Former White House Chefs Dish Out Advice For Future Obama Pick

During his job interview with Rosalynn Carter in 1979, [Roland] Mesnier recalled the first lady's last question to the nervous job applicant: What will you do for us?

"Oh, madam, I will do a lot of low calories and a lot of fresh fruit with dessert," Mesnier recalled answering. Today, he's convinced his final answer is what landed him the job.

"First and foremost, that person should get to know Mrs. Obama inside and out and should have her complete faith and backing," [Walter] Scheib said.

Indeed, Scheib, who now runs his own catering company, The American Chef, plucks that valuable piece of advice from his own childhood. "If momma's happy, then everybody's happy," he said.

Given Michelle Obama's house rules, Mesnier said he also predicts the Obamas' tendencies could resemble the Carters', where family members were instructed to go change if they showed up for dinner in flip flops and jeans or go without food if they showed up late.

Keep reading.

Or read more about the White House chef or watch the President-elect exhibit his cooking skills.

Comments

[StillAmused]

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Rule #1: No pretzels.

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[Freesia2]

lol

[MovingtoNorway]

And no NA beer. Ick

[jsgaetano]

May advice: don't eat anything left behind in the kitchen, throw out all the kitchenware and utensils, and sterilize everything.

And have the entire White House checked for biohazards- you never know what kind of little "envelopes" ol' "Undisclosed Location" Cheney left lying around.

[gayinmt]

I want eggs benedict. Right now.

[Freesia2]

lol

[Freesia2]

I have a feeling that the Obama's won't be hard to please. On the campaign trail he seemed comfortable eating what was available. Trying to recall the little snippets from the news articles - he seems to like meat a lot. Burgers and big deli sandwiches. He seemed to like Southern food like ribs and greens (the one thing I really miss from the South personally. I miss fresh mustard and turnip greens cooked down with pork. My husband doesn't eat pork so I don't think to make them for myself. And ribs baked over saurkraut. Why am I telling you this? I need some lunch I think. ;-) ) Obviously he likes arugala! He's mentioned liking Michelle's pasta with shrimp so she can teach the chef how she does that. There's the one restaurant they always go to for special occasions like their anniversary. The chef can borrow recipes from their cook. (Some dish he said was a favorite there involved scallops cooked over wood smoke. So he's a seafood fan.)

Overall he seems to like to eat and isn't overly fussy. I'd say a chef will have an easy time with this family. Just make sure there's organic tea on hand and have fun. What a great job.

[jsgaetano]

The dude's lived in Chicago for a long time. You know our menu?

Pizza. Hot dogs. Burgers. Steak.

All stuff which shouldn't be hard to accommodate. Yeah, we eat other stuff too, Chicago has some damn fine restaurants. But that's not stuff people are going to eat every single day.

Honestly tho, Barrak is older than I am, and in far better shape. He might eat even healthier than the list above.

[Mnemanth]

New Chef: You may want to update the menu to include items more substantial than Cocoa Puffs, Grilled Cheese, and Chicken Tenders. We've got an adult in office now.

[Aabby]

LOLOLOLOL

[kellygrrrl]

PIE!!!!!!

[BabsfromKansas]

I LOVE pie!

[NerdGirl]

cake > pie

[Progress08]

I've seen the Obama's walking around in jeans so I doubt they'd be uptight about dinner attire unless maybe they were having company. Obama's favorite restaurant in Chicago is Italian, I'd bet he goes for an Italian trained chef.

[tailgateshirts]

lol id be pissed if i couldnt get dinner because i was late or in jeans. Thats too much!

[Zhonni]

I had many of those growing up. I was pissed until I ate the next meal then I forget everything and do it again.

[Martha12]

Being late is disrespectful and disruptive to your family , the chef and the staff that have to wait on you. All of these people should not be put out because one is late. It as known as simple consideration of others, not to be late. Your family all have things to do, and wait staff have a job to do. If you father is President, then you had better not be late. He has a country to run. If your are immature enough and self centered enough to be late, then obviously the only way to communicate this cannot be tolerated, is for you to go hungry. After all the President is trying to make sure millions of Americans do not starve.

If the family take meals in a formal dinning room, jeans are not appropriate. It shows a lack of respect as well. The staff go to great pains to set and decorate the table, and the chef to prepare a
a dinner according to the setting.

When you get out in the world, looking for employment and you show up late, dressed in jeans, I wish you well finding a job.
When you are out in the world, you will never be received at a fine dinning establishment in jeans.
In fact every roadside diner has at a minimum " no shirt, no shoes, no service" rule.

[psychmaj323]

stop being a hard nose.

[Freesia2]

I feel underdressed.