Ok, I get it. It’s a State Dinner…….but really, do we need to be spending so much money.
As you may have read, President Obama recently held a State Dinner for China in the White House. Politics aside (I personally agree with Donald Trump) I cannot believe that a we have to be so extravagant, especially under the current economy.
Here is the Menu -
D'Anjou Pear Salad with Farmstead Goat Cheese
Fennel, black walnuts and white balsamicPoached Maine Lobster, Orange glaze carrots and black trumpet mushrooms
wine--Dumul Chardonnay "Russian River" 2008 ($63.99 a Bottle)Lemon sorbet
Dry aged rib eye with buttermilk crisp onions
Double stuffed potatoes and creamed spinach
wine--Quilceda Creek Cabernet "Columbia Valley" 2005 ($399.99 a Bottle)Old fashioned apple pie with vanilla ice cream
wine-- Poet's Leap Riesling "botrytis" 2008 ($20.99 a bottle)
As you can see…the majority of the wine list is pretty reasonable in price……but then you get to the Quilceda Creek Cabernet "Columbia Valley" 2005 ….$400 a BOTTLE, are you kidding? During the main course? Where the most wine is consumed?
Think this…..there were approx 225 attendees. How much wine would they drink?
Well, if you haven’t every checked out Cockeyed.com, I highly suggest it. There is a great series they do that is called “How much inside”. A few weeks ago, they ran “How Much Inside a Bottle of Wine”.
Based on their “Study”, by putting 5 ounces in each glass, that equals 5 glasses per bottle. So, how does that break down when an assumption of amount drunk by guests…..
- Guests drink 1 Glass - 45 Bottles x $400 =$18,000
- Guests drink 2.5 Glasses – 112 Bottles x $400= $44800
With the checks and balances (ie- One person drinks one glass, another drinks 4), I think it’s a safe estimate to go with the 2.5.
This seems a little over the top to me (equivalent to 3 minimum wage employees for a year) .
Now, I realize that other Presidents have had lavish State Dinners themselves, but Obama really needs to show some restraint. If I were hosting China…..it would be MD 20/20 all the way.
Cheers
Sounds like a typical high level business meeting... over priced and over the top. I'd expect nothing less. Would you question this were this a Republican. Did you check go through the trash can when Bush hosted the Chinese for lunch?
ReplyDeleteI'm just pointing out your hatred for the current administration is a bit over the top. I'm an equal opportunity hater. Fuck'm all, brown bag the event PBnJ good enough for the kids it's good enough for these prigs. They need to be focused on normalizing relations, economic issues, trade and why these fuckers wont leave my PC alone!