At first sight, this might seem a boring menu. But I actually think Sarah Brown has been very clever, choosing local ingredients showing the best of seasonal British produce.

President Bush has been travelling, so he does not want fancy food. In fact, his tastes seem to be simple anyway: he serves guests hamburgers. There is nothing wrong with hamburgers, if they are properly made.

The Browns will be wanting to show off something of Scotland, and what better choice than wild smoked salmon for a starter?

I would say “hold the cherry tomatoes”, the one bit of gilding the lily. They look pretty, but they are not necessary.

I suspect that the soup could be a recipe of mine; unsurprisingly, I think pea soup and Parmesan croutons are a great combination.

Personally, I would have gone for roast lamb with new potatoes and mint sauce. There is some lovely lamb available now. Beef is slightly heavy for this time of year and I don’t think Yorkshire pud is a good idea. That combination is rather wintry. Again, we know why they’ve done it – a classic Sunday meal.

Nor is there anything wrong with trifle. President Bush may not even know what it is, but if it is made well, trifle can be absolutely delicious. It is much maligned.

It needs some alcohol, though, maybe sherry (if President Bush doesn’t object) in the biscuits, and then homemade custard and decent cream – perhaps from Guernsey cows – and some fruit, preferably strawberries.

This is a menu we should be proud of, with good British food cooked simply, not some fanciful French or Italian cuisine, which is currently so fashionable.

Well done, Sarah Brown.

The menu

Trio of Scottish salmon and cherry tomato salad

Green pea soup with mint cream and Parmesan croutons

Roast Gloucestershire beef and Yorkshire pudding with a rosemary sauce and potatoes and other seasonal vegetables

Trifle

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