Daily dispatches on the Washington, DC area's food, restaurant and dining scene.
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First Half-Smokes, Now Burgers: Where the Obamas Are Eating
Following the crumbs on the President and First Lady's dining trail.
By
Ann Limpert
Published Wednesday, May 27, 2009
What date night at Citronelle looks like for the President and First Lady. Photograph by Brendan Smialowski/Sipa Press/Newscom.
The Palm and the Capital Grille aren’t going anywhere, but there’s been a shift in the dining landscape ever since the Obamas came to Washington. The President and First Lady have been eating like locals, hitting all sorts of foodie hot spots, from Michel Richard’s extravagant Georgetown dining room to a hidden-away Arlington burger joint. Where will they show up next? To help you guess, we’ve followed their trail of crumbs. If you flip burgers or operate a fry basket, stay on your toes.
Restaurant: Ben’s Chili Bowl. Who: Barack Obama and DC mayor Adrian Fenty. When: The weekend after the Obamas moved here. What it’s like: A U Street landmark that’s been grilling up half-smokes with chili for five decades. What they ate: Chili half-smoke and sweet tea for Obama, cheese fries and water for Fenty. You might also see: Bill Cosby; Hillary Clinton. Now, that’s service: A sign outside the diner used to read: “Who eats free at Ben’s: Bill Cosby. No one else.” It’s now been changed to “Who eats free at Ben’s: Bill Cosby. The Obama Family.” Restaurant: Equinox. Who: Barack and Michelle Obama; her mother, Marian Robinson; presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett; and nine others. When: A couple of days before Michelle’s birthday. What it’s like: “Local” and “seasonal” are the buzzwords at this elegantly subdued dining room near the White House. What they ate: Michelle started with fried oysters while Barack had a mixed green salad. They both ordered the beef strip loin—hers medium rare, his medium well. You might also see: Rahm Emanuel; Scooter Libby; Sheila Johnson. Since then: Heeding the call of local-eating acolytes, the Obamas have set up a vegetable garden on the South Lawn. Restaurant: Art and Soul. Who: Michelle Obama, Marian Robinson, White House social secretary Desirée Rogers, and seven others. When: Before a spring Kennedy Center gala. What it’s like: Chicago chef Art Smith, who used to cook for Oprah Winfrey, runs this mod-Southern restaurant on Capitol Hill. What they ate: The group shared salmon-and-caviar hoe cakes, hoe cakes with pulled pork and coleslaw, and an array of fried seafood. Obama had the crispy whole trout with rhubarb vinaigrette. You might also see: Oprah; Tom Brokaw;“Dr. Phil” McGraw; Nancy Pelosi. Trend alert?: A couple of months earlier, Obama joined Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton at B. Smith’s, another upscale Southern spot near the Capitol. Restaurant: Ray’s Hell-Burger. Who: Barack Obama and Joe Biden. When: A weekday lunch. What it’s like: Michael Landrum’s strip-mall burger shop in Arlington is a foodie favorite. What they ate: Obama went for a cheddar burger with lettuce, tomato, and Dijon mustard; Biden had a patty topped with Swiss, jalapeños, and ketchup plus a root beer. They shared an order of cheese-and-potato puffs. You might also see: Anthony Bourdain; a local chef or sommelier. In the tip jar: Obama left a $5 gratuity for his $7.95 burger. Sounds generous, but it apparently also covered the burgers he bought for members of the press. Restaurant: Citronelle. Who: Barack and Michelle Obama. When: Saturday date night. What it’s like: Michel Richard’s ultra-expensive French restaurant is one of DC’s best. What they ate: A round of martinis, then a tuna-niçoise napoleon and soft-shell-crab tempura to start. She asked for an off-the-menu lobster burger, and he had the 72-hour braised short ribs. For dessert, they shared a napoleon but ate only the cream filling. You might also see: Tom Daschle; Nancy Pelosi. Quickie review: On the way out, Michelle kissed owner Michel Richard on the cheek and told him—in French—how much she enjoyed her meal. Restaurant: Georgia Brown’s. Who: Michelle Obama, Jill Biden, and Adrian and Michelle Fenty. When: A weekday lunch in late January. What it’s like: Stick-to-your-ribs Southern fare in a starched-tablecloth setting. What they ate: Obama dug into fried green tomatoes, fried catfish, and peach cobbler. Biden picked at a chicken wedge salad. You might also see: Joe Biden; Donovan McNabb. Eh, what’s another security sweep?: The restaurant is used to Secret Service: Arkansas boy Bill Clinton ate there, too. Restaurant: Good Stuff Eatery. Who: Michelle Obama and about 20 staffers. When: Friday lunch. What it’s like: The Hill crowd lines up for Top Chef alum Spike Mendelsohn’s creative burgers. What she ate: Obama and her staff sampled a standard cheeseburger, a bacon-cheddar burger with onion rings, and yes, the bacon-and-blue-cheese-topped Prez Obama burger. The group got fries and toasted-marshmallow milkshakes to go with everything. You might also see: Top Chef contestants; Rachael Ray; LeBron James; Nancy Pelosi. A pattern?: Michelle also took her staff out for a low-profile meal of burgers at the Dupont branch of Five Guys. Sasha and Malia Obama have been spotted at the Georgetown location.
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Comments
I think I saw Marian Robinson at Sweet Georgia Brown’s tonite...Saturday Nov. 28th....can anyone confirm that she was there? Didn’t see any Secret Service though, does she always have secret service
Bernie
Posted by: Bernice Dunn, Nov 28, 2009 07:39:19 PM
So much more fun than hearing that the bushes hid in the White House and went to sleep at niune.
Posted by: grf67, Jun 08, 2009 02:39:47 PM
Jill Biden is 12 years older than Michelle Obama....and those 12 years are tough ones on all parts of your body. Both women look fantastic for their age
Posted by: Lynn, Jun 06, 2009 01:17:14 PM
Toasted marshmallow milkshakes? Brilliant.
Posted by: Richard, Jun 06, 2009 08:33:22 AM
"And Mrs. Biden "picks at a chicken wedge salad"? No wonder she’s beginning to look like a "Lady Who Lunches". She needs to join Michelle in the fitness room, not just not eat and waste away." Jeri
Seriously could we stop it with the "Michelle is absolutely perfect and everyone must be just like her". She is no doubt a fine lady with great talent who looks great and likes a certain type of food. Mrs. Biden has her own talent, taste and beauty. Maybe she has arthritis and can’t exercise as much? Maybe she has stomach problems and can’t have big meals? Maybe she doesn’t like the gym at her age? Oh, and scientifically speaking, a low calorie diet pretty much guarantees better aging and a longer life by 20%. Exercise has its own benefits.... etc.
To each their own!
Posted by: Anon, Jun 05, 2009 01:45:13 PM
For those who say they don’t want the president to act like "one of the people", wasn’t Bush’s legacy that he was someone people would like to have a beer with? And the president doesn’t hold up business in any restaurant he’s been to any more than anyone else. He comes in, orders, and leaves, or sits down, eats, and leaves. If you don’t think the restaurant doesn’t appreciate his presence, either sit in or take out, you’re wrong.
And Mrs. Biden "picks at a chicken wedge salad"? No wonder she’s beginning to look like a "Lady Who Lunches". She needs to join Michelle in the fitness room, not just not eat and waste away.
Posted by: Jeri, Jun 05, 2009 11:28:28 AM
wkt1969 says "And to those of you waiting to catch a glimpse of the Pres. as they enter a restaurant...get a life."
... Like you have a life wasting your time posting on a food Blog...
Posted by: boboyaya, Jun 05, 2009 11:14:36 AM
Why wouldn’t you want your Prez acting like "one of the people"???
That’s exactly what I DO want. The impositon of the security measures taken may well be troublesome---but aren’t public servants entitled to get a cheeseburger when they want one?
Of the people, by the people... to me that means WITH the people...
Posted by: ser, Jun 05, 2009 10:22:10 AM
I’m not getting any response from the Post, so I hope you can help me. Where can I get hot chocolate comparable to that at the late Brasserie Les Halles? Also, what was the $19./glass Sancerre on the also late Le Paradou’s wine list?
Many thanks.
Posted by: Thomas P. Genis, Jun 04, 2009 11:50:01 AM
How terrific! At last, a President who acts as though he lives in Washington!
The First Couple is great; they act like real people.
Posted by: Dave Roberts, Jun 03, 2009 05:46:33 PM
Who really cares? They disrupt traffic and that annoys me.
Posted by: Cali Girl, Jun 03, 2009 07:52:05 AM
I don’t want my Pres. acting like "one of the people". And I don’t want them causing lines at everyday eateries where people who need to get lunch quick have to wait because the Pres. and VP want a burger. And to those of you waiting to catch a glimpse of the Pres. as they enter a restaurant...get a life.
Posted by: wkt1969, Jun 03, 2009 07:23:00 AM
Let’s not forget Five Guys - twice. Anyplace else been repeated yet? First Arlington then late last week down by Nats’ Stadium - Cheeseburger and fries, the burger with mustard, onions and mmmm jalapenos. He paid for the NBC crew too.
Posted by: ICanHasBroccoli, Jun 03, 2009 06:51:17 AM
What about Bistro Bis!!!!!?????????
Posted by: George, May 27, 2009 04:03:03 PM
I guess now we know who orders the chicken salad at Georgia Browns.
That’s like getting the spaghetti at a Chinese place. WTF Biden?
Posted by: monkeyrotica, May 27, 2009 02:51:07 PM
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