BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping laid out an extravagant spread for President Trump Friday before their historic summit ended — as those outside the fancy event were served up bags of the commander in chief’s trusty standby, McDonald’s.
The bilateral tea and lunch Xi served inside his Zhongnanhai compound in Beijing was a nod to Chinese culture, with kung pao chicken and scallops, and braised greens among the fare, with brownies for dessert.
The full menu:
- minced codfish in seafood soup
- crispy and stir-fried lobster balls
- pan-seared beef fillet stuffed with morel mushrooms
- kung pao chicken and scallops
- braised seasonal greens
- bamboo shoots, mushrooms and beans
- stewed beef in a bun
- steamed pork and shrimp dumplings
- chocolate brownies
- fruits
- ice cream
- coffee and tea
Outside the fancy luncheon with the top officials, bags of McDonald’s were served up to US and Chinese staffers and press.
Offerings included Big Macs and chicken sandwiches — but not the iconic chain’s french fries.
The state dinner Trump and Xi shared Thursday night was equally lavish, with a spread that honored both Chinese and American heritage.
The dinner at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing featured crispy beef ribs, roast duck, lobster in tomato soup, salmon in mustard sauce and pan-fried pork bun. For dessert, there was tiramisu, fruits and ice cream, another favorite of the commander in chief.
Thursday night’s menu, similar to Friday’s lunch, appeared to show off Beijing’s famous specialties but still strayed from the Huaiyang cuisine typically prepared for state dinners, keeping Trump’s tastes into account.
When Xi visited Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, in 2017, he served his Chinese counterpart a dry-aged New York prime strip steak.
Before the two presidents chowed down on the lunch spread, Xi gave Trump a tour of the garden at his official residence.
The commander in chief noted the beauty of the roses growing outside and praised the work the two leaders had done in their discussions.
“This has been an incredible visit. I think a lot of, a lot of good has come of it,” Trump told Xi at the Zhongnanhai Garden on his final day in Beijing.
“He’s a man I respect greatly. Become really a friend,” Trump said of Xi. “We’ve known each other now 11 years, almost 12 years. That’s a long time, and we’ve settled a lot of different problems that other people wouldn’t have been able to settle, and the relationship is a very strong one.”
Trump has invited Xi to Washington, DC, in the fall.
“It is my honor to extend an invitation to you and Madame Peng [Liyuan] to visit us at the White House this September 24, and we look forward to it,” Trump said during his toast Thursday night.
