Famous chef and restaurateur Mario Batali, aided by a team of US Navy SEALs, is cooking the final State Dinner of the Obama administration.
As it turns out, Batali was handpicked for this occasion by First Lady Michele Obama herself. As Batali himself has remarked, it took him 56 years to prepare “emotionally” for this event, although actual preparations for the State Dinner held in honor of the official visit of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi only took about 2 months, according to the Eater. A table is set with candles and centerpieces during a preview in advance of the State Dinner in honor of the Official Visit of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his wife Agnese Landini, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington © AP Photo/ Carolyn Kaster A table is set with candles and centerpieces during a preview in advance of the State Dinner in honor of the Official Visit of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his wife Agnese Landini, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington In his culinary endeavor Batali was assisted by four members of his team from NYC, White House executive chef Cris Comerford, White House executive pastry chef Susan Morrison, and about 25 additional cooks. White House Executive Pastry Chef Susan Morrison holds dessert trays in the festival seasonal theme of Celebrating the Autumn’s Harvest during a preview in advance of the State Dinner in honor of the Official Visit of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his wife Agnese Landini in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016 © AP Photo/ Carolyn Kaster White House Executive Pastry Chef Susan Morrison holds dessert trays in the festival seasonal theme of “Celebrating the Autumn’s Harvest” during a preview in advance of the State Dinner in honor of the Official Visit of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his wife Agnese Landini in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016 “There are a dozen Navy SEALs downstairs making agnolotti (the first course) right now. They could probably take down a foreign power, so I have faith in their ravioli-making skills,” Batali added. A table is set with gold silverware and a menu during a preview in advance of the State Dinner in honor of the Official Visit of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his wife Agnese Landini, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington © AP Photo/ Carolyn Kaster A table is set with gold silverware and a menu during a preview in advance of the State Dinner in honor of the Official Visit of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his wife Agnese Landini, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington The dinner’s menu incorporates some of Michelle Obama’s favorite foods, like sweet potatos, steak and broccoli, and was “chosen to highlight Italian dishes that have been “ingrained in American cuisine,” the Eater reports. American chef Mario Batali holds a tray of pasta during a preview in advance of the State Dinner in honor of the Official Visit of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his wife Agnese Landini in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016 © AP Photo/ Carolyn Kaster American chef Mario Batali holds a tray of pasta during a preview in advance of the State Dinner in honor of the Official Visit of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his wife Agnese Landini in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016 At the same time, Batali was instructed to use mainly American ingredients “because that’s the White House’s message.” White House Executive Chef Cris Comerford holds a tray of what will be served during a preview in advance of the State Dinner in honor of the Official Visit of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his wife Agnese Landini in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016 © AP Photo/ Carolyn Kaster White House Executive Chef Cris Comerford holds a tray of what will be served during a preview in advance of the State Dinner in honor of the Official Visit of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his wife Agnese Landini in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016 The State Dinner of October 18 is the final state dinner of the Obama administration. It is being held in honor of the official visit of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his wife Agnese Landini. A place card for Mrs. Obama is seen on a table during a preview in advance of the State Dinner in honor of the Official Visit of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his wife Agnese Landini in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016 © AP Photo/ Carolyn Kaster A place card for “Mrs. Obama” is seen on a table during a preview in advance of the State Dinner in honor of the Official Visit of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his wife Agnese Landini in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016
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