Inside the White House Kitchen
Monday, February 23, 2009 at 3:32 PM 
White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian
Before dazzling us at the Governors' Dinner last evening, Mrs. O welcomed a group of students from L'Academie de Cuisine to the White House kitchen to preview the menu. Mrs. Obama said one of her goals with this event was to "showcase some of this talent" working in the White House kitchen. As Lynn Sweet reported for the Chicago Sun Times, Mrs. Obama also revealed a few of the First Family's dining secrets:
- "The president loves scallops," according to First Lady Michelle Obama.
- The White House Huckleberry Cobbler is "one of the First Family's favorites."
- Mrs. Obama is fond of a White House soup that "tastes creamy without being creamy, because that is something that we work on, 'how do we keep the calories down but keep the flavors up."'
According to the White House blog, Mrs. O went on to speak of the value of fresh, local foods:
"When you grow something yourself and it's close and it's local, oftentimes it tastes really good," Mrs. Obama said. "And when you're dealing with kids, for example, you want to get them to try that carrot. Well, if it tastes like a real carrot and it's really sweet, they're going to think that it's a piece of candy. So my kids are more inclined to try different vegetables if they're fresh and local and delicious."
On a style note, Mrs. O's cocktail length cobalt blue gem from Jason Wu’s Spring 2009 collection was just an appetizer for the fashion to come - but a great appetizer at that. Similar to the Jason Wu design that Mrs. O wore for an interview with Barbara Walters in late 2008, the raw silk dress was dotted with hand-embroidered knots. For additional photos, the Huffington Post has a great slideshow. A CSPAN video of the White House kitchen event follows after the jump.
Reader Comments (28)
So interesting to see what they are eating. Already they are one of the healthiest families to enter the White House so Im glad to see they plan on maintaining their healthy lifestyle. I remember hearing about the food favorites of past Presidents and they were things like hot dogs and hamburgers...nice to see Obama likes something more flavorful and healthy. Also, its great to see Mrs. O supporting and talking about local foods! I love getting my produce from the farmers market because its so fresh and delicious tasting. If people only knew how amazing fresh steamed broccoli was or how tasty some sauteed leaks can be then they would put down the McDonalds and get healthy.
The lady looks beautiful in blue!
One of my favorite lunches of all time was in the garden of my friend's father. Green beans and tomatoes right off the vine. Mmm, mmm good!
I love it that Mrs.O is taking the public and cameras into the WH kitchen like this. It's so nice for all the people working there to get some attention and recognition.
I've seen small snippets on the WH kitchen from other administrations, but taking the cameras in for the first dinner like this is interesting and I hope the start of more views of this spectacular and historic home.
She seems to be taking the "people's house" concept to action and heart.
Go FLOTUS!
This is off-topic/not fashion related.
But I thought it would be interesting to share this new poll conducted by the New York Time/CBS, measuring Mrs. O's popularity with Americans.
They found that Mrs. O is viewed more positively than any other First Lady during the last 30 years were viewed at the beginning of their husband's term. Her ratings are 49% positive, 5% negative and 44% don't yet have an opinion.
As we no doubt we all remember, Mrs. O was the target of some pretty vicious smears in the past. It is very encouraging to see how completely unsuccessful those untruths were!
Thanks for sharing Jenna...
It is indeed gratifying to hear...This first family has truly been most refreshing and fun to follow...
What a welcome change to see the White House really being opened up and used as an educational resource. I am so proud of our First Family and our country!
Mrs T.-
Your video embed is 9 minutes long.
Here is a link to the full 25 minute kitchen video for those that wish to see more of it:
http://cspan.org/Watch/watch.aspx?MediaId=HP-A-15719
I was so charmed by Mrs O's warmth and ease w/ the students - she did her best to make everyone feel comfortable and welcomed.
Her manners are impeccable.
She seem so genuinely kind, inclusive and sensitive.
And her ensemble for this occasion was smashing.
Mrs O embodies the chicness w/ out pretension – so delightful.
Opps, I thought the byline of this website was "Who she is and what she is wearing"....so sorry about all the off fashion things.
It is nice that the campaign is over and everyone can settle into roles. I'm wondering what the first State of the Union address will bring on the fashion front!?!
allison - your off fashion musings were great - it all adds to the fascinating dialog.
I see this blog as a fabulously interesting cocktail party filled w/ fascinating guests – my fellow posters- and we are all having an amazing conversation.
Much of the time it is about fashion ( most of us are obsessed w/ this topic), but in reality it is also about Mrs O herself, the President, the kids and the excitement, relief and joy of the new era we all share as well.
Start w/ a gown and lets see where the conversation takes us! This is history happening in real time.
@allison: i imagine she'll wear something fairly understated tomorrow night, since the event is meant to put the president's policy agenda for the rest of the year front and center. i imagine another of her beautiful yet simple shift dresses, and a lovely brooch or two.
Is she expected to be there? It's not really a State of the Union address - although it's close.
Anyway, I'm just loving yesterday's Mrs. O goodness. It will be wonderful to have another outfit tomorrow, although I agree, it'll probably be understated.
What RJT said!
What I love about this moment in time is that everything ahead of us is unexpected. This is truly a new era and I hope we make the most of the opportunities for change. That includes all the synergies of politics, government, business, environment, education, family and, yes, fashion.
This article attempts to answer the "State of the Union" debate but I'm still not clear:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/politicaljunkie/2009/02/why_isnt_obamas_speech_to_cong.html
The First Lady does typically attend the State of the Union address, so we'll see! And either way, we can look forward to Wednesday night. The White House is hosting an event in honor of Stevie Wonder.
They are an amazing couple. When I look at them I forget about all the hardship the whole world is going through at the moment. That's a very good thing, they make you feel that at the end of the day everything is going to be OK.
I agree with menukjau. This couple is so giving and uplifting and, corny as it may sound, *together* - I can't get enough of them. Our economy may not bounce back as quick as we'd like but the Obamas certainly soften the blow. There's is the best style one can strive for - it makes others feel good about themselves.
An event on Wed night...
I wonder if this will entail a cocktail frock for Mrs O ?
I would love to see that black Isabel Toledo pants ensemble that she wore to that Vogue event last year, resurface.
@RJT...that pant ensemble was one of the few outfits I didn't think were flattering. It could have been the picture (the one of Mrs. Obama by the door) but imho it looked a little frumpy.
We are great cooks in this house so I was very interested to hear how to make that broccoli soup that tasted creamy without having cream in it (we look like we cook WITH cream!!!).
I'm just loving watching Mrs O being so cool with everyone she meets. She was very funny when she said "Don't be afraid..." and they all laughed! Interested in everyone she meets, always something constructive to say, always such dignity. What a great example.
Oooh, I *loved* that Isabel Toledo outfit. (This one, right? http://lh3.ggpht.com/_nyB2OeEAzKU/SXXt2otLDKI/AAAAAAAAEVs/IEajK4eokYc/s1600-h/Michelle%20Obama%20at%20Vogue-Calvin%20Klein%20World%20Fundraiser%20Wearing%20Isabel%20Toledo%5B3%5D.jpg) That was really when I started paying attention to her clothes--the outfit was just so daring and flattering and awesome, or at least I thought so. (It's a pant ensemble? I thought it was a dress?) (Ha, I just googled news articles about it, and they all refer to it as a "creation" or an "outfit" or something b/c they clearly couldn't tell what it was either. Amazing.) Anyway, I love it.
Mrs.O. will be at tonight's speech and she will have a few guests, ordinary American folks, in her seating area. I look forward to this outfit :-)
I am so thrilled that Mrs. O decided to keep Christeta Comerford as White House Chef. I followed the issue of White House food as it came up around the time of the Inauguration in the major media, including the NYT. The stories started with a high end California restauranteur and cookbook author writing what I thought a most condescending open letter to the Obamas suggesting that they hire her (the famous foodie) to introduce local produce and healthy eating to the White House. I guess it never occurred to this famous foodie that the Obamas already knew and practiced what kind of healthy eating she suggested. The foodie suggested a vistory garden athe White House and I guess it turned there already was one of sorts thanks to the Bushes. Comerford, who had worked her way up the ladder in the White House kitchen already understood everything the famous foodie was trying to tell the Obamas. Maybe it was because Comerford was an unknown in the clubby foodie world that the foodie assumed she was a know-nothing. Maybe it was because the foodie thought that anyone who worked for the Bushes had to be a dummy. Kudos to the Obamas for recognizing talent when and where they see it, for not kow-towing to the elite foodies, and also acknowledging that Mrs. Comerford is a model to other young women as working mother and self made woman (from the Phillipines no less) without fancy culinary education. Every day, I love the Obamas more. And no, I have never met Comerford and I had never heard of her before the stories started to appear.
From Politico dot com:
Michelle's guests revealed
Michelle Obama’s guests at the President’s speech to Congress Tuesday will include Leonard Abess Jr., a Miami banker who paid out $60 million to employees after selling his bank, and Geneva Lawson, one of those employees.
Also in the first family’s box will be Ty’Sheoma Bethea, a South Carolian eighth grader who wrote a letter to Obama and attends middle school in a building Obama cited just weeks ago as part of his case for school construction.
Allison's comments about the popularity of the first lady is extremely interesting and will be fascinating to watch as she continues her outreach over the next 8 years.
I think her fashion choices and followings have had a positive effect on her popularity.
What do you think?
im positively excited to see what Mrs. O will wear tonight for the speech!!!!!
Im guessing she will do Tracy Reese, apparently, (not sure where I read this), she asked the designer to submit some sketches!!!
yipeee, love Ms. Reese!!
Oh I love that purple dress! Very youthful and yet still dignified.
Kristan
http://jbu.phuzzymath.net/
I think she will wear something "demure", because of the serious tone that SOTU speeches tend to take. She will want to project seriousness and focus to the millions and millions of Americans who will be watching. So no prints or bold colors.
I am picturing a fitted navy pantsuit, a nice string of pearls, understated makeup, and a single rebellious brooch on the lapel. And I think she will wear her hair down.
Whitehouse.gov confirms she'll be there, with some special guests. I'm picturing her in grey.