WASHINGTON, DC — Moments before a dark limousine pulled up at the White House’s driveway on Tuesday evening (US local time), President Barack Obama and Mrs Michelle Obama emerged to welcome Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Madam Ho Ching.

Despite the hour, the evening was still bathed in summer sunshine, and Mrs Obama flashed her trademark smile as photographers clicked away to catch her in a regal ivory evening gown, designed by New York-based luxury label Brandon Maxwell — who is well known for dressing singer Lady Gaga.

Mr Obama, resplendent in a tuxedo, was jovial and relaxed, exchanging quips with his wife, even pointing to her and flashing a thumbs-up to signify approval of how she looked.

Prime Minister Lee emerged from the limousine first, looking sharp in a tuxedo, and Madam Ho followed in a resplendent maroon kebaya-like outfit with sparkly gold overlay — a reflection of Singapore’s multicultural society.

Both leaders and their wives then exchanged warm greetings and posed for pictures before entering the White House and walking down the Grand Staircase for more official photos.

The State Floor was decorated with gold lanterns, and with candles on the floor as chandeliers sparkled above. The yellow theme — symbolising friendship — dominated the event, with floral displays including yellow roses and yellow orchids.

Music wafted across the foyer, and the Marine Band struck up Hail America as the leaders entered the dining room.

Though the leaders were clearly the stars of the evening, the guests were no slouches either, and the press corps kept a sharp eye out as the early birds began streaming in from 6.45pm — among them the actors Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell, the leads of the hit TV series The Americans.

Other guests followed quickly, including author Amy Tan of The Joy Luck Club fame, US National Security Adviser Susan Rice and former Washington DC mayor Adrian Fenty with his girlfriend, Ms Laurene Powell, the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

Singaporean guests at the dinner included Singapore Airlines chairman Stephen Lee and Keppel Corp chief executive Loh Chin Hua, Lieutenant-Colonel Wong Shi Ming, the Commanding Officer of 3 SIR, and Mr Ong Peng Tsin from venture capital firm Monk Hill Ventures.

All in, some 200 guests were present for the state dinner, which started off with a formal air, but soon grew more relaxed, as diners clinked wine glasses and frequent laughter punctuated the evening.

Mr Obama himself added to the light-hearted vibe, adding humour to his toast by peppering it with references to Singaporean culture. He began by referring to that most Singaporean of obsessions — food — and noted that “in Singapore, even the street vendors — the hawker stalls — earn Michelin stars — which creates some pressure this evening. We have a lot to live up to”.

“We were tempted to offer each of you a Singapore Sling or some chilli crab,” he said, before raising knowing guffaws among the Singaporean guests and puzzled looks among some of the American ones by adding, “however, for those of you who know its unmistakable scent — which never seems to go away — you’ll understand why we are not serving a fruit known as durian here in the White House.”

For the most part, PM Lee’s toast was a serious recognition of American friendship over the 50 years since Independence. Mr Lee noted that Mr Obama’s years growing up in Indonesia gave him direct experience of South-east Asia’s cultures and challenges, and said: “As President, your personal leadership and decision to rebalance to Asia has won America new friends and strengthened old partnerships, including with Singapore.”

Mr Lee also drew on personal experience.

“I, myself, as a soldier, attending US courses, have personally experienced the dedication, the competence, and the warmth of our (American) hosts,” he said.

“I made good friends, and we still keep in touch after many decades. And they include Frank and Mary McGurk, who are my military sponsors at the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas nearly 40 years ago. And they are here tonight.”

Not to be outdone in the humour stakes, Mr Lee also referenced that old, false chestnut favoured by Obama conspiracy theorists: The country of the President’s birth. In announcing that Singapore had named an orchid hybrid in honour of the Obamas, he said: “This is a hybrid of breeds native to Singapore and Hawaii, where the President was born — most of us believe.”

The remark brought the house down.

Formalities done, the guests tucked in to a dinner that blended East and West, created from the best of American produce.

They started with a cool crab salad garnished with a tuile made using powdered crab shells and Old Bay, a type of seasoning. The second course, a salad featuring heirloom tomatoes from the White House garden, drew on Eastern influences and featured green papaya, pickled green mangoes and a soursop sorbet.

American Wagyu beef was the main course, seared in Vermont butter. It was served with a side of bone marrow in the form of a light crust, a trendy treat in restaurants, as well as wilted baby kale, young carrots and Asian yams grown in California.

The finale featured a peach cake with accents of palm sugar, coconut milk and fragrant lime leaves. Honey from the White House beehive reportedly went into the accompanying brittle and meringue, and wines from California and New York were served.

A performance by R&B and soul singer Chrisette Michele, a favourite of Mrs Obama’s, rounded off the night.

As guests began departing just after 11pm, it was clear that while formalities, star wattage and fine dining were part of the night’s attractions, ties between Singapore and the US were the clear winner.

The personal exchanges between the leaders and wide smiles throughout most of the evening buttressed the fact that while the hard graft of growing the relationship between two countries was done over the non-stop meetings Mr Lee and other Singapore officials had with their American counterparts, there is little like a sit-down dinner when it comes to sealing partnerships. with agencies