Obama Foodorama: 04/25/2010

Friday, May 07, 2010

Obama Date Night At Komi Restaurant

For the first solo dinner outing in months, an eatery dubbed worthy of "gastronomic thrill seekers"

A celebration of Mothers...and Military Spouses, too
Holidays are often celebrated early at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and this afternoon the Mother in Chief was also the Da

ughter in Chief, when she honored her Mother, Marian Robinson, during a lovely Mother's Day Tea that featured some of the bounty of foodstuffs grown on the White House grounds. As she welcomed a big group of mothers and daughters in the State Dining Room--including some very famous ones, who have previously lived in the White House--First Lady Michelle Obama emphasized the importance of motherhood, and her own mother's influence.

Video And Transcript: Remarks By First Lady At Mother's Day Tea, With Guest List

A Q & A about Republican pushback, school lunch legislation, and some advice for citizens...

Michelle Obama Gives Commencement Address - And Lincoln Campaign Support? - In Arkansas

Drama near Texarkana: Sen. Lincoln's primary challenge...and the possibility of FLOTUS protesters?

*Update, May 8, at bottom
On Saturday, First Lady Michelle Obama will give the commencement address to the Class of 2010 at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, one of the few historically black land-grant universities in America. But it's looking to be a bit more than just a send-off for a small cadre of future farmers and agriculture experts. There's some high-stakes political drama brewing down in the Delta.

White House Video: Revitalizing Rural America

Biofuels, broadband, biotech...video after the jump
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ollowing President Obama's tour across farmland America last week, the White House has created a new video, narrated by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, that gives an overview of the administration's framework for "a more prosperous rural America." The video is a lead-up to June 3, when USDA and other administration officials will join interested citizens at the National Summit of Rural America in Missouri.

At Cinco De Mayo Reception, President Obama Calls For Comprehensive Immigration Reform

"This year," with border security, employer enforcement and a path to citizenship...With video

More than a simple thank you visit: First Lady discusses role of agency in Development...

Transcript: Remarks By First Lady At USAID

Free; registration now open
President Obama visited rural America last week, when he brought the White House to Main Street Tour to Iowa, Missouri and Illinois, accompanied by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. In a continuation of the focus on creating a Rural Renaissance, the administration has announced the National Summit of Rural America: A Dialogue for Renewing Promise. The day-long series of events is open to the public, and will also be in Missouri, on June 3. USDA officials and policymakers will attend.

A look back at Cinco de Mayo 2009: Video after the jump

The second season of the Farmers Market By The White House kicks off tomorrow afternoon in downtown Washington, DC.

Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan, who is on the 2010 Time 100 list of the world's most influential people, will be one of the "bell ringers" who officially opens the market, along with FRESHFARM co-directors Ann Yonkers and Bernie Price. Full details, directions, and a list of market vendors is here.

Bill Yosses Honored By His Alma Mater

White House Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses will interrupt a very, very busy week of preparations for the May 19 State Dinner in honor of Mexico to himself be guest of honor at a special dinner. The President's favorite pie maker will receive the Distinguished Alumnus laurel at New York City College of Technology's 2010 Best of New York Award Dinner on May 17.

Today: President Obama Hosts Elie Wiesel For Private White House Lunch - Updated

Friendship stronger amid good Kosher food, Wiesel says
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resident Obama welcomed world renowned author, activist, and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel to the White House today, for a noon-time lunch in the Private Dining Room. Wiesel is a staunch ally of Israel, and the lunch came as the administration has been engaged in ongoing and often contentious talks about the Middle East peace process with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Last month, Wiesel took out a full-page ad in the Washington Post, criticizing recent American pressure on Israel and claiming that it would not produce a solution to the settlement issue in Jerusalem.

Sam Kass pal Tom Colicchio wins, too...

President Obama will meet with The Business Council this morning in Washington, DC, at the Park Hyatt hotel. The group is "the top CEOs" from corporations around the world, and last night, President Obama hosted the executive committee for the group, 13 American CEOs, for a private dinner at the White House. Top administration officials included in the closed-press dinner were chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, and economic adviser Austan Goolsbee, and NEC Director Larry Summers.

First Lady Gives Junior Scientists Foodie Advice

Cafeteria questions = quantum theory
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uring the 20th Annual National Science Bowl this morning, held at the Building Museum in Washington, DC, First Lady Michelle Obama sounded a little bit like she was encouraging a food fight, when she told the gathered teams of kid scientists to throw fruit and spin plates. But it was all for the pursuit of knowledge, of course.

White House & BP Today: "Keeping the Boot On The Throat" - Transcripts

And speaking of CNN reporters getting happy with the White House and Twitter, CNN anchor Hala Gorani tweeted the photo, above, of herself and Executive Chef Cris Comerford in the White House kitchen.

On a day when President Obama speaks out about the role of the press, one journalist sets a precedent for intimate presidential coverage

2012 Farm Bill Field Hearings Today & Tuesday: Witness Lists

President Obama Visits Gulf Coast; NOAA Closes Federal Fishing Waters - Video

Help numbers, website links after jump

Sam Kass, Red Carpet Chef

At People magazine's table, and getting ready for his close-up on Top Chef DC?

Kim Kardashian? Morgan Freeman? Scarlett Johansson? Whatever. This photo of Sam Kass, assistant White House chef and First Lady Michelle Obama's Food Initiative Coordinator and Kitchen Garden guru is the best Red Carpet photo from Saturday's White House Correspondents' Association dinner. Kass sat at People magazine's table, and brought his mom, Valentine Kass, as his date, and which is sweet as White House beehive honey, isn't it?

Kass (or as he's nicknamed around the White House, "Hundred") was seated alongside famed restaurateur/chef and Top Chef co-host Tom Colicchio, which boosts local, mad speculation that the White House is involved in the seventh season of Bravo tv's much-loved cooking competition show, which is filming in DC. Rumors are rife in the blogosphere that the show's Quick Fire kitchen challenges will be shot in the same place the WHCA dinner was held--the Washington Hilton. An open casting call for cheftestants was held on April 7 in DC, which included a long confidentiality agreement that had to be signed by hope-filled candidates. Update: Yes, Kass will be on Top Chef.

Also at the table: Songstress Jessica Simpson, Precious star Gabourey Sidibe, Sex and The City's Kristin Davis, and mop-topped teen idol Justin Bieber.

Jay Leno in video, too
At the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on Saturday night, President Obama made his second appearance as Jokester in Chief. The annual dinner, known locally as "the Nerd Prom," attracted about 2,700 celebs, journalists and politicos, and included presentations of journalism scholarships and awards.

President, First Lady Attend 2010 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner: The Menu

A sustainable, glam dinner, with some high political comedy

Links, phone number & federal response timeline after the jump...
The White House announced this morning that President Obama will travel to the Gulf Coast region tomorrow morning to survey the site of the BP oil spill, which could have a devastating impact on wildlife and commercial fisheries.

President Obama gave the commencement address to the Class of 2010 at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor this morning. There were numerous protesters, but this was the only foodie enthusiast. Anti-Obama foodie creations, such as Obama Kool Aid, were popular during Campaign Season, but they're rare these days. Go Blue!
*AP photo.

In USA Weekend Cover Story, Let's Move! And 50s-Era Homemaking Skills Are Conflated

Also revealed: During White House dinners, no one wants to hear about Dad's day at the (Oval) office...
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irst Lady Michelle Obama is the cover story on USA Weekend magazine, in a piece that's a mix of gushiness and confusion as it describes her White House life, including dinner rituals, laundry, and Obama daughter disciplinary tactics. The story, creatively titled America's mom-in-chief, Michelle Obama, sums it all up by describing the First Lady as a "power mom" who is "no Donna Reed." That's because Donna Reed wouldn't do what the magazine posits as equally transgressive acts: Going sleeveless (!) and running a national health policy campaign.

And yet, the mag notes, Let's Move! would not be possible without the traditional skills of a crackerjack 50s-era homemaker like Reed: "Her “Let’s Move!” initiative to conquer obesity in America’s children is a perfect extension of Obama’s own carefully plotted household."

Tonight: President, First Lady Attend White House Correspondents' Association Dinner

Pre-party gossip, the guest list, the after parties...

*Update 1: The menu is here.
*Update 2: The President's remarks are here.
President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama are the guests of honor at Washington's most anticipated social event this evening, the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. A bevy of politicos from both sides of the aisle will attend, as well as some A-list Hollywood celebs, and the White House correspondents themselves.