What Anita Lo Will Be Serving for the State Dinner With China's Xi Jinping

Tonight, China has its second State Dinner at the White House. President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama are dining with President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuan, and it seems they may once again be "sending a message" with their choice of star chef for the evening: openly gay chef Anita Lo. The chef-owner of Manhattan hotspot Anissa, Lo is also known to many as a contestant on the first season of Top Chef (she placed fourth).

As Out wrote about Lo's culinary influences:

"Lo is a Francophile: She lived in France for two years and had most of her culinary training in the world of French fine dining. So there is roast chicken with sherry and truffles on the current menu, as well as tete de veau. But because Lo's curiosity is relentless, Annisa also celebrates silken tofu, Japanese dried fish, and sesame."

So what's on the menu for tonight's shindig? According to sources, Lo is joining White House Executive Chef Cris Comerford to serve a memorable menu for tonight's dinner:

"wild mushroom soup with black truffle, grilled Colorado lamb, and Maine lobster, an item that made an appearance at the Obamas' last State Dinner with China. For dessert, they'll have a poppyseed bread and butter pudding. Chinese touches include the Shaoxing wine served with the soup and the lychee sorbet as part of the dessert course."

Oh and what's up for after dinner entertainment? Ne-Yo. It's not so strange, as CBS News notes: "Beyonce performed following the 2010 State Dinner with Mexico, and John Legend and Mumford & Sons headlined the British State Dinner back in 2012.

Related | Tastemakers: Anita Lo