Dinner and wine for the G-20 meeting

Fox News reported yesterday on the composition of the meal and the wine served to the G-20 leaders meeting to discuss the world financial crisis:

The White House said the menu included fruitwood-smoked quail with quince gastrique; quinoa risotto; thyme-roasted rack of lamb; tomato, fennel and eggplant fondue; a salad course of endive, baked brie and walnuts; and a pear torte to cap the meal.

Among the wines: bottles of Shafer Cabernet "Hillside Select" 2003 — about $300 per bottle — for the main course and the much cheaper Landmark Chardonnay "Damaris Reserve" 2006 for about $40 per bottle with the appetizer course. The Chandon DEtoile RosDe sparkling wine that accompanied dessert runs around $30 a bottle.

Presidents pay for their own groceries, even while living in the White House. But during official or state dinners, such as Friday night's, U.S. taxpayers foot the bill.

I find it curiously amusing that when Greta Van Susteren blogged the menu while noting that she was having carry-out, she asked (rhetorically) "What are YOU having?" and the commenters at her blog - totally missing the point of the discussion - proceeded to tell her what they were having for dinner.

From CNN:

The exceedingly pricey wine may seem a bit peculiar given leaders are in Washington to discuss a possible world financial meltdown, but Sally McDonough, a spokeswoman for Laura Bush, said it "was the most appropriate wine that we had in the White House wine cellar for such a gathering.

McDonough also said the White House purchased the wine at a "significantly lower price" than what it is listed at.

"Of course the White House gets its wine at wholesale prices," she said. "Given the intimate size of the group, it was an appropriate time for The White House to use this stock."

As I read about this, I couldn't help but be reminded of something else - the G-8 summit this past summer. See below...

(image credit to the vineyard)