Top Chefs Pushing Obama To Change Country's Approach To Food

[babylonsister]

Top Chefs Pushing Obama To Improve Food Policy

MARY CLARE JALONICK | January 24, 2009 03:37 PM EST | AP


WASHINGTON — Visiting one of his favorite Chicago restaurants in November, Barack Obama was asked by an excited waitress if he wanted the restaurant's special margarita made with the finest ingredients, straight up and shaken at the table.

"You know that's the way I roll," Obama replied jokingly.

Rick Bayless, the chef of that restaurant, Topolobampo, says Obama's comfortable demeanor at the table _ slumped contentedly in his chair, clearly there to enjoy himself _ bodes well for the nation's food policy. While former President George W. Bush rarely visited restaurants and didn't often talk about what he ate, Obama dines out frequently and enjoys exploring different foods.

"He's the kind of diner who wants to taste all sorts of things," Bayless says. "What I'm hoping is that he's going to recognize that we need to do what we can in our country to encourage real food for everyone."

Phrases like "real food" and "farm-to-table" may sound like elitist jargon tossed around at upscale restaurants. But the country's top chefs, several of whom traveled to Washington for Obama's inauguration this week, hope that Obama's flair for good food will encourage people to expand their horizons when it comes to what they eat.

These chefs tout locally grown, environmentally friendly and _ most importantly _ nutritious food. They urge diners, even those who may never be able to afford to eat at their restaurants, to grow their own vegetables, shop at farmer's markets and pay attention to where their food comes from.

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/24/top-chefs-push...

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Important for our economy, too

because fresh ingredients are most likely grown locally. I've got a friend who has an heirloom plant greenhouse (he's been a seed saver for decades) and he grows special herbs and varieties of tomatoes, etc, for upscale restaurants--but you can buy the plants from him as well.

[ThomCat]

8. It would be nice if an appreciation for food leads to good policies

like opposing GMOs, and favoring small local farms in future farm bills instead of megacorps, and favoring truth in labeling initiatives, and improving funding for inspections enforcement of regulations.

Just in the area of food safety and access alone Obama could start a small revolution with good policy. It's long past due.

[Cha]

13. I bet those good restaurants want food without the

GMOs..I know I do as do all my friends and customers.

[yourguide]

2. The havent been to the farmers market in union square in NY

It's as expensive or more so than some local groceries.

[Sanity Claws]

6. That's not my experience.

I shop at the Farmers Markets in NY, including the one at Union Square. The produce is generally less expensive than what the Food Emporium, Dag's or Gristede's in Manhattan charges. For example, most of the stands charge $1 per pound for winter squash. It's more at the grocery stores.

[ThomCat]

9. Are you kidding?

Not if you're only buying fresh produce. Compared to the Whole Foods just a few feet away, I can come away with bags of fresh produce for a fraction of the cost.

It's when you're buying the specialty prepared foods at the farmer's market that the costs go up. Boutique foods are expensive no matter where you buy them.

[givemebackmycountry]

3. "You know that's the way I roll," Obama replied jokingly.

Now THAT, is a President that I can get behind.

It's going to be FUN, the next 4 and hopefully 8 years.

[8 track mind]

7. I think it's gonna be 8

The guy seems very intent on doing what is right for the country. I also get the feeling that failure is not an option for him!

[Raine]

10. I just love him

I'm going to be enjoying the next 8 years so much.

[Cha]

14. Yeah, I can

relate to that

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

4. A good read, and important also.

k&r.

[Olney Blue]

5. Finally, good taste is back in the WH in every way!

[tilsammans]

11. Obama's a man of the world, having lived in diverse places

It's no wonder he wants to sample all kinds of cuisines.

[Cha]

12. Nutritious food actually tastes the very best. Call me

elitist but in my casa..it's always organic farm to table. And I eat slow food as opposed to fast food. I've been doing it so long it doesn't really take that much time in my book. Plan ahead.

My friend and I were discussing Obama and food today on our way to cross country skiiing in the Adironacks(Beautiful Pristine). She said you always saw Obama eating or talking about food(Pie anyone?) We love food.

bush made the comment once that he didn't like "wet food" or vegetables and he certainly looks like it.

Here's Obama reviewing Johnny Cakes and Peach Cobbler in a Chicago Restaurant in 2001.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[trof]

15. I'm working with our town to create 'localvores' right now.

We want to establish a farmers' market and encourage local farmers to grow more food and less turf and other landscaping flora.

[Runcible Spoon]

16. Good, maybe he'll be able to muzzle his Monsanto pick.

[underpants]

17. Nutrition can not be overstated in its role in development and learning

You will not find a single economist who is adamant about the importance of good food on the education structure of a country-already developed or otherwise. Now by "good food" that doesn't necessarily mean the good food my wife and I make/find/provide for our daughter (mostly organic/unprocessed) it may just mean the basic staples that the human body needs.

As an aside-the reason the Dominican baseball players lie about their age is because baseball knows that developing a Dominican player involves several years of simply bringing their nutrition up to speed.

Now

What does nutrition have to do with war/conflicts

I cite none less that Global Security
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/index....
Conflict prevention, mediation, humanitarian intervention and demobilization are among the tools needed to underwrite the success of development assistance programs. Nutrition and education programs, for example, cannot succeed in a nation at war. Billions of dollars of development assistance have been virtually wasted in war-ravaged countries such as Liberia, Somalia, and Sudan.