Mario Batali and Gwen Stefani Headline the Obamas' Final State Dinner

He’s known for his cooking skills. She for her musical talents. He wears orange Crocs, she wears sneakers or stilettos. Mario Batali and Gwen Stefani might seem an unlikely pair, but they do share a common heritage. They’ll also both be headlining next week’s Italy state dinner at the White House. (Will Batali BFF Gwyneth Paltrow be in attendance?)

The black-tie event is expected to be the last state dinner to be held during the Obama administration and will honor Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his wife, Agnese Landini.

First Lady Michelle Obama took to Snapchat on Wednesday to announce the headliners of the October 18 event. The Vespa-riding celebrity chef will act as guest chef while Stefani will take the stage for the evening’s musical performance.

Batali, for one, seems pretty excited about it:

No word yet on what the evening’s menu will entail, but it’s safe to say FLOTUS will be a fan of the meal. The First Lady was recently spotted lunching at Batali’s Greenwich Village restaurant, Babbo.

• Mario Batali, Gwen Stefani to Headline Italy State Dinner [AP]
• Mario Batali Will Baptize You With Pasta Water [E]
• All Mario Batali Coverage [E]