How the White House serves holiday delights at "the highest level of Jewish observance"...Hanukkah begins tonight at sundown, and President Obama today issued a holiday greeting to the global Jewish community, offering "warmest wishes" from the First Family, and wishing all "Chag Sameach." The President hosted the annual White House Hanukkah reception on Thursday, Dec. 8th, and the kosher menu offered to more than 550 guests was very different from the menu served at all other Presidential holiday receptions. The White House kitchen had to be specially cleaned--koshered--for the event. Washington, DC's Rabbi Levi Shemtov was charged with overseeing the process, and in a new White House video, he explains how it was done, joined by Executive Chef Cris Comerford. (Above: The Rabbi in the kitchen, mid-koshering)
"For me, as an American Jew, it is a distinct honor to oversee the kosherizing of the most important kitchen in the country," the Rabbi says. "The guests...will have White House-level fare, but it will be at the highest level of kosher observance."
The Presidential Hanukkah menu featured lamb chops, Roulade of chicken breast, potato pancakes, smoked salmon, sushi rolls, and an array of sweet treats (full menu is below), in contrast to the ham, shrimp and other non-kosher menu items offered at the rest of the Presidential holiday receptions.
"All of our surfaces have been cleaned, and boiled, and wrapped in saran wrap and aluminum foil and...protected," says Comerford onscreen.
This year's Hanukkah reception was the largest of the Administration. The President was joined by Mrs. Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and Dr. Jill Biden as he welcomed his guests. After, the President and Mrs. Obama decamped to the Diplomatic Reception Room to take photos with their visitors, while the party went on upstairs in the Grand Foyer, and the guests enjoyed the kosher buffet.
2011 Hanukkah Reception MenuRoulade of Chicken Breast
Fresh Thyme Sauce
Arugula and Fresh Artichokes
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Filet of Beef
Au Jus
Caramelized Pearl Onions
Shiitake Mushrooms
Pine Nut Herb Crusted Lamb Chops
Mango and Mission Fig Chutney
Homemade Potato with Scallion Pancakes
Apple Sauce
Dill and Vodka Scottish Smoked Salmon
Non-Pareil Capers
Chopped Egg Whites and Yolks
Parsley
Lemon Wedges
Assorted Fresh Sushi Rolls
California Roll
Spicy Tuna Roll
Vegetable Roll
Pickled Ginger
Wasabi
Winter Squash Salad
Assorted Rolls
Dessert Station
Homemade Soufganyot
Crème Anglaise
Raspberry Jelly
"An assortment of homemade desserts"
In the photo above, President Obama welcomes guests as Mrs. Obama and the Bidens look on.
*Photo by Pete Souza/White House