Artisan American cheese served at holiday receptions...President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama are hosting 15-17 holiday receptions for thousands of guest this season. Each features a beautiful series of buffets; led by Executive Chef Cris Comerford, the kitchen staff creates an amazing array of American regional foods for each event. The cheese platter on each buffet table spotlights Artisan American cheese. Fresh strawberries and grapes are on each platter, and it is accompanied by multigrain crackers. Serving bowls of dates, pecans, and walnuts are on the side. On this platter, the cheeses were identified with hand-written flags: from left are Fommer, St. Audre, Cheddar, Appalachian, and Goat. A wheel of brie is in the background.
The cheese platter in the top photo was on a buffet table in the State Dining Room, home to the White House Gingerbread House, during a reception for the press on Friday. The President and Mrs. Obama were on duty all evening in the Diplomatic Reception Room, taking photos with guests. Above, a long shot of the buffet table, with steamed vegetables, new potatoes, dinner rolls, and roast beef. The vases holding the floral arrangements were covered with cranberries.A much larger buffet spread was in the East Room, which also featured a carving station with ham and turkey, as well as crab claws, shrimp, and smoked salmon. There was a stunning array of sweet treats being offered too, including the highly popular holiday cookies.
This year's third annual Hanukkah Reception, the largest of the Administration, was on Thursday, Dec. 8, and featured a Kosher menu, different from all other receptions.
Click here for all the Holiday Photos of the Day.
*Photo by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama