Tuesday, July 19 2005 12:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: A four-course dinner, which included chilled asparagus soup, basmati rice and herbed summer vegetables, was laid out at a banquet hosted in honour of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by US President George W Bush, the fifth grand event of his presidency and the first of his second term.

Served on the platter at the grand dinner last night (July 18, 2005) were basmati rice and lotus blossoms, the saffron coloured, silk tablecloths and the trumpeting elephants fashioned from fresh mums and roses providing a homely touch to the guest of honour, the Prime Minister and his wife Gursharan Kaur.

In all 134 guests, including Bush and his wife, the Prime Minister and his wife, feasted on the four-course dinner of chilled asparagus soup and lemon crème, pan-roasted halibut, ginger-carrot butter, basmati rice with pistachio nuts and currants and herbed summer vegetables; and salad of Bibb lettuces and citrus vinaigrette.

The saffron-coloured tablecloths topped with gold overlays were spread out onto dozens of round tables set up in White House's State Dining Room; one of the Bushes' preferred entertaining spots.

For dessert, pastry chef Thaddeus Dubois whipped up chocolate lotus blossoms to accompany a trio of mango, chocolate-cardamom and cashew ice creams.

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band provided entertainment at the banquet.

Wearing a tuxedo, Bush raised toast for two 'strong, diverse democracies' sharing commitment to success of multi-ethnic democracy, individual liberty and rule of law and spread of democracy.

Singh, dressed in a Nehru jacket and sporting a sky blue turban, credited Bush with improving Indo-American relations. "A great deal of this credit must go to you," he told Bush with whom Singh has struck a personal chemistry.

The black-tie formal 'official' dinner hosted by President Bush last night (July 18, 2005) was a rare honour for the Prime Minister as the American President goes to bed early and is averse to such glittering events.

The soiree was an 'official' dinner and not a 'state dinner' like the previous four events as Singh is a head of Government and not head of state.