John Kerry hosts dinner for Pakistan Prime Minister; Menu emblematic of fresh debt ceiling increase [pic]

Sequester or no sequester; Shutdown or no shutdown; Debt ceiling increase or no debt ceiling increase–Nothing ever seems to keep the federal government from being able to sponsor a heck of a dinner.

Tonight, #SecKerry hosts official dinner for Prime Minister of #Pakistan, @PMNawazSharif. Take a peek at the menu: pic.twitter.com/9kT2fr6iuB

— Department of State (@StateDept) October 20, 2013

Here’s the full menu, including everything:

On menu @StateDept for @PMNawazSharif– butternut squash soup, lamb, pear tart. US also releasing $1.6bn in mil aid pic.twitter.com/mJ9Nqkhbrs”

— Kim Ghattas (@KimGhattas) October 20, 2013

Optics? We don’t need no stinking optics!

@StateDept @PMNawazSharif opening the government back up for this ,nice, 48 Million Americans are on Food Stamps if you didn't get the memo

— christian zouzas ?? (@US) October 21, 2013

@StateDept @PMNawazSharif Nice optics. Americans purportedly "starving". Honey-Cardamom ice cream?

— thedumbblonde (@TheRealTDB) October 21, 2013

Would certain guests still consider this meal the equivalent of hardtack and gruel?

FYI @StateDept This is poor people food by @PMNawazSharif standards at home.

— عایشہ (@AmzuD) October 20, 2013

(h/t Jeryl Bier)