Inside President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama's Final State Dinner: Guests, Performances, Menu and More

Celebrity chef Mario Batali was on hand to curate the perfect meal

By Francesca Bacardi Oct 19, 2016 4:52 PMTags

We already know that Michelle Obama absolutely slayed her last state dinner in a custom Atelier Versace chain mail gown, but there is also so much more to Tuesday night's event besides the fashion (although that's certainly a large portion).

Everything about the final state dinner was big—go big or go home, right?—and FLOTUS and President Barack Obama made sure to go out in a major way. From the attendees to the food, the last state dinner impressed from start to finish.

Celebrity chef Mario Batali was in charge of curating the big night's Italian menu, which featured plenty of vegetables from the White House Kitchen Garden, in honor of Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

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Michelle Obama's Best Looks

Fun evening.. Obama's last State Dinner for the Italian Prime Minister. @whitehouse

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Those lucky enough to attend noshed on agnolotti with butter and sage, warm butternut squash salad, beef braciole with horseradish gremolata and green apple crostata with thyme caramel for dessert. Suffice it to say, the pressure was on for the famed cook.

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"If there's one thing that I'm not going to sleep well about tonight, it's only going to be the hot plates," Batali said Monday at the White House. "I think I'll be shaking in my orange crocs tomorrow when it's about a half-hour before service."

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Batali is no stranger for cooking for large crowds, but considering the A-list attendees, we can imagine why he'd be nervous! In addition to the main players like the Obamas and the Italian prime minister, Frank Ocean, Chance the Rapper, Rachael Ray, John Cusimano, Jerry Seinfeld, Jessica Seinfeld, John Turturro, James Taylor and many, many more sat among POTUS and FLOTUS.

The decorations, of course, were nothing short of spectacular. Set on the White House's South Lawn, the dinner took place inside a luxurious tent that featured cream-colored drapes, gorgeous flower arrangements and tall crystal candelabras at each table. There were also crystal chandeliers hanging from the tent's ceiling that also had green vines draped around them.

At the front of the tent, of course, was the stage where the president and Renzi gave their speeches. After the elaborate meal Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton performed their hit single "Go Ahead and Break My Heart."

It definitely sounds like a night to remember!