Paul Simon tapped to perform and menu released for Japanese state dinner

Guests at the state dinner for Japan at the White House will dine on house-cured salmon and pistachio cake with matcha ganache, and are set to get some A-list entertainment with a performance by Paul Simon.

The White House released its menu for Wednesday’s state dinner, the fifth such black-tie event of the Biden administration, a day ahead of the soiree. 

Jill Biden said she and President Biden were “honored” to welcome Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife, Yuko Kishida, to the country to “celebrate the flourishing friendship between the United States and Japan.”

“The state floor will transform into a vibrant, spring garden: a place of joy and renewal, of hope and growth,” Biden said during a Tuesday media preview.

The menu, which Jill Biden developed with White House executive chef Cris Comerford and White House executive pastry chef Susie Morrison, also features a first course of avocados, red grapefruit, watermelon radish and cucumber, along with shisho leaf fritters.

The 200 guests will also be served a main course of dry-aged ribeye steak, blistered shishito pepper butter, fricassée of fava beans, morels and cipollini and sesame oil sabayon.

Dessert will include the salted caramel pistachio cake and ganache, cherry ice cream and a raspberry drizzle. 

“Graceland” singer Simon will serve as the night’s entertainer, the White House said. The 82-year-old Grammy Award winner will perform a “selection of his iconic songs” at the dinner.