Obama British Africa is a pubby restaurant in Barcelona, Spain, and an entry into the International Obama Foodie Homage category.Apparently the restaurant is supposed to honor President Obama's paternal roots, but after a visit, writer Christopher Ryan described the pub and found it disjunctive, to say the least:
The place is set up like a British gentleman's club from 19th century Kenya. The walls are covered with photos of British officer types with elaborate moustaches wearing pith helmets...and khaki outfits with way too many pockets. You know the type: great white hunters.
There are African sculptures all over the place, batik tapestries, leather-bound chairs...even the ceiling fan blades are covered in a zebra skin design...
So, let's get this straight. We've got a pub that is a celebration of British colonial rule in Africa, named after the first African American president, whose grandfather was thrown into prison and tortured by the British because he rebelled against colonialism. Have I got that about right?
Yep, Wright has that about right. President Obama's grandfather was a cook, too, BTW, before being thrown into prison. The White House usually votes a resounding No on using the President's name for profit, but there's little that can be done in foreign countries.
Related: Some other Obama restaurant homage: Toronto's Obama Cafe; Brooklyn, New York's The Obama Flavor in Brooklyn, New York; and Meal O'Bama, a food cart in New York.
Photo via Fork in the Road, Village Voice's foodie blog; thanks to Nikki @NikSnaks for sending this along on Twitter. Obama Foodorama on twitter: @ObamaFoodorama.
