President Obama made his first appearance Monday night on the "Late Show with David Letterman" as President of the United States, but it was a potato that stole the show.
The commander-in-chief -- who made his sixth appearance on the talk show (his first as President) to discuss Afghanistan, the economy, unemployment and health care -- was upstaged by a heart-shaped potato, brought to the show's taping by Mary Apple of Independence, Mo.
"The main reason I'm here?" the President said. "I want to see that heart-shaped potato."
Former President Clinton and President Obama. Photo: Charles Dharapak/Getty Images.
Two presidents known for their shared love of greasy foods chose a healthier choice for a meeting in New York.
After giving a speech to Wall Street on Monday, President Obama met up with former President Clinton at Greenwich Village's upscale Il Mulino, whose cuisine from Italy's Abruzzi region features dishes like Scaloppini Capriccio (veal sauteed in wine with prosciutto, fontina and mushrooms) and Red Snapper Sauteed with Seafood Sauce.
While the White House would not give Slashfood any information on the presidential menu, Clinton told reporters gathered outside that the two had "fish, pasta and salad," the Christian Science Monitor reports.
"It was very healthy. Even I was healthy," said Clinton, whose notorious taste for fast food -- the defunct McDonald's McRib sandwich in particular -- was a target of "Saturday Night Live" humor during his presidency.
Of all the ink spilled about last week's notorious Beer Summit, in which President Obama, police sergeant James Crowley and Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates gathered at the White House for a brewski, none have been more hilarious than this Washington Post recap. Writer Dana Milbank not only sums up the media's "tipsy" coverage of the affair but suggests our commander in chief take a cue from American beer names to address other diplomacy issues.
To wit: Sen. John Ensign would be welcomed to the White House with a quaff of Horny Devil, a California brew, whereas "if a certain former Alaska governor tries to challenge Obama in 2012, he can pour her an Arctic Devil Barley Wine." An equal opportunity satirist, Milbank also takes down "hot-tempered chief of staff Rahm Emanuel" by suggesting he indulge in Permanently Pissed Off Pilsner.
How do you feel about President Obama's choice of Bud Light -- a brew owned by a Belgian conglomerate -- for sipping?
During their trip to New York this weekend, the Obamas dined at Blue Hill. To gastronomes in the New York metropolitan area, Blue Hill has long been synonymous with all things local, organic, humane, refined and good in the dining world.
So it was little surprise that bloggers and commentators jumped all over the Obama's choice of venue, analyzing the meaning and the message of their meal. Frank Bruni opined on the New York Times' Diner's Journal blog that Blue Hill was "the proper ethical call, the proper message to send, the proper restaurant segue from the planting of the White House garden."
But Blue Hill, as Bruni also pointed out, happens to be one of New York's most critically lauded restaurants, so it's not as if the Obamas were exactly sacrificing pleasure for politics.
Still, out of the many, many high-end restaurants that the Obamas could have chosen to patronize, there are relatively few that are so closely associated with the kind of sustainable and progressive eating that the First Lady championed with the planting of the White House garden.
The pick appears to be further evidence of the research that the Obamas have seemingly put into their food choices -- and further evidence of the food world's willingness to analyze the President's every bite, be it of hamburger, chili, or, yes, an impeccably fresh and impeccably local carrot.
While many comparisons have been drawn between Barack Obama and Abraham Lincoln, I am eager to offer up what I am convinced will be the absolute silliest. Like the venerable Mr. Lincoln, Obama has already become a lightning rod for the advice of young children. A recent New York Times article highlighted several letters, most of which focused on bold initiatives for the young President. One, however, offered dietary advice for Obama:
Dear Barack Obama, You look too skinny. You should eat more food. This is what you should eat:
1. Pizza 2. Ice Cream 3. Butter Popcorn 4. Cupcakes 5. Hamburgers 6. French Fries 7. Hot Dogs 8. Hot Chocolate 9. Cookies 10. Cotton Candy
from,
Jayme
While not quite as eloquent as Grace Bedell's admonition that then-candidate Abraham Lincoln needed to "let your whiskers grow," Jayme's succinct, thoughtful suggestion was nonetheless clear and concrete. What's more, it seems to have caught Obama's attention: a recent National Geographic documentary captured him ordering a burger on Air Force One.
As we noted a couple of weeks ago, Ben and Jerry's recently sought to harness the idealistic fervor of Barack Obama's supporters by renaming theirbutter pecan ice cream "Yes, Pecan!" To the company's credit, it has agreed to donate all of the profits from the sale of this flavor to Common Cause, a voting advocacy group. While I am not a huge fan of Unilever, the current owners of Ben and Jerry's, and have numerous problems with the additives that started creeping into the ice cream after it sold out in 2000, I have to admit that this seems to be a well-intentioned (if transparently exploitative) move.
My cousin, Cathryn Michon, aka The Grrl Genius, is a great deal less cynical than me. Moreover, she has a definite skill when it comes to adding sweet ingredients to each other; consequently, I advise prefacing this recipe with a nice big shot of insulin. Enjoy!
Smoking Hot Fudge Barack Obama "Yes, Pecan!" Inaugural Sundae
Two Scoops of Ben and Jerry's "Yes, Pecan" ice cream (or any brand of butter pecan ice cream) 1/4 cup candied pecans 1/2 cup Godiva hot fudge (or brand of your choice) 1/2 cup whipped cream 1 George Washington honorary Maraschino cherry 1/4 ounce dark rum Hawaiian orchid (for garnish)
Warm hot fudge according to package directions and pour over the ice cream. Place the pecans decoratively on the sides of the sundae and lay the decorative orchid at the base of the serving dish. Spoon on a generous serving of the whipped cream, creating a trough in the whipped cream that resembles the cone of a live Hawaiian volcano. Set the cherry in the trough and fill with dark rum. Set the rum on fire with either a long match or a butane lighter to symbolize our smoking hot new President and the sweet hope that will sustain us in all the days to come.
What's that sound? Corks a-popping from shore to shore? No doubt bubbly was the beverage du jour for many folks, but mixologists both pro and amateur took it upon themselves to create signature beverages for the election and inauguration of our 44th President. When tasked with that for a friend's bash, I put some thought into the national origins of each element, so that they might match those of our new Commander-In-Chief. With a bit of tinkering, a new and semi-perfect union was formed -- The Barry O.
The Barry-O
Equal parts cocoa powder and sugar 1 1/2 oz Amarula 1 oz bourbon 1/4 oz Kona coffee liqueur (I like Trader Vic's)
Dampen the edge of a cocktail glass, and roll in a blend of equal parts sugar and cocoa powder.
Shake Amarula, bourbon and coffee liqueur with ice to blend and strain into the prepared glass.
Note: Amarula is an African cream liqueur made from the fruit of the Marula tree. Bourbon is a distinctively American whiskey, named for, and largely produced in Kentucky's Bourbon County. Coffee designated as Kona can only come from the Kona District of the Big Island of Hawaii.
Africa, America & Hawaii - all with a li'l dash of chocolate.
So - whatcha sip to celebrate (or drown your sorrows) this historic night? Share it in the comments.
Tomorrow one of the most historically significant Presidential Inaugurations will be upon us. Whether you're whooping it up or crying tears of sorrow into your glass, we've got ideas for what to drink at your party (or pity party).
If you're celebrating:
The obvious drink of choice is sparkling wine--American, of course. According to Iron Horse Vineyards, their sparkling wines have been served at the White House for five consecutive Presidential administrations, and Iron Horse hopes Obama will do likewise. Their Wedding Cuvee ($38) is a popular choice and widely available, or try the Russian Cuvee ($33), which is slightly richer and sweeter than the regular Brut.
Roederer Estate sparkling wines have also been featured in White House dinners over the years. The Brut NV ($22) is affordable and widely regarded by critics as one of the top sparkling wines in the U.S.
Korbel has been the official sparkling wine for the past six inaugurations, but apparently Obama won't do sponsorship agreements this year and Korbel has to angle for honors with all the other wineries. At home, try Korbel's Brut Rose ($12) or Extra Dry ($12), which, ironically, is a little sweeter.
With any of these sparkling wines, splash in a bit of pomegranate liqueur or blue carucao (but not at the same time!) for the red, white, and blue look.
Another all-American wine is Zinfandel, a big, bold, fruity wine also ideal for celebrating. Try one from Lodi or Paso Robles for even bigger-than-normal flavor (Seven Deadly Zins ($17) is a good example) or a classic from Sonoma like Seghesio ($36).
What to drink if you're not celebrating--after the jump.
Whether you voted for Obama or not, whether Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or etc., I don't think anyone denies this year's Inauguration Day is a historic event. And judging by the record crowds Washington, D.C. is expecting for Tuesday, everyone wants to get in on the celebration. President Bush had to declare a state of emergency to help cover the costs! Well, I'm declaring a state of beer-mergency (achem.) to figure out the perfect Inauguration Day beer. Let's see what we got...
Back in September, I wrote a post on Sixpoint Craft Ale's Hop Obama beer. At that time, I stated, "If Barack Obama wins the presidency, I'm guessing we might see [Hop Obama] for another four years."
Well, maybe those running the Brooklyn-based brewery should have heeded my advice: Sixpoint stopped making the beer after Election Day, and now patrons seeking to celebrate the big-O's big day have created a mini-madness to figure out who still stocks the brew. A few bars with serious foresight stashed their last remaining kegs for Election Day. And some, according to the NY Daily News, plan on charging a pretty penny for it.
Despite being Sixpoint's fastest-selling beer ever, it looks like this "Obama" is actually heading the way of George W. Bush: Don't expect it back anytime soon. With some savvy Google searching, New Yorkers can figure out where to go to get the last gulp of Hop Obama, but for the rest of us, don't dismay: We have options.
Since Barack Obama won the November Presidential election, there has been much speculation as to whether he and his family would retain current White House chef Cristeta Comerford or replace her with a new chef of their choosing. Reporters and bloggers suggested nearly every single prominent chef cooking in the U.S. today, including Oprah Winfrey's personal chef Art Smith and high-end Mexican expert Rick Bayless.
However, it was announced yesterday and the Obamas would retain Chef Comerford as White House Executive Chef. She is the first woman and first minority to hold that position. Congratulations Chef Comerford!
Click the image above to view the 'Yes Pecan' gallery.
Gallery: Yes Pecan
Leading up to the Presidential election in November, one of the most familiar slogans of Barack Obama's campaign was the powerfully succinct phrase, "Yes, We Can." It served as a rallying point for his supporters and now gourmet ice cream producer Ben & Jerry's is adopting the message to honor the new President by renaming their butter pecan flavor, "Yes Pecan" for the month of January.
Ben & Jerry's has partnered with the voting advocacy organization, Common Cause, for this temporary renaming and all proceeds from the sale of "Yes Pecan" will go to fund their efforts.
So get yourself to a scoop shop and get a cone of "Yes Pecan" before the month is out!
While President Elect Barack Obama's dining budget may have scaled up a tad since '01, the then State Senator was already a passionate fan of food. Enjoy this clip of the soon to be Foodie-in-Chief on a never-aired episode of WTTW's "Check Please," extolling the virtues of the johnnycakes, peach cobbler and Southern sampler at Chicago's Dixie Kitchen and Bait Shop.
The "lost" episode will air on WTTW twice on January 16th, again on the 18th and once more on January 20th, the day of Obama's inauguration.
It stands to reason that a busy President and First Lady aren't going to have the time to whip up meals every night. Enter the White House chef. There's been a lot of talk about Obama's administration choices, and now ABC has added the foodie side to the equation -- what it means to be a White House chef, and some behind-the-scenes tidbits about past presidents.
It's a pretty interesting read, covering the challenges of being the President's chef, to dealing with personal preferences and allergies. The Carters required prompt arrival for dinner and no flip flops and casual clothes at the table. Chelsea Clinton became a vegan while President Dad couldn't eat dairy, chocolate, or flour. (And I thought being allergic to nuts was bad!) And there's even a bit about 9/11, and how the menu changed to comfort foods after that day.
Now we just have to wait and see who Barack Obama picks.
This election year has seen all manner of cooking and food related products ranging from Hop Obama beer to Hillary and Obama aprons. I suppose those Hillary aprons might have some value for collectors. But except for a Japanese confectioner offering lollipops, I've seen precious little campaign confections out there.
Then I happened on this pair of presidential Pez dispensers from Herobuilders. I've never been much of a Pez collector, though I do own a Homer Simpson dispenser. Herobuilders is offering its presidential "Candydates" for the whopping price of $19.95. I don't plan on buying one, but I do know who I plan to vote for pezident, er, president. No word yet on whether Herobuilders plans to cash in on all the hoopla surrounding Joe the Plumber by making a dispenser bearing his likeness.
Originally intended as a limited edition beer that would "only last for the duration of the Democratic primary hiatus," Hop Obama, much like the candidate who inspired it, is still around. If Barack Obama wins the presidency, I'm guessing we might see it for another four years.
Brooklyn's Sixpoint Craft Ales, brewers of Hop Obama, state "the delicious and refreshing quality it represents reminds us of the Senator's successful grassroots campaign" and that they were inspired by Obama to brew "an entirely unique ale that doesn't adhere to traditional style guidelines."
Another big similarity between beer and candidate: Made with a heady mix of "five different kinds of European crystal malt and three different kinds of Pacific Northwest Hops" and only available in New York and Massachussetts, Hop Obama probably won't be the beer of choice anytime soon for conservative drinkers in middle America.
Politics aside, Hop Obama delivers on its promise of drinkability. It also makes me wonder what kind of craft ale John McCain could inspire? Maybe a barley wine? Something that ages well.
During their trip to New York this weekend, the Obamas dined at Blue Hill. To gastronomes in the New York metropolitan area, Blue Hill has long been synonymous with all things local, organic, humane, refined and good in the dining world.
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While many comparisons have been drawn between Barack Obama and Abraham Lincoln, I am eager to offer up what I am convinced will be the absolute silliest. Like the venerable Mr. Lincoln, Obama has already become a lightning rod for the advice of young children. A recent New York Times article highlighted several letters, most of which focused on bold initiatives for the young President. One, however, offered dietary advice for Obama: 
As we noted a couple of weeks ago, Ben and Jerry's recently sought to harness the idealistic fervor of Barack Obama's supporters by renaming their butter pecan ice cream "Yes, Pecan!" To the company's credit, it has agreed to donate all of the profits from the sale of this flavor to Common Cause, a voting advocacy group. While I am not a huge fan of Unilever, the current owners of Ben and Jerry's, and have numerous problems with the additives that started creeping into the ice cream after it sold out in 2000, I have to admit that this seems to be a well-intentioned (if transparently exploitative) move.
What's that sound? Corks a-popping from shore to shore? No doubt bubbly was the beverage du jour for many folks, but mixologists both pro and amateur took it upon themselves to create signature beverages for the election and inauguration of our 44th President. When tasked with that for a friend's bash, I put some thought into the national origins of each element, so that they might match those of our new Commander-In-Chief. With a bit of tinkering, a new and semi-perfect union was formed -- The Barry O.
Whether you voted for Obama or not, whether Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or etc., I don't think anyone denies this year's Inauguration Day is a historic event. And judging by the record crowds Washington, D.C. is expecting for Tuesday, everyone wants to get in on the celebration. President Bush had to declare a state of emergency to help cover the costs! Well, I'm declaring a state of beer-mergency (achem.) to figure out the perfect Inauguration Day beer. Let's see what we got...
Since Barack Obama won the November Presidential election, there has been much speculation as to whether he and his family would retain current White House chef Cristeta Comerford or replace her with a new chef of their choosing. Reporters and bloggers suggested nearly every single prominent chef cooking in the U.S. today, including Oprah Winfrey's personal chef Art Smith and high-end Mexican expert Rick Bayless. 
It stands to reason that a busy President and First Lady aren't going to have the time to whip up meals every night. Enter the White House chef. There's been a lot of talk about Obama's administration choices, and now ABC has added the foodie side to the equation -- what it means to be a White House chef, and some behind-the-scenes tidbits about past presidents.
This election year has seen all manner of cooking and food related products ranging from Hop Obama beer to Hillary and Obama aprons. I suppose those Hillary aprons might have some value for collectors. But except for a Japanese confectioner offering lollipops, I've seen precious little campaign confections out there.
Originally intended as a limited edition beer that would "only last for the duration of the Democratic primary hiatus," Hop Obama, much like the candidate who inspired it, is still around. If Barack Obama wins the presidency, I'm guessing we might see it for another four years.
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