David and Samantha Cameron wined and dined with buffalo and beans
DAVID and Samantha Cameron dined on buffalo last night at a lavish banquet set in a huge marquee on the White House lawn.
A 150ft-wide glass wall at one end of the sprawling tent – filled with flowers and hung with amethyst-hued linens and matching carpets – gave diners a spectacular view of the White House.
Guests were expected to include Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville, golfer Rory McIlroy and Virgin tycoon Sir Richard Branson.
They tucked into a “winter harvest” banquet of locally sourced produce, including vegetables from the White House garden served with American wine. It included a main course of bison wellington, made from buffalo tenderloin, in a red wine reduction, with french beans and cipollini onion. A steamed lemon pudding followed.
Music was provided by British folk group Mumford & Sons, favourites of Mrs Cameron, and American rhythm and blues artist John Legend. Earlier the Camerons were guests at a lunch hosted by Vice-President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the State Department.
During an exchange of gifts, Mr Obama giving the Camerons a charcoal grill barbecue, described as an American classic, while Mr Cameron presented the president with a table-tennis table complete with bats printed with Stars and Stripes and the Union Flag.
Mrs Obama was given a blue printed Jonathan Saunders scarf and Mrs Cameron received a crystal vase of White House honey.