Pope's White House Birthday Dinner: Guest List & Menu

Pope Benedict XVI's first visit to the United States coincides with his 81st birthday, and the White House is sparing no expense in celebrating it. Besides hosting the biggest White House party ever this afternoon, there is a dinner tonight to celebrate His Holiness's birthday.

Unfortunately, guess who's not coming to dinner? That's right, the Pope. It's unclear why he won't be attending, but the guest list is impressive despite his notable absence:

Tonight, the White House has invited 200 national Catholic leaders and others to an East Room dinner in honor of the visit. The Pope won't be there, but the guest list includes Sen. John McCain, Education Secretary Margaret Spellings, Pelosi, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.

The White House has cooked up quite a menu for tonight's dinner. It's a pity the Pope won't be there to sample the "ramp spatzle" and "styrian pumpkin oil vinaigrette":

Here's the menu. Probably similar to what you have planned for this evening. No telling what spell check will try to do to some of these words.

Morel-encrusted diver scallops, ramp spatzle, angel hair asparagus bisque, duo of veal, white truffle potato dumplings, baby carrots and boletus mushrooms, heirloom lettuces and candied pumpkin seeds, spring squash carpaccio, styrian pumpkin oil vinaigrette, raspberry crisp and mint coulis.

Comments

[Bart]

What? No bigoted, ignorant american comments about Catholics?

[slimcat]

~Bart We're mostly heretics, you insensitive clod.

But, because you're a self-righteous neighbor: Catholicism is the cause of more pain, sorrow, death and social destruction than any other religion in the history of the world. And, it's all Canada's fault.

[Bart]

Thanks for renewing my faith in pig-ignorant american bigotry.