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Archive for category First family

A Genuine First Lady

Jul 9

Posted by admin in First family, Michelle Obama, dining out

Once again, it’s so nice to hear about the human side of our First Lady, Michelle Obama. During the family’s current overseas trip (The G-8 Summit in Italy), she acted in a fashion so many of us shy away from. Her wonderful meal at Maccheroni was just too much to finish but too delicious to leave. She asked for a Doggy Bag. YES.

Why are people intimidated to ask for a doggy bag when dining out, especially at a fine restaurant? (See the link for the online discussion on this topic). Do not let restaurants intimidate. It is perfectly fine to enjoy the contents later, at home!

Maybe now we have a new placeholder: If the First Lady can ask for her pastapiatto in a suitable container, we can follow that strategy and bag it up. Why should we abandon a perfectly fabulous dish because we can’t finish it now?

Wrap it up. We’ll have it later.

Once again, we can identify with the human side of the First Family, the First Lady.

Thank you.

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Hard to Resist the Human Adventure

Jun 1

Posted by admin in Administration, First family, Michelle Obama, President Obama, dining out, health

Two days have passed, and I’m still thinking about the reality of the current Administration. I promised her a trip to New York and the theatre after the whole election process was over. That was the way President Obama explained their night out in New York City. 

My take: No explanation needed. You two have given the Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers image a heightened perspective. After all you are the President and the First Lady and when you waltz into a room or glide into a theatre, the literal swoon takes over.

The approach and philosophy are such human qualities. It’s so wonderful. As noted before it is terrific to have an Administration that’s in touch. That has a life.

Sure we don’t jet off to New York in Air Force One or its cousin smaller plane and then take the helicopter into the city for dinner and a play. We aren’t the First Family. What do you want them to do, take the $25 bus from DC to New York and miss the play?

Time is too critical; there are too many matters that need desk time before the promise gets fulfilled. Let’s not forget security. It is the elephant in the room at every juncture. It’s in place for a reason. Transport them in the safest way possible. 

Anyway the transportation accouterments come with the office; better to use them than to take the plane for a flyover publicity stunt. Oh, that genius of a marketing person is history!

The homage to Dan Barber is well deserved. He is the New York king of local product and leader of the East Coast freshness movement with his New York restaurant Blue Hill and his upstate dining experience, Blue Hill at Stone Barns, a restaurant and a working farm (The Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture): Perfect Symbiosis. 

The First Family has very carefully chosen their dining out evenings. The fact that they have date night just enhances their human quality appeal. The streets of New York were lined with the gawkers. Why not? Gawk away; it is a privilege to see them out and about. The New York Times photo shows the excitement.31obama.650

The Fairy Tale continues.

That’s great news for everyone.

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It's Not a Bad Word Anymore

May 22

Posted by admin in Administration, First family, dining out, news

37605I know the last Administration thought if you said “French’s” mustard, you were somehow supporting the French!

Those days are long gone. It was a tough 8 years, and now we are friends with everyone. Well, almost everyone.

Yet, we do have a little problem: Grey Poupon. Please, President Obama, you know how I elated I am about you as President and continue to glow with your many improvements and changes, but seriously, just ask for mustard and take what you get. No need for name calling, especially what some consider high-end calling.

Remember the beer debacle during the long election process, well, this is its cousin. Those who are not as accustomed as you and Michelle are to dining out, may consider this branding a sign of elitism. I call it “mustard.” You can, too. What you serve in the White House Mess will be what you want and you can ask for whatever–your secret is safe. No one will tell.

When dining out, the world is watching. It’s a good watch to see that you are out and about. Keep on dining out. Forget the state dinners; that’s not where the action is. It’s the restaurant scene: Dining Out by the President and the First Lady shows the country that you are in touch. That you are human and enjoy many of the same activities as your constituents.  

Keep up the good work.

Celebrate life with an all-American favorite.

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A True Victory Garden

Mar 20

Posted by admin in First family, gardening

whitehousegardenEvery foodie with a computer has been encouraging the Obamas to take the lead in locavore headlines and pick up a shovel. Today, the official first day of Spring, the wish has become a reality. With the help of White House chefs and a legion of followers, the new First Garden will be dug.

Not since Eleanor Roosevelt have we had such a proactive first female head of the country. Michelle Obama knows what she wants for her family and has a national forum to share her ideas. The so-called “kitchen garden,” which will be on the South Side of the White House, will be an 8-foot garden plot with 55 kinds of vegetables, but there’ll be no beets. She said as the President does not like his beets–hope this doesn’t turn out to grab attention like the no broccoli administration!

The 1,100 square-foot organic garden will be a model for the nation that in  these times, planting a garden is a good project. Eating local, First Lady Michelle Obama believes, is critical to the concept and not that difficult. Nothing will be more local than hopping out past the new swing set into the garden to pick the bounty of the season.

Shovels ready. The time is now.

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The White House Rocks

Mar 20

Posted by admin in Administration, First family, Michelle Obama

First Lady Michelle Obama is like a magician who appears out of nowhere and electrifies the room. She’s everywhere with her smile encouraging everyone in the city. Washington, DC, as a city, needs the boost, and certainly as a nation we need her vibrancy. Yesterday she demonstrated her understanding of “how tough things can be” by visiting Anacostia High School, a school that often makes negative headlines, and sharing her beginnings with a small hand-picked group of juniors and seniors.

Her message was clear: You can succeed. To drive her point even further, she, in celebration of National Women’s History Month, enlisted other famous woman to go out into the communities and help young people understand that success can be reached. With the likes of Alicia Keys, Sheryl Crow, and Alfre Woodward and a host of other successful women, the message emanated from the White House to the schools. Accomplished women showing other young women that their future does not have to be bleak, that they can overcome obstacles.

The women traveled to 11 nearby schools to show that The White House is not just a building in a history book, but that it is nearby and is a place with a strong message: success can be achieved. Students were chosen for their athletic and academic achievements and included young men and women who had the opportunity to meet headliners and sit with them and ask questions.

The day concluded with a special dinner for 110 young women who shared dinner with the luminaries who had taken their message around town earlier in the day.

Lots of Firsts in this new Administration.

This First Lady gets it.

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The First Woman

Mar 12

Posted by admin in First family

It’s so much fun to have a First Lady who is out and about town. One who recognizes her communication ability and her popularity. Yes, Michelle Obama is an amazingly strong force. She looks fabulous no matter what she wears and no matter how much spin her wardrobe evokes. She has helped people get a better sense of self. She’s like a walking advertisement for a good, healthy lifestyle.

As parents the Obamas are sending a strong signal of balance–work, family, themselves. It is never easy but somehow they manage to fit in the pieces that provide the glue. Time to exercise, to eat right, to take care of the family needs and still function as vibrant forces –they exude the ability to pull it all together. With her visits to government agencies around town, Michelle, yes, you want to call her by her first name as her smile suggests such inviting warmth, has the city abuzz with anticipation about her next stop.

freshfarmmarket.org

Serving food at a homeless shelter is more than a photo op. It’s a means to communicate good, healthy eating habits while thinking of others. Food is like that–it has a connecting warmth. The article about her interest in helping farmers and doing the White House Locavore Dance helps masses of producers. It’s funny that the accompanying photo of Michelle and the chef overlooks large dessert trays. Somehow, even that shot suggests it is okay to have a sweet once and a while. Anyway the desserts look terrific!

It seems no matter where she travels, which Agency she visits, or what message she is trying to get across, she personifies dignity and comfort.

She fills a void–a bright light in an otherwise dark whirl of information.

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Signed, Sealed and Delivered

Feb 1

Posted by admin in Administration, Biden, Economy, First family, President Obama, food, washington post

Amazing what’s going on. It’s a true lovefest, and no one wants it to end. Here we are at almost week 2 of this new Administration and everything is still darling. We love Him and Her, and don’t forget the two young ladies. Everything is smooth, fun, and seemingly public.

Look, this is the week that was. We learned that you could be yourself if you worked in the White House on weekends. No need to dress up. No coat and tie rule. You’ve come to work, so work. That’s pretty straightforward. Leave your torn jeans at home and come on in.

Washington’s real welcome to the new President came in the form of a snow storm which was followed by an ice storm. Now people here do not drive well normally and when it snows, it’s better to sit it out for a while as the SUV’ers think it’s a breeze, but somehow they wind up on the nightly news as the vehicles that overturned and blocked lanes of traffic –too fast, big guys.

No one likes ice. It’s very hard to drive in and the coating it gave our snow was miserable. Somewhere in the middle of a meeting, a publicly recorded event, the new President interjected how tough Chicago is as no school/snow days are unheard of.  He said Malia even commented that they go out for recess everyday in Chicago, not just when it’s above freezing, Washington style. Welcome to the snow-adverse city with minimal amounts creating cancelled classes and delayed openings. Yes, I believe the new President will be able to figure out how to fix this little issue, too. Two words: snow removal.

It wasn’t the fact that it snowed that was interesting. It was how human the new President was to comment on a life issue, a family matter. Family is clearly important to this new DC resident who speaks of having breakfast with his family prior to a school send-off and the 30-second walk to his office. He is delighted to have this time together. Listen up official Washington: That means dinnertime, too. This man wants dinner with his family. He is not afraid to go back to the office after family time. The message is clearly something that can translate into many lives. Be home. Spend some time together. Make it quality time.

Let’s stop here a minute: there was plenty of other news from the White House this week. We do not need to talk Stimulus, Tarp, bipartisan cooperation, etc. etc. Those weighty matters are with us. It is much healthier to focus on the newness of life in this city. The fact that we again have a pulse.

Michelle Obama was a darling of the media this week, too. Deservedly so. She championed Lilly Ledbetter who was deprived an equal salary so many years ago when she found out it was too late to complain. The new Equal Pay Bill, aptly called the “Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act,” assures workers more time to complain about unequal pay in the workplace. If Michelle Obama continues to champion women’s rights and fairness, this country will thrive even higher.

Yet, there’s always time to go out: To celebrate the city. Why not grab your new friend Jill, the vice-President’s wife, and meet up with Mayor Fenty and his wife for a little lunch at one of my favorite downtown restaurants, Georgia Brown’s. I sure hope she ordered the chicken livers. They are dynamite.

Every restaurant within close proximity of the White House should be keeping its fingers crossed as the two publicly mentioned outings have been to nearby restaurants, easy walks, if that were only possible.  Who’ll be next? You can hear Ten Penh, Bombay Club, and Old Ebbitt Grill shouting, pick me, pick me. Wherever the Obamas, individually or as a family dine, they will make a lot of people happy. Having the first family eat out is good for business, and smiling faces are especially appreciated at this economically gloomy time.

The city’s mood is more upbeat. It’s been a good ride. Let’s hang on. This city somehow feels so much more normal. We have real people in charge with the interest of the country and their values at the forefront. Score another victory for this new President and his family.

Keep on the Normal Track.

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The Sandwich Wars–No Bread Lines

Jan 22

Posted by admin in Economy, First family, food, life

I think it’s time to get back to business. We had a wonderful weekend filled with way more television watching and star-gazing than we normally follow. The Obama family did not disappoint. Now it’s time for us to live up to our promise and focus.

An amazing story today that one size does not fit all. I’m not talking clothing, but food. Potbelly, the popular sandwich chain, has upended itself. I always wondered how they did those reasonable one-price sandwiches. I guess they wondered, too. Now the prices will go up a bit for some, and for the lighter fare with less bread, the price will come down. A little confusing, but all in the hopes of continuing to be a sandwich maker. The competition is pretty stiff out there with Subway packing ‘em in in some locations with the limited time $5 promotion that seems to be without an end.

Everyone is looking for a way to save some money or to keep customers. Sandwich shops are competing with family refrigerators as individuals believe they can make it cheaper at home and bring lunch to work. As long as they are disciplined grocery shoppers, that concept will probably work.

Taking it up a notch to a sit-down restaurant, times are just plain tough. Those who remained static and did not make adjustments are now faced with the severity of declining tabs. People want more for less. In some cases, that means a big CLOSED sign across the glass. Some have closed without warning and passerbyers only learn of the change when they see the auctioneer selling off the last set of chairs. This has become a more common image.

Only the well-priced, value places will thrive. There is hope in Washington that with the new Administration and the individual interest in restaurants that many dining establishments will get the coveted visit from the first family. As long as they don’t choose an early favorite, lots of restaurants can take advantage of the buzz. The flip side is that long nights working at the White House often translates into Domino’s.

The hearty will survive.

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