Obama Foodorama: 05/29/2011

Tuesday, June 07, 2011

German State Dinner In The Rose Garden....

A longshot of the State Dinner in honor of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. President Obama awarded Merkel the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor a civilian can receive. The President's toast is here; the menu is here; and the guest list, of about 200, is here.

The Head Table For President Obama's State Dinner In Honor Of Chancellor Angela Merkel

Seventeen guests join President Obama, First Lady, and Chancellor Merkel at the Head Table...

A long shot of the State Dinner in the Rose Garden, as President Obama makes his toast honoring Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Merkel's Presidential Medal of Freedom Portrait

Chancellor Merkel is "an eloquent voice for human rights and dignity around the world," President says...

President Obama's Toast, State Dinner In Honor Of Chancellor Angela Merkel

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama posed for a formal portrait inside the White House with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her husband Dr. Joachim Sauer, after the 6:00 PM arrival ceremony on the North Portico. The photograph was taken at the base of the Grand Staircase. AP photo.

Booksellers Guest Arrivals For State Dinner In Honor Of German Chancellor Angela Merkel

Guests arriving for dinner in The Booksellers chat briefly with reporters before heading to the Rose Garden...

President and First Lady welcome Chancellor Merkel back to the White House for the State Dinner; "You look lovely tonight..."

Mrs. Obama chooses her important gowns at the last minute, an East Wing aide says...

The White House chefs did staging for part of the dinner service for the State Dinner outdoors, in an area below the North Portico, where reporters gather before being escorted to White House events. A hotbox containing the evening's dessert, Apple Strudel, was positioned outside the doors to the Palm Room, which leads to the Rose Garden, where the State Dinner was held. Above, Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses exits the Palm Room as members of the German media await an escort. The full dinner menu is here. The Guest List is here.

Guest List: President Obama's State Dinner In Honor of German Chancellor Angela Merkel

More than 200 guests, including Cabinet Secretaries and lawmakers, but no Hollywood stars, no Nobel laureates...

President & First Lady's four-course "A Spring Harvest Dinner" celebrates the White House Kitchen Garden and Beehive; regional foods from six different states; and German Strudel...

Transcript & Video: First Lady's Remarks At State Dinner Press Preview

The State Dinner for Chancellor Angela Merkel will be held in the Rose Garden. In the morning, immediately following the formal Arrival Ceremony, White House staff were busy building the pavilion as President Obama and Chancellor Merkel strolled to the Oval Office for the first of two bilateral meetings. (Above: Speakers and a lighting rig being constructed)

Oval Office Stroll

President Obama and Chancellor Merkel walk to the Oval Office following the formal morning Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn. The black boxes at left in the photo are speakers for tonight's State Dinner, which takes place in the Rose Garden.

Transcript: Remarks By President Obama & Chancellor Merkel, Official Arrival Ceremony

"Our alliance, at its core, is a partnership between our peoples..."

President Obama listens as German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks at the morning Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn.

"Mr. President, dear Barack, in Berlin in 2008, you spoke to more than 200,000 people," Merkel said. "And in your address, you said America has no better partner than Europe. And now it’s my turn to say Europe and Germany have no better partner than America."

The First Lady At The Arrival Ceremony

Above, First Lady Michelle Obama greets special guests at Tuesday's Arrival Ceremony for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who today is making an Offiicial Visit to President Obama. Mrs. Obama's dress was designed by Diane Von Furstenberg, an East Wing aide told Obama Foodorama.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden are in the background.

President Obama places his hand over his heart as the US National Anthem is played during this morning's formal Arrival Ceremony for German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Morning Arrival Ceremony: President Obama and Chancellor Merkel greet White House guests gathered behind the ropeline, after the President escorted the Chancellor across the South Lawn to review the troops.

Morning Arrival Ceremony Troop Review

President Obama escorts German Chancellor Angela Merkel across the South Lawn to review the gathered troops during the official Morning Arrival Ceremony. *ObFo photo

White House guests watch as the Fife and Drum Corps parade on the South Lawn during the formal Arrival Ceremony for Chancellor Angela Merkel...The White House estimated a crowd of about 4,700 visitors.

Members of the Color Guard on the South Lawn during the Arrival Ceremony for Chancellor Merkel...

Framed by colorful standards carried by the Honor Guard, President and Mrs. Obama await the arrival of German Chancellor Angela Merkel at this morning's formal Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn, which begins Merkel's Official Visit. It culminates tonight in a State Dinner.

Official Arrival Ceremony For Chancellor Merkel

Program & Souvenir Ticket for President's Arrival Ceremony for Chancellor Merkel

Monday, June 06, 2011

Obama Wines & Dines Merkel At DC's "1789"

Ahead of Tuesday's Official Visit and State Dinner, a private dinner of local, organic delights at Georgetown's 1789 Restaurant...

President Obama's Schedule, June 7, 2011: Chancellor Merkel's Official Visit & State Dinner

President, First Lady host State Dinner in the Rose Garden...

State Dinner For Chancellor Merkel: First Lady Will Unveil Details At Educational Event

Tuesday: Mrs. Obama has rarely hosted media previews for high-profile White House dinners; the one for German Chancellor's Official Visit to President Obama will be special...

A photo of President Obama enjoying a lunch of hot dogs and chili on Friday at Rudy’s Hot Dog in Toledo, Ohio, is today's Photo of the Day on the White House blog. The President's luncheon outing, where he was accompanied by Toledo Mayor Michael Bell and other elected officials, is causing a bit of hysteria in some media outlets, after months of hysteria over Obama dining proclivities.

At "Fast Company" event, the assistant chef & policy advisor will discuss the role of private corporations in ending childhood obesity...

First Lady will attend $25,000/plate breakfast in California that "celebrates the ideals" of the Let's Move! campaign...

Sam Kass, Behind The Scenes On "Today" Show

Major League Dreams: Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass appeared live on the Today show last week to discuss USDA's new MyPlate food icon and demonstrate a recipe that works with the new campaign. He did a behind-the-scenes interview while in New York, and chatted about his own favorite foods, his fitness regime, and cooking for the First Family. Asked what he'd be doing if he wasn't working at the White House, Kass didn't hesitate.

"I'd be a Major League Baseball player," Kass said. For the White Sox, he added.

The Sox happen to be President Obama's favorite team, too. The Let's Move! campaign now has big support from MLB, which has set up a series of programs and created a series of PSAs for the campaign...so Kass sill has a little something to do with baseball.

Sunday, June 05, 2011

Video: Sam Kass On "Wall Street Journal Report"

Named to Fast Company's list of 100 Most Creative People in Business, the Senior Policy Advisor discusses the important role of the private sector in combating childhood obesity...

First Lady Hosts "Three Sisters" Spring Planting And Harvest In White House Kitchen Garden

Blessings & a bevy of firsts as American Indian guests join First Lady, continuing the Administration's spotlight on the Tribal Nations...

Video: Three Sisters Planting & Spring 2011 Harvest In White House Kitchen Garden

The First Lady & American Indian gardeners in action...

Some Men Bring Home Flowers For Their Wives...

President brings home gardening gloves for First Lady...

Minutes after he landed in Marine One at the White House on Friday afternoon, President Obama met briefly with the group of American Indian guests who had joined First Lady Michelle Obama in the Kitchen Garden for the Three Sisters Spring Harvest and Planting.

First Lady Michelle Obama hosted a Spring Harvest and special planting of her Kitchen Garden on Friday in the late afternoon. Mrs. Obama was joined by American Indian children from tribes across the US for the event, which was in honor of last week's launch of Let's Move In Indian Country. Above: Microphones from the big pod of media that were present are visible as Mrs. Obama, the kids, and Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass plant squash, corn and beans with a traditional Native American growing technique.

Transcript: First Lady's Remarks At Kitchen Garden Harvest & "Three Sisters" Planting

MyPlate can be used as a "framework" to create meals from any culture or ethnic tradition, Kass says during appearance on Good Morning America; Recipes for Seared Tilapia; Fried Rice; and Carrots & Broccoli...

Video & recipe: New food icon is a "framework," Kass says; White House Turkey Lasagna is an "interpretation"...

First Lady Will Make Official Visit To South Africa And Botswana

Second solo international trip; focus is on youth engagement...

The "MyPlate Style Guide" has detailed restrictions on use of the Obama Administration symbol for healthy eating...

First Lady Unveils USDA's MyPlate Campaign

"MyPlate is simple enough for kids to learn and use the rest of their lives," First Lady says...and that includes Sasha and Malia Obama...

Transcript: Remarks By First Lady Michelle Obama At Launch of MyPlate Food Icon

"As a mom, I can already tell you how much this is going to help parents..."

New MyPlate Food Icon: The Video

"In the months and years ahead, we hope that MyPlate becomes your plate," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says in this new USDA video to promote the food icon that was unveiled today to replace MyPyramid. Visit Www.Choosemyplate.gov for more information.

The New USDA Food Icon: "MyPlate"

Unveiled Thursday morning in Washington, DC by First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. The new website is www.ChooseMyPlate.gov.