Gyeongju: President Lee Jae Myung hosted U.S. President Donald Trump during his state visit to South Korea, offering a luncheon that merged Korean culinary traditions with American influences, symbolizing the enduring alliance between the two nations through a unique culinary experience.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the luncheon took place at the Gyeongju National Museum, with the theme “Korean flavors meet American spirit, celebrating the enduring friendship through taste.” The menu featured regional specialties from Gyeongju and nearby coastal areas, alongside elements familiar to American palates.
The culinary experience began with a salad of shrimp, scallops, and abalone, mixed with seasonal Korean herbs and a Thousand Island dressing, intended to represent Trump’s “success story in his hometown of New York.”
The main course, named the “Korean Platter of Sincerity,” included braised short ribs made from U.S. beef, paired with chestnuts, mushrooms, radishes, and carrots. This was complemented by steamed rice from Gyeongju and a spinach soybean paste soup from Pohang.
Traditional Korean side dishes enriched the menu, featuring kimchi, 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 embellished with gold.
The beverage selection included a sparkling “omija” ade, made from Korean magnolia berries, renowned for their “five flavors.”