Cheese is serious business for the French; their citizenship tests even include fromage-related questions. But French President Emmanuel Macron and his entourage will be served American-made cheese at the White House on Thursday, which is on the menu curated by First Lady Jill Biden, reports the BBC.
The Bidens are hosting their first state dinner, a grand affair in Washington for visiting heads of state.
It's a delicate display of soft power some six months in the making.
From the guest list to the menu to the seating plan, every detail of these dinners calls for the meticulous attention of the first lady, the State Department, and a brigade of White House aides and chefs.
Scores of world leaders visit Washington every year but only a few ever get a state dinner, at the discretion of the US president and on the recommendation of his foreign policy advisors.
A diplomatic charm offensive, the first ever state dinner was held in 1874 when US President Ulysses Grant welcomed King David Kalakua of the Kingdom of Hawaii to the White House, and the tradition has continued under most presidents since then.
Thursday's event will see 300 to 400 guests join President Joe Biden, President Macron and their wives inside a large heated tent on the complex's South Lawn, and will feature a live musical performance from Jon Batiste, the former musical director of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.