There has been close attention to diplomatic detail in advance of Thursday’s state dinner, including catering to the guest’s dietary restrictions. Nina Curtis, a plant-based chef from Sacramento, California, will be the dinner’s guest chef, working with White House Executive Chef Cris Comerford, and White House Executive Pastry Chef Susie Morrison to develop the menu, the office of the first lady said. Modi, a White House official said, is a vegetarian and “the First Lady selected Chef Curtis for her experience with plant-based cuisine.”And Grammy Award-winning American violinist and conductor Joshua Bell will provide the evening’s entertainment, the office of the first lady said. The state dinner is one element of an elaborate visit for the prime minister, which comes amid some criticism over Modi’s human rights record. This will mark the third state dinner of the Biden administration after the Bidens hosted French President Emmanuel Macron in December and South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol in April.

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Persons: Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Narendra Modi, Nina Curtis, Cris Comerford, Susie Morrison, Modi, Chef Curtis, Joshua Bell, Betty Monkman, Jake Sullivan, “, Biden, Emmanuel Macron, Yoon Suk Organizations: CNN, White, State Department, South Locations: Washington, Sacramento , California, India, United States