leader for official talks, leisurely activities and, in many cases, a State Dinner. When Chinese Vice Premiere Deng Xiaoping (Teng Hsiao-ping) and his wife Madame Zhuo Lin came to the White House in 1979, it marked the highest-ranking Chinese

  • Collection

    Diplomacy With Our Northern Neighbors

    Geography, history, and friendship have been the driving force of ties between the United States and Canada. In 1927, official rapport was established when our two countries received ambassadors and began a long diplomatic relationship. The first official state dinner hosted in honor of Canada's highest appointed official was held on December 6, 1927, as President Calvin Coolidge and First Lady Grace Coolidge

  • Collection

    Italy in the White House

    Long before the emergence of the United States and Italy as modern nation states were influenced by classical writers, philosophers, theorists, and polymaths of the ancient world. The United States' diplomatic relationship with Italy began long before Italian President Antonio Segni was an official guest of President Lyndon B. Johnson in January of 1964. Since then, many other Italian leaders have

  • Collection

    A Cultural Connection

    For more than two hundred years, France and the United States have enjoyed a relationship unparalleled in world history. From the American Revolution and the Founding Fathers to the current administration, these two countries have shared a strong connection through art, culture, and history. This collection highlights that connection and the protocol of official foreign visits by French heads of

  • Page

    The White House Social Secretary: Job Description and Work Culture

    What are the responsibilities of the social secretary? The social secretary works with the first lady in the overall planning, arrangement, coordination and direction of all official and personal social events given by the president and his family. This includes the form and wording of invitations, the compiling of guest lists, the setting of menus, the seating, the choice of

  • Page

    Singapore State Visits to the White House

    April 10, 1973: Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew — Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and President Richard M. Nixon held discussions emphasizing continued close cooperation between the United States and Singapore and other allies in Asia and the Pacific.The State Dinner’s menu featured roast beef tenderloin aux champignons, seafood merlion supreme, béarnaise sauce, Bibb lettuce salad, brie cheese and crepe suzet