The first President to live (and serve food) in the White House, he preferred simple fare like codfish cakes and potatoes. Guests enjoyed hearty New England dishes such as cornmeal pudding and turtle soup.
William Taft
A man with an appetite, Taft loved steak, which he was known to have for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Another favorite was roasted opossum: At one Thanksgiving, he served a 26-pounder alongside the turkey.
Warren Harding
He was hardly a gourmand, it appears. When it came to his own dining habits, the Ohio native favored the most American of meals: hot dogs and beer. Sadly, the book does not delve into the controversial question of whether he put ketchup on his wiener.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
He often researched the preferences of White House guests in order to honor them. Terrapin soup was one of his favorites, so when he served it to Wendell Wilkie—whom he had defeated in the 1940 election—it was seen as sincere flattery.
Dwight Eisenhower
What did Ike like? Chinese food, it seems. He often ate at DC’s Sun Chop Suey Restaurant, where he ordered egg rolls, chicken chow mein, fried rice, and egg foo yong.
This article appears in the February 2023 issue of Washingtonian.
Keely recently graduated with her master’s in journalism from American University and has reported on local DC, national politics, and business. She has previously written for The Capitol Forum.
Opossum for Thanksgiving? A Look at Presidential Food Quirks.
A new book, “Dinner With the President,” digs into POTUS eating habits.
Dinner With the President, a new book by Alex Prud’homme, digs into the favorite dishes of our commanders in chief, both to eat and to serve in the White House. A few morsels:
John Adams
The first President to live (and serve food) in the White House, he preferred simple fare like codfish cakes and potatoes. Guests enjoyed hearty New England dishes such as cornmeal pudding and turtle soup.
William Taft
A man with an appetite, Taft loved steak, which he was known to have for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Another favorite was roasted opossum: At one Thanksgiving, he served a 26-pounder alongside the turkey.
Warren Harding
He was hardly a gourmand, it appears. When it came to his own dining habits, the Ohio native favored the most American of meals: hot dogs and beer. Sadly, the book does not delve into the controversial question of whether he put ketchup on his wiener.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
He often researched the preferences of White House guests in order to honor them. Terrapin soup was one of his favorites, so when he served it to Wendell Wilkie—whom he had defeated in the 1940 election—it was seen as sincere flattery.
Dwight Eisenhower
What did Ike like? Chinese food, it seems. He often ate at DC’s Sun Chop Suey Restaurant, where he ordered egg rolls, chicken chow mein, fried rice, and egg foo yong.
This article appears in the February 2023 issue of Washingtonian.
Keely recently graduated with her master’s in journalism from American University and has reported on local DC, national politics, and business. She has previously written for The Capitol Forum.
Most Popular in Food
30 Best Burgers to Bite Into in the DC Area
14 Hot New Dining Spots to Check Out During DC Summer Restaurant Week
Your Guide to Eating and Drinking Inside Nationals Park
The Ultimate Guide to Burgers in the DC Area
What DC’s Top Dining Spots Are Doing for Summer Restaurant Week
Washingtonian Magazine
August Issue: Best Burgers
View IssueSubscribe
Follow Us on Social
Follow Us on Social
Related
This Quirky DC Map Isn’t Like Any You’ve Ever Seen
How Howard University Is Helping Tech Understand Black Speech
Need to Know What Time It Is? 6 Places to Find a Sundial Around DC.
How Would a New DC Stadium Compare to the Last One?
More from Food
Nigerian Fast-Casual Spot is Opening Its First US Location Downtown
What DC’s Top Dining Spots Are Doing for Summer Restaurant Week
14 Hot New Dining Spots to Check Out During DC Summer Restaurant Week
A Latin-Inspired Cocktail Bar Brings Bottle Service and DJ Sets to 14th Street.
At a Coffee Rave, Your Latte Comes With a Side of EDM
How a DC TikTok Star Surpassed 1,000 Michelin Meals
The Ultimate Guide to Burgers in the DC Area
30 Best Burgers to Bite Into in the DC Area