Gyeongju: President Lee Jae Myung welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump to South Korea with a luncheon that combined Korean culinary heritage with American influences, highlighting the alliance between the two nations through a unique dining experience.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the luncheon took place at the Gyeongju National Museum, following the theme “Korean flavors meet American spirit, celebrating the enduring friendship through taste.” The menu featured regional specialties from Gyeongju and nearby coastal areas, along with familiar American elements.
The meal began with a salad of shrimp, scallops, and abalone, served with seasonal Korean herbs and Thousand Island dressing, which the presidential office noted as a nod to Trump’s “success story in his hometown of New York.”
The main course, termed a “Korean Platter of Sincerity,” included braised short ribs made with U.S. beef, paired with chestnuts, mushrooms, radishes, and carrots. This was complemented by steamed rice from Gyeongju grains and spinach soybean paste soup, using ingredients from Pohang.
Traditional Korean side dishes were also featured, such as kimchi and seasoned beef and vegetables wrapped in rice pancakes with Korean zucchini, as well as mini beef patties served with ketchup.
The meal concluded with a “Peacemaker’s Dessert,” a brownie adorned with gold. For drinks, a sparkling “omija” ade, made from Korean magnolia berries, was served, known for its “five flavors.”