That Nawleans-style South Lawn picnic

by Mark Silva

It's gumbo and sugar cookies tonight on the grass outside the White House.

The Swamp let you in early today on the guest chef for this evening's bipartisan congressional picnic, underway now on the South Lawn of the White House.

Now the Swamp is here with the menu, courtesy of the first lady's office, which enlisted Paul Prudhomme, the famous chef from New Orleans, to oversee the fixins' today:

Tables with Cheese, Vegetables, Breads and Fruit

Barbequed Shrimp Station with Toast Points

Spinach Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing and Garnishes

Potato Salad

Butter Beans

Fried Green Tomatoes with St. Charles Sauce

Blackened Fish

Bronzed Beef, Gingersnap Gravy

Fried Chicken

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

Bread Baskets

Topped off with: Vanilla Ice Cream with Garnishes and Chocolate Sauce, Sweet Potato Pecan Pie Squares with Chantilly Cream and Pecan Pralines and Sugar Cookies.

And rounded off with: Coffee with Chicory and beignets and New Orleans “Magnolia Lemonade”