Heating Up the White House Kitchen

As Inauguration Day approaches, president-elect Obama faces a full plate of problems in what might fairly be called "The White House Mess." I respectfully suggest something more palatable for Mr. and Mrs. Obama to consider: the role of the White House kitchen.

Much has been made of the similarities between the Obamas and the Kennedys -- their youth, their style, and their vigor. Once again it seems the White House could be a place that celebrates the richness of American culture and values, especially our dining culture. Done right, this will promote our economy, health, sustainability and diversity. Here is a short menu of ideas:

To start, the next Presidential chef should also serve as a "culinary impresario" who would regularly invite top American toques into the White House, not just to demonstrate their skills, but also to highlight American ingredients, healthful meals and affordable menu items. Imagine chefs like Lydia Bastianich, Daniel Boulud, David Bouley, David Chang, Tom Colicchio -- and we're only up to the letter C in New York City alone -- preparing state dinners.

Notable restaurateurs (e.g., Danny Meyer, Rich Melman, Ralph Brennan), lifestyle entrepreneurs (Martha Stewart, B. Smith, Sheila Lukins), sustainability experts (Dan Barber, Michael Pollan, Alice Waters) and nutritionists (Marion Nestle, Walter Willett) could also be called on to consult on how American food can be not just delicious, but also healthful, affordable and sustainable.

From what I've read, the Obamas' personal food choices demonstrate that "American food" is a literal melting pot of world cuisines -- it's known that the Obamas' favorite restaurant is Topolobampo, Rick Bayless' Mexican venue in Chicago, and that they like lots of other cuisines. How about an Italian dinner (26% of Americans name it as their favorite cuisine), or Chinese, French Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese meals, to name just a few "American cuisines." Celebrating national holidays also should be part of the program.

At a time when many Americans are overweight, the trim First Family should serve as models of healthy eating balanced with regular exercise. Let's hear about how the Obamas eat as fresh and locally as possible to show that Americans can both eat well and be well.

I'm not asking for a bailout for the agriculture or restaurant industries, even though they employ over 15 million people. I'm simply suggesting that an occasional eat-out, or an eat-in with the whole Obama family, if planned well and publicized wisely, could positively affect the way we all eat. How about starting with a good old-fashioned American Sunday dinner -- with the new First Puppy running around the table?

Tim Zagat is the CEO of Zagat Survey.

Comments

[billyboil]

what exactly is "american food"?
we know about vietnamese, chinese, japanese, turkish, italian, greek, english, french, spanish, mexican...­........bu­t what is american, other than fast an fat?

[mytwosense]

OMG, Mr. Zagat, it's the White House Kitchen, not the freakin' TV Food Network. And if we want to see more "Top Chef," we'll turn to Bravo.

[JaneDevin]

I find it somewhat amusing -- and strange -- that so many in the public seem to feel that political leaders and celebrities owe them something other than a job well done. While a President certainly is a representative of a nation, he is also a human being, entitled to personal likes and dislikes, and he should not be expected to have every hour of his existence for the next four years dictated by the public. Yet, given the number of articles similar to yours, we want to tell the Obama family how to dress, what kind of puppy they should get and from where, how they should communicate with those in their inner circle, and now, what kind of food they should have at their table. And of course -- we want to make sure Obama doesn't sneak off to one of the balconies to have a cigarette because, God forbid, all the kids will then start smoking Marlboros. Kind of the way all they all wanted to fall in their soup when Reagan was in office, or when they all started mangling their words because Bush was incomprehensible.

Really, can we just give our new Prez and his family a break? They seem to have done a good job at staying healthy without a legion of "lifestyle entrepreneurs" and "notable restaurateurs", and that type of self-guided care should offer up a far more valuable lesson to those looking for one.

[cantwin]

Why do we need models? All this celebrity stuff is sickening. You mean we will want to be slim because Michelle is slim?

[SantaFeConservative]

Is there any such thing as a healthy johnnycake?

[quindy]

Poor neighborhoods lack fresh produce, and the people living there are the ones needing it the most. The whole food thing in this country is upside-down, because processed junk is more affordable and available than the fresh grown food. That does not exist anywhere in the world.

[longtalldrink]

Exactly...­there is something wrong with that picture. Do we owe more to the processed food industry than to our own farmers?