Obama hosts Manmohan, says aapka swagat hai

It was a taste of India at President Barack Obama's First State Dinner, where he welcomed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Hindi and treated him to a range of vegetarian delicacies, including dishes prepared with herbs from the White House kitchen garden.

It was a taste of India at President Barack Obama's First State Dinner, where he welcomed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Hindi and treated him to a range of vegetarian delicacies, including dishes prepared with herbs from the White House kitchen garden.

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Even before the state guest Singh and more than 300 other invitees were served some of the Indian delicacies at the huge tent pitched at the South Lawns of the White House, Obama set the tone by greeting in Hindi 'Aaapka Swagat Hai' (You are welcome).

Some of the dishes were prepared by the White House chef from the kitchen garden of the First Lady, Michelle Obama.

To begin with, the guests were served 'Potato and Eggplant Salad, White House Arugula With Onion Seed Vinaigrette', followed by 'Red Lentil Soup with Fresh Cheese.'

Then the guests were treated to 'Roasted Potato Dumplings With Tomato Chutney Chick Peas and Okra', 'Green Curry Prawns Caramelized Salsify with Smoked Collard Greens' and 'Coconut Aged Basmati'.

'Pumpkin Pie Tart Pear Tatin Whipped Cream and Caramel Sauce' was on their desert; and finally they were served 'Petits Fours and Coffee Cashew Brittle Pecan Pralines Passion Fruit and Vanilla Gelees Chocolate-Dipped Fruit.'