International Obama Foodie Homage: The UK Sends The 'Barack O'bhuna' And 'Yes We Can Flan' To The White House

While The President was in the UK for the G-20, local genealogical enthusiasts traced even more of the complicated Obama ancestral heritage. It was thrillingly discovered that in addition to his Irish, African, American and whatev roots, on his maternal side Bam is also related to Thomas Blossom, a Puritan who was born in Great Shelford and later moved to Stapleford (the two villages are near Cambridge, England). Thomas Blossom journeyed to the New World in 1620 on one of the sister ships of the Mayflower...and the rest is history. Needless to say, the citizens of the modern-day villages of Great Shelford and Stapleton are thrilled with their close linkage to Bam. So what's the typical homage response when you're In Awe of Obama? Why food, of course.

Local restaurateurs have created Obama "delicacies," aptly and punnily titled (in pic, above). The Barack O'bhuna, from Zara Indian Cuisine, is a spicy curry dish, and the Shelford Delicatessen has created the Yes We Can Flan (let's pause for a moment to appreciate a British deli creating a Spanish dessert...that's awesomely multi-culti, just like the Prez). But the UK foodie homagers aren't stopping with just creating the dishes. Local rag the Cambridge News is reporting that the restaurateurs sent samples of the dishes off to the White House, and these will be awaiting Bam when he returns from the Baroque Obama European Tour later today. Margaret Twitchell, of Shelford Delicatessen, told Cambridge News that she hopes that White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford will be adding the swell dishes to the White House menu.

It's very sad, but Ob Fo feels compelled to report that the White House has a policy of throwing away foodie gifts sent to the Obamas:

For security reasons, please do not send consumable gifts -- such as food, flowers, and other perishable items -- to the White House. While President Obama, the First Lady, Vice President Biden, and Dr. Biden appreciate your thoughtfulness, they request that instead you look to your local community for opportunities to assist your neighbors in need.

Oh well, it's still a lovely Homage a Obama...and perhaps Jamie Oliver can be convinced to get in on the action, if Cris Comerford proves unlobby-able....

*In photo: Back left, Miranda Fletcher of Shelford Delicatessen and Pete Bassett with, front, Pasha Kasim, left, from Zara Indian Cuisine and his Barack O’bhuna curry and, right, Drew Wilkinson, Shelford Delicatessen owner, with the ‘Yes we can flan,' courtesy of Cambridge News

Obama European Foodorama: Michelle Obama's Secret Tea With Germany's First Mann

The First Lady was almost busier than Bam during the Baroque Obama European Tour, and she managed to pull off a feat that few other politicos have achieved in recent political history: Michelle Obama had tea with Dr. Joachim Sauer, husband of Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany (pic, above). A quantum chemist, Dr. Sauer is so famously reticent about appearing in public that he supposedly missed Chancellor Merkel's inauguration. But Herr Doktor and Frau Präsidentin broke bread together on Friday, April 3 in Strasbourg, as their spouses prepared for the NATO summit. Lovin' the fact that Michelle's fave beverage, Coca Cola, is being served at tea time...

Perhaps the First Lady's huge charm factor is responsible for the First Mann's new friendliness? He was the sole male spouse at British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's G-20 dinner, and word has it that the two spent time together on that evening. Herr Doktor also toured Strasbourg, France, with the First Lady and French First Lady Carla Sarkozy (in pic)...which made him, briefly, one of the luckiest men in the Europe.

*Thanks to Ob Fo reader "Herr Goethe" for sending in the top pic, which appeared originally on Spiegel Online...

Thousands Locked Out Of Commenting Process At USDA: Obama Is Away, and Vilsack Might Over Pay

The President has been having a swell ol' time in Europe, but back at home, in the mundane and crucial arena of Ag policy, things have been falling apart at USDA. Over the weekend, thousands--perhaps tens of thousands--of concerned citizens tried to send in E mail comments on the 2008 Farm Bill Farm Program Payment Limitation and Payment Eligibility rule making process, only to have these "bounce back." Apparently the comments in box for the E mail address provided by USDA--Dan.McGlynn@wdc.usda.gov --was "full." After complaints from outraged citizens, a USDA spokesperson excused the incident, saying Mr. McGlynn has been on vacation since Thursday, and that another USDA address could be used (mara.villegas@wdc.usda.gov). Um, so what if Mr. McGlynn was on vacation? His E mail doesn't function if he's not in the office? And who knows how many comments USDA will not receive?

This is not acceptable. Today (Monday) is the final day for comments, and the changes to the payment program are more important now than ever before, because the decisions for the 2008 Farm Bill payments will have an impact for years, at a time when US agriculture is already in a desperate state of affairs, thanks to its enslavement to Big Agribusiness. Historically, the USDA has privileged Big Agribusiness farmers by handing out huge cash subsidy payments based on acreage, thus giving them an unbeatable economic advantage over smaller and family farmers, who have less acreage and thus get lower payments. Capping subsidy payments has been a long-standing battle within USDA, and changing the payment program is such an important issue that President Obama actually campaigned on it, as well as mentioned it in his non-State of The Union Speech, when he again pledged to change how subsidy payments are made, calling for an "end to direct payments to large agribusinesses that don’t need them."

Since taking office, Ag Secretary Vilsack has raised the subsidy issue numerous times, trying to figure out how to satisfy both The President's mandate while simultaneously avoiding the pitchforks of Ag committee Members in the House and Senate, who are outraged that Vilsack would even consider subsidy caps, after years of free-flowing payments. Vilsack has variously spun changes to the subsidy payments as "30,000 farmers vs. 90 million starving children;" suggested that subsidy payments could be masked as "green climate change payments;" and most recently, has backed off from the entire issue, notably by canceling the promised Rural Summit. And so far, the only concrete thing Secretary Vilsack has done is talk: In a teleconference with Ag reporters on January 26, Vilsack announced the extension of the comment period, as part of Obama's general regulatory review of Bush-era policies, which was outlined by the White House and Office of Management and Budget. Vilsack said:

"In keeping with President Obama's recent pledge to make government more transparent, inclusive, and collaborative, I would like to pursue an extended comment period so that more farmers and other individuals can participate in this rulemaking process. I'm particularly interested in suggestions that would help the Department target payments to farmers who really need them and ensure that payments are not being provided to ineligible parties for future crop years."

It's swell to make this kind of laudable sound byte, but what's needed is follow-through. Everyone who's interested in Ag policy is very interested in making sure that people who really need the USDA funds get them, in particular smaller and family farmers, the fastest-disappearing segment of the farming population. Smaller and family farmers are in dire financial need at the moment, and they're crucial to developing a more localized and sustainable system for US agriculture. But if USDA can't even accept comments, how will Secretary Vilsack be able to make appropriate decisions? How will Secretary Vilsack move the USDA into the 21st century if even their e mail system is trapped in the early 1990's? It's a terrible commentary on the USDA that they can't even get their E mail system functioning properly to take comments, isn't it?

Related: Over at Grist, Tom Laskawy parses the recent political fury over subsidies, and wonders if perhaps President Obama has demolished the entire debate...and any hope for change. Read his thoughts here.

Baroque Obama European Tour: At Lunch With President Gul In Turkey, Global Security Is The Main Course

President Obama sits across the table from Turkish President Abdullah Gul at lunch in Cankaya Palace in Ankara, Turkey today, after speaking to the Turkish parliament at the Grand National Assembly. On the menu: Ending the perception of America as an anti-Islam nation, global security, promises of cooperation. For dessert: International trade and stabilizing the global economy.

Rahm Emanuel and White House advisor David Axelrod showed up yesterday when the President was in Prague, and they joined Bam for lunch (blurring out....)

*Getty images

Obama European Foodorama: Tea Time In Prague

The President and First Lady have tea at Prague Castle with President Vaclav Klaus and his wife Madame Livia Klausova, as part of the Baroque Obama European Tour. Earlier, the President spoke to a huge crowd in Hradanske Square. Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek (left) joined the two Presidents for tea after the First Ladies left for a tour of religious sites. (Getty)

Obama European Foodorama: Pražská neděle Baracka Obamy

Barack and Michelle Obama against a backdrop of onion-topped domes, Prague, Czech Republic, where they were greeted by the now-typical mobs of protesters, thrilled crowds, and military lock down, but Prague was peaceful (unlike Strasbourg, France, where protesters were torching the city). Bam's Yes We Can Eliminate Nukes speech in Hrdanske Square was colored by the North Korean missile launch that had occurred in the middle of the night.

The Obama European Foodorama: Cake And Conflagrations At NATO Summit

Strasbourg, France, and Baden-Baden, Germany, the twin border cities hosting the 60th anniversary NATO summit on Friday and Saturday, were both under security lock for about two days before The President and First Lady arrived, and this continued for their entire visit. Yesterday, anti-NATO protesters--some 65,000 strong, according to estimates--closed down the walking bridge between the two cities, where President Obama and NATO leaders paused for a "unity" photo op early in the day, in advance of the day's meeting. By late afternoon, at least three buildings in Strasbourg, including the Ibis Hotel, were set on fire by protesters.

Meantime, across the Rhine river in Baden-Baden yesterday, the town was deserted. Cafes and restaurants were open, but had no customers, as traffic throughout the city was halted, and citizens were urged to stay at home. Bam and Michelle walked around the marketplace in Baden-Baden with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (above), under heavy military guard, and met with a small crowd. Alongside the violent anti-war protests going on, there were other political issues being addressed, too: The Obama-NATO cake managed to cause a little bit of a scandal (cake in pix at top and bottom of post). The cake is from the Kammerzell Cafe in Baden-Baden, and was criticized for being a veiled racist foodie commentary, because of the dark chocolate frosting (the cake inside is chocolate, too). The writing reads 'Great Obama,' or 'Greetings/welcome Obama' (depending on who's doing the translation) and the little blue and white decorations are NATO flags. Germany is apparently newly aware of "racist implications" in food: The Obama Fingers fried chicken strips, introduced by German company Sprehe in early March, have already been pulled from the global marketplace, after being criticized for being sterotypically racist.

*Related Obama European Foodorama posts: Read about special NATO wines here; Obama's peachy- keen moment at the Strasbourg Town Hall here; and deets on Emile Jung, legendary French chef, here. Obama Fingers chicken strips are described here.

The Obama European Foodorama: Special Baden-Baden Wines For Tonight's NATO Dinner

The President and First Lady will attend another NATO dinner later this evening at Baden-Baden's legendary Kurhaus, celebrating both the NATO summit and the 60th anniversary of the organization, on day five of their European visit. Special red and white wines have been bottled for the event, made with grapes from the Baden-Baden region. Although the vineyards of Baden-Baden comprise just 800 acres, it's one of the three largest wine-growing districts in Germany, and includes the tiny villages of Steinbach, Varnhalt, and Neuweir.

The region Baden-Baden is located in is fairly temperate, with rich soils, and wine production has been going on since the Middle Ages. Baden-Baden itself is on the French-German border, and the wines are exact to French appellations; the Pinot Noirs are somewhat legendary, although the NATO wines are a single-grape red and white. This is in keeping with wine production in the region; multi-grape wines, such as Cuvees, are a rare occurrence. Because winter temperatures around Baden-Baden can drop below freezing, grapes are usually grown on protected hillsides. The temperature for the Obamas' visit, however, have been fairly springlike, with a median of 50 F. (Pic: The front entrance of the Kurhaus, pre-NATO dinner)

The Obama View From The Kitchen At Palaise Rohan In Strasbourg

Chef Emile Jung (second from left) and his kitchen staff at Rohan Palace in Strasbourg, France, mob the windows for a glimpse of the double presidential fabulousness happening in the courtyard below. President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama had paused for a photo op with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Sarkozy, during the Obama Rock n' Roll World Tour. The two couples were about to go into the palace for lunch, where Chef Jung, the genius behind legendary French restaurant Au Crocodile, was in charge of the festivities. Their view:

Obama's A Peach At Strasbourg Town Hall

From the Six Degrees of Obama Foodorama playbook....
A wildly enthusiastic crowd of about four thousand French and German students mobbed the Rhenus Sports Arena in Strasbourg, France, to hear the President speak today about American-European relations, while anti-NATO protesters mobbed the outdoor areas.

There was time for just five questions, and oddly, Barack kept calling on ex-pat Americans to speak. And of course, since it's Bam, there were a few foodie moments. A young woman dressed in black stood up and introduced herself as Ennis Otto, from Heidelberg, Germany.

"I'm totally European," Ms. Otto assured The Prez. "And first of all, I just wanted to tell you that your name in Hungarian means 'peach.'"

"Peach?" The President said.

"Yes," Ms. Otto said. "Now you know it.

"Oh, Okay," The President said. "Well how about that. I did not know that."

Ms. Otto then asked if the President had any regrets about running for president, and he repeated what's become a minor riff: That he can't go out to a cafe alone, without Secret Service accompaniment. Before becoming a "political celebrity," Barack said, when in Europe previously he could wander down to a cafe and sip wine....

And as for the peach thing? Americans in Hungary For Obama (a group that's still active) were all over it during Election Season; "Barak" is the word for the fuzzy flesh of peaches. The riff was picked up in the US, for campaign events associated with peach festivals.

Bam's a peachy guy, in general: Back when he was still an Illinois Senator, Obama made a star turn as a guest restaurant critic on the TV show Check, Please!, and spoke glowingly of the peach cobbler at Chicago eatery Dixie Kitchen & Bait Shop. The appearance never made it into the cut of the episode, but it was shown during the Inauguration, and Dixie Kitchen's peach cobbler recipe became a sensation on the internets; read it here.

*A transcript of the Strasbourg Town Hall is here. Photo by Charles Dharapak/AP.

Will Obamas Faux Pas With Foie Gras When Chef Emile Jung Cooks For Them In France?

Chef Emile Jung of famed French restaurant Au Crocodile will be cooking lunch today and tomorrow for The Obamas at the NATO summit meetings in Strasbourg, France. The Chef (in pic above) is the proud recipient of two Michelin stars for his restaurant, and today he will be prepping a "working lunch" for Barack and French President Nicolas Sarkozy. The top secret menu will be served in the Chateau des Rohan, an 18th century castle next to Strasbourg Cathedral. Tomorrow, Mr. Jung will prepare a buffet for all the NATO leaders during the summit meeting. In an interview with the Telegraph, Mr. Jung said he was "pretty sure" that Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy will be present at today's lunch. He also said he was not "allowed" to reveal details of the full menu, but did say that it would be French with a touch of Alsatian flair:

There will be Alsatian pinot Gris but no choucroute [sauerkraut]; we will use seasonal produce. Right now it's the time for asparagus and gigot d'agnelet [baby milk-fed lamb]. I can say no more.

At Au Crocodile, Mr. Jung's specialty is foie gras, which may present a touchy "ethical" problem for FLOTUS and POTUS. Their hometown, Chicago, is one of the few cities in America to actually ban the sale of foie gras, a decision that was recently reversed, after long discussions between pro-and-con afficionados. Mr. Jung does three fab versions of the dish: "froid," "croûte en sel" and "aux pommels." Menu details to come....

You Say NATO, I say Nahto: Obamas Colonize France and Germany

Barack and Michelle Obama will country hop with little effort in the next few days, as they go back and forth between French and German border towns for the 60th anniversary NATO summit. It's the first time a summit has been co-hosted by Allies, and Strasbourg-Kehl and Baden-Baden, the small towns on either side of the Brie-Bockwurst border, are currently under huge military lock down, with protests erupting into violence in both countries. But y'know, blah blah blah, the real story is the fashion face-off between Carla Bruni Sarkozy, supermodel wife of French prez Nicolas, and FLOTUS. But if Michelle wears anything even approaching the argyle cardigan number she wore yesterday, Carla's gonna win the fashion bracket.

And the anti-NATO protests have yet to interrupt plans for tonight's NATO "working dinner," which will be held at Baden-Baden’s Kurhaus, a legendary old hotel that's the centerpiece of the small German town (pictured above). Built in the early 1820s, the Kurhaus has a huge outdoor amphitheatre, many restaurants, a famous casino, and beautiful gardens. It's been immortalized in many novels; Nabokov and Fitzgerald come immediately to mind. German Chancellor Angela Merkel will host the dinner, and Ann Sophie Mutter, legendary violinist, will amp up the international hottie gal factor with a performance this evening. She's perhaps the most scortchin' string player to ever walk the earth. Menu details to come....

Behind The Scenes At The G-20 Summit Dinner: Jamie Oliver Meets Obama, And Gives Some Inspiring Lessons In Food Politics

Chef Jamie Oliver was apparently thrilled to meet The President at last night's G-20 summit dinner, which Jamie cooked at British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's residence at 10 Downing Street (no pix available of the meeting; above is Jamie with Gordon Brown). And amidst a day of protests in which London was mobbed with anti G-20 demonstrations that became violent, Jamie may have made the biggest political statement of all. His "Best of Britain" dinner was done with foods sourced entirely from around the British Isles, a perhaps unintentional--but enormously timely--commentary on international trade (that is--closer is better). Much of the food Jamie selected was both organic and sustainably grown, and from smaller farms. And during a time of grave global economic crisis, the food costs were astoundingly low: Jamie notes on his blog that the meal came out to about £11 a head (about $16 US). That's pretty amazing for a complete meal that includes dessert, and something that was done very consciously. Not only did Jamie prove that a celebratory meal--even for Heads of State--doesn't have to be both wildly expensive and wildly over the top in order to honor those present, but he also managed to help PM Brown avoid the debacle of this past summer's G-8 summit dinner in Hokkaido, Japan, at which world leaders were served an absurdly lavish dinner while discussing global hunger issues.

What also stands out is how proud Jamie was of his apprentices from Fifteen Foundation, his non-profit culinary training program for disadvantaged youth, as well as his dedication to an enormously ethical, anti-ostentatious food aesthetic. From Jamie's blog:

I was so proud of the apprentices as they really held it together. Can you imagine how much this means to everyone considering how far most of them have come to be working at an event like this?...for me one of the highlights of the night was that I got to meet President Obama and his wife...I felt that it was really important to write a menu that was not indulgent... I wanted to prove that you really don’t have to spend loads of money to serve a very special meal.

Jamie made very timely political, economic and farming commentary at the most important table in the world, as well as gave a very important object lesson in "community service." Jamie's Obaming President Obama, in a swell way. (Food pix are Jamie prepping Salmon for the dinner entree)

*Jamie's dinner menu, including a recipe for his Hot Bakewell Tart, is here.
Related: The Ob Fo Oliver festival: Part I is here; Part II is here, Part III is here.
*Much thanks to Fran Acheson and Peter Berry for all the London details!

The Obamas and The Browns Eat Dinner Together...Sort Of...At British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Residence

London Calling: After a busy day, The Obamas dine with The Browns...in different houses
Barack and Michelle attended the G-20 dinner hosted by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown last night, but there were actually two different dinners happening simultaneously. The First Lady was at a spouse's dinner hosted by Sarah Brown, wife of the PM, next door to their residence at 10 Downing Street. The President attended the working dinner held in the State Dining Room at 10 Downing Street, along with all the other G-20 heads of state.

Barack was seated beside German Chancellor Angela Merkel (in pic below), which must have made for some pretty interesting convo, because she's been publicly criticizing his economic policy. The dinners were prepared by British Chef Jamie Oliver, and the same menu was served for both. (The State Dining room, below: The Prez is on the left, his head turned from the camera)

*Jamie Oliver's menu for the dinner is here.
*The Obamas Don't Have Tea With The Queen is here.

*Photos from Downing Street's official stream on Flickr; thanks to Fran Acheson!

A Nutty Question Inspired By The Pistachio Recall: What Happened To Obama's Food Safety Working Group?

We're still having jumbo food safety recalls. How about having a meeting of the Food Safety Working Group?

President Obama's raving chain of inherited food safety woes might be handily broken if other states adopt the position of California, which has just become the most enlightened state in the US regarding food safety. A new "spot" bill that will require processors to test regularly for contamination, as well as notify state health authorities if they find that their products are tainted, was just introduced into the California Assembly by Speaker Karen Bass and Assemblyman Mike Feuer, both Democrats from Los Angeles. Currently, there are no such requirements in California or other states or on the federal level; processors are not required by law to test for contamination, and they can ship out products that are known to be contaminated, fingers crossed, and hope that reports of illness don't filter into the public health system. Yeah, that's a good way to feed America.

Bill 1372 is awaiting language approval, and is in response to the jumbo pistachio recall of Monday, in which two million pounds of contaminated nuts from California's Setton Farms were yanked out of the food chain, because processors voluntarily reported contamination. The Bill makes complete sense: As one of the biggest Ag producers in the US, it's absurd and disturbing that such requirements aren't already law in California...and across the country.

Will Barack's new Food Safety Working Group get into action this fast? Um...maybe, if Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Seblius (the only identified members of the group, to date) can actually manage to decide who else will be on the committee...and if they can actually decide what the hard mission is. Neither of these have occurred, though Ob Fo heard rumblings from Cap Hill on Monday that Seattle's legendary food poisoning attorney Bill Marler was the designated Meat Safety Man. Meantime, we're three weeks out from the announcement of the group...and nothin'. Sebelius hasn't even been confirmed yet, and the very Bizzy Sec V seems to be spending all his time thinking up new ways to give farmers free cash. (Pic: Sebelius with Barack, pointing out hope on the horizon...)

Kathleen Merrigan's Confirmation Hearing Turns Into Debate On Place of Organics In American Farming; Merrigan Declares Herself Agent Provacateur

Deputy Secretary of Agriculture nominee Kathleen Merrigan had to spend much of her time during her confirmation hearing yesterday defending the fact that she's been a champion of organic farming practices. The Senate committee questioning Ms. Merrigan included Senators who are notorious shills for genetically engineered crops (and recipients of Monsanto campaign donations), a couple mascots for the Iowa Corn Mafia, and a few who've declared war on Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack and The President for the proposal to abolish bloated farm subsides. The entire hearing highlights the stranglehold industrialized practices have on the American Agriculture economy, since Ms. Merrigan's viewpoints are being regarded as "controversial."

Perhaps the most amusing hot-under-the-cornhusk moment came from Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) (pictured), the ranking commitee member who has lately spent much of his time defending Peanut Corporation of America, the crims (and his home state constituents) responsible for the peanut butter salmonella debacle. Sen. Chambliss was among the interrogators who were willing to publicly express their disdain for organics; he told Ms. Merrigan that "...in promoting your passion for organic production and sustainable agriculture, you tear down other types of agriculture with different points of view." Apparently Sen. Chambliss believes consolidated industrialized Ag, in which a single filthy plant can contaminate the entire nation, is a fine model for America, but growing food without chemical fertilizers and pesticides is highly questionable. While Ms. Merrigan was defending her viewpoints and her past work history, which includes a previous stint at USDA in which she helped write the current regulations for organics, she referred to organics as "a small piece of the pie." When the gathered Senators questioned her many writings on the topic, Ms. Merrigan pointed out that "I've always been a provocateur. That's part of my personality."

Ob Fo certainly hopes Ms. Merrigan can provoke lots of positive change in the Ag sector...

*Over at La Vida Locavore, the erudite Jill Richardson gives an excellent transcription of the hearing, with commentary. Read it here.

The Obamas Meet The Queen: A Hug Heard 'Round The World, And "Prehistoric" Canapes

The International Obama Event that has been reported for weeks as Tea With The Queen was actually a private audience with Her Majesty yesterday at Buckingham Palace, following a larger reception for G20 leaders (The President and First Lady above, with Her Majesy and The Duke of Edinburgh). No, Michelle didn't wear a hat--nor did the Queen. But the potential for international scandal was high: Michelle actually touched the Queen when she put her arm around Her Majesty. Royal etiquette dictates that the Queen not be touched unless she reaches out first. After screaming headlines in tabloids on both sides of the Atlantic (such as Huffington Post's Royal Screw Up?), an "eyewitness" account from London's Daily Mail set everyone at ease: Her Majesty made the first move, and put Her arm around Michelle first--and it took all of ten seconds. Still, Buckingham Palace had to issue a press release to address the issue, and calm down international scandal factor.

On the menu for the reception: Red and White Wine, and Canapes. Buckingham Palace doesn't release menus or food info, but foodies might remember a bit of foulmouthed insouciance from British chef Gordon Ramsay, who famously commented on Palace cookery after reciving an OBE award from the Queen:

"You don't get to know who's cooking for the Queen...but I'd never employ him...the canapes are just absolutely shockingly shit. They look prehistoric, like 300 years old."

President Obama shouted to reporters that "The Queen is delightful!" as he and FLOTUS left the Palace. After, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told the Today show:

"The president remarked to me this morning that her [Her Majesty] sensibility sort of reminded him a bit of his grandmother, only with a much bigger house."

But did Madelyn Dunham carry her handbag around her own house, as Her Majesty does?

*Photos from Buckingham Palace

Jamie Oliver's "Best of Britain" G20 Dinner Menu, With The Lovely Dessert Recipe

Barack and Michelle Obama have been in London for less than a day, but the American press is reporting The President's visit as a "love fest" with Gordon Brown (pic: The First Couple and The Browns at 10 Downing Street)...Meantime, there have been thirty-five arrests of anti G20 protesters as of this writing, and at least one bank break in. Security is heavy and tight. Things are far happier in the political food arena:

Ob Fo is delighted to present the menu for Jamie Oliver's G20 working dinner, which Barack and Michelle will attend this evening at British prime Minister Gordon Brown's house at 10 Downing Street, along with other world leaders. The menu just showed up simultaneously from Peter Berry, Jamie's very nice press fellow, and Ob Fo correspondent Fran Acheson of the BBC, who has been apparently lobbying Mr. Berry for details. Jamie is calling the dinner "The Best of Britain," and it highlights organic and sustainable foods from around the British Isles. Jamie writes:

This is a great chance for us to show people what the Fifteen Foundation is all about and I hope we make a brilliant impression on all those world leaders. Britain has such amazing produce and I think the menu we’ve put together really shows the ingredients off. I’m very proud of it.

Most of the meal prep has been done at Fifteen London, the terrific London restaurant Jamie runs as part of the Fifteen Foundation, his non-profit culinary training school for underprivileged and at-risk youth. Graduates have gone on to work in high-profile London restaurants, and Jamie has an eight-member team working on this evening's meal (Jamie with his G20 team, in pic). As noted in an earlier post, vegetarian and other special options are being provided for dignitaries with dietary restrictions. Fran has provided excellent local links for the sources Jamie is using, which are in the menu below, and there's also a recipe for the dessert. Much thanks to both Fran and Peter!

*For updates on the dinner prep, Jamie is tweeting at @jamie_oliver, and he's also put up pix here, at his moblog. London time is eight hours ahead, so as of this writing the dinner prep is well along. Check it out!

The Jamie Oliver Best of Britain G20 Dinner Menu

Starters
Organic farmed Salmon from Shetland
Foraged samphire and sea kale
Herb Garden Salad
Broad Beans from Secrett’s Farms in Sussex, Surrey and Kent
Wild garlic-scented Irish soda bread, freshly baked using Gloucestershire-based Shipton Mill organic flour; the garlic is from Elwy Valley in Wales

Vegetarian option:
Childwickbury Goat Cheese with Roasted Shallots in place of the Salmon, and no Mayo served

Entree
Slow roasted shoulder of Lamb from the Elwy Valley in North Wales
Jersey Royal Potatoes
First of the season Asparagus from the Wye valley
Foraged wild St. George Mushrooms
Mint sauce and gravy

Vegetarian option:
Lovage and Potato Dumplings instead of the Lamb

*A selection of fresh breads will be served, baked by London bakery The Flour Station, with home-made butter freshly churned at Fifteen London, using organic cream from Ivy Farm in Somerset and smoked sea salt from Halen Môn in Wales.

Dessert
Hot Bakewell Tart
Home-made Custard

The Bakewell Tart will be created with home-made jams. The fresh custard is being made with free-range eggs from the Duchy of Cornwall farms, the fantastic organic farming and environmental project overseen by Charles, Prince of Wales. Read all about it here.

Jamie's Hot Bakewell Tart

Ingredients

Pastry:
200g plain flour
100g butter
1/2 tsp salt
A couple of tbsp of cold water

Filling:
3 heaped tbsps of raspberry jam
100g castor sugar
100g icing sugar
120g ground almonds
50g semolina
2 med eggs
3 heaped tbsp slivered almonds
A few drops of almond essence

Method

1. Mix together the flour, butter and salt. Rub between your fingers till the mixture resembles large breadcrumbs.
2. Add the water, continue mixing, then knead into a ball. Place in the fridge for 1 hour.
3. Grease a flan/tart tin (approx 22cm). Preheat oven to 200C.
4. Roll out the pasty thinly and transfer to the tin. Trim the edges.
5. Mix together the almonds, semolina and both sugars.
6. Whisk the eggs with the almond essence and add to the almond mixture, stirring well.
7. Spread the raspberry jam over the pastry base.
8. Pour in the almond mixture and spread evenly.
9. Sprinkle with the slivered almonds then bake at 200C for approx 25-30 mins, till firm.
10. Allow to cool completely then sprinkle with a little icing sugar.

*Tart pic from Peter Berry, from the dinner...the "G20 Pud"

*Fran is a foodie, and was one of those lovely international Obama supporters during Election Season, and even had a Brit recipe in an American Obama fundraising cookery book. Her morning e mail says it all: ...the most wonderful spring morning in London - duck-egg blue skies and blazing sun. Obama weather! Fantastic looking menu, I think. Really pleased Jamie's using sea veg - very trendy here at the mo. All best from sunny London, waiting for the French to start sulking...

*Related: The Ob Fo Oliver festival: Part I is here; Part II is here, Part III is here.

*Halen Môn also provides the sea salt to Fran's Chocolates in Seattle, Washington, to make Bam's fave sweet: Fran's Smoked Sea Salt Caramels in Milk Chocolate.