President Barack Obama made sure that British Prime Minister David Cameron will be able to have a little taste of America whenever he wants once he returns to the UK after this week's state visit.
As is tradition, the two heads of state exchanged ceremonial gifts, but Mr Obama was sure to make his one that brought out the Eton-educated Prime Minister's masculine side. He gave Mr Cameron a custom-designed speciality barbeque grill that is both steeped in symbolism and kitted out with capabilities that a gourmet chef would appreciate.
Mr Obama chose the gift as a way to memorialize the time that he and Mr Cameron spent grilling together on his visit to Downing Street last year, where the two men served up burgers, sausages, and Kentish lamb chops.
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| President Obama presented Prime Minister Cameron with a Engelbrecht Grills & Cookers grill, from the company's 1000 Braten series |
On that visit last May, the two men stood behind table-top grills and served 150 military service men and women who attended the casual affair.
The barbeque that Mr Obama gave Mr Cameron today makes their prior grilling equipment look puny by comparison.
The grill was made by a company made in Mr Obama's home state of Illinois called Engelbrecht Grills & Cookers.
This particular grill comes from the company's 1000 Braten series, prices of which start at $1,895 for the most basic model, not to mention the custom additions that were added to Mr Cameron's.
In order to commemorate the two country's 'special relationship', the grill has a plaque that has engraved 'friendship flags' on the utility shelf.
In addition to the fact that the company is based in Illinois and has a charming story- it was started by a welder in his garage- the company is also known for its dedication to environmentally friendly practices, according to the White House press statement.
The Engelbrecht website declares that Braten grills cater to a chef's inner desires.
'We all love our food cooked over a wood fire (it's our cameman instincts)- the problem is most grills can't take the head of burning wood,' the website reads. That isn't a problem for the Braten, however, as it can sustain heat of up to 1000 degrees.
'This would be brutal for most grills, as these temperatures can deform or melt steel,' Englebrecht says.
Though the grill is not the one that average Americans use to fry up dinner for the family, the cost was not a burden on them either as the company donated the grill to the State Department.
The gift will certainly be beneficial to the company, as the phone in their headquarters has reportedly
been 'ringing off the hook' according to the Chicago Tribune.
To make sure that Mr and Mrs Cameron are not outdone by the grill itself, the President also included custom chef jackets with their names embroidered on each along with the seal of the President. In keeping with the culinary tone of their gifts, Mrs Obama gave Mrs Cameron a crystal jar of honey collected from the White House beehives and had it engraved with 'White House Honey'.
Rather than give the three Cameron children a sampling of American candy- as that would not fit with Mrs Obama's healthy eating platform- they were each given customized bean bag chairs which have the seal of the President and their names stiched on.
As for Mr Cameron, he also chose to commemorate the Obama's visit to England last year in his gift, as he gave a British-made table tennis table because he and Mr Obama played the game with some school children last year.
The paddles on the Dunlop table have the U.S. and UK flags on the bats. The press release says that it has added symbolism of the competition of international sport as London is due to hold this summer's Olympic games. Ever the fashionista, Mrs Cameron gave Mrs Obama a blue printed scarf from British designer Jonathan Saunder's latest collection, which uses a Victorian-inspired wallpaper print.
As for Malia and Sasha, they made out with a set of classic Penguin books, and though the titles were not announced, they are said to be 'British classics suitable for their age and in customised sleeves'.
© Daily Mail, London |
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