So much so, that the Hoovers' cook Mary Rattley created a recipe for caramel tomatoes that was a hit with the first family. After being promised Betty would be on camera as well, Ford agreed. In addition, the 39th president and Nobel Peace Prize recipienthad a fondness forsirloin steak, and nuts. In addition to Fords clumsiness, satirists had a lot to dine out on when it came to some of Fords Yogi Berra-esque tongue slips. By the Nixon era, nearly every word and action undertaken by the president was recorded for posterity even the misdeeds that eventually drove the 37thPOTUSout of office. Bush instead. According to Food Timeline, he was known to enjoy both meat and fish but didn't have any particular favorites. Among his specialties was a beef stew made with a tomato-based broth and a pinch of cayenne pepper. If something smelledrotten in the White House, it may not have just been a White Housescandal. Sure, that stop did happen to be at Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream in Columbus, Ohio, but Biden has long been a fan of Jeni's. According to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, the president first started snacking on jelly beans in 1966 to help himself get over his smoking habit. It seems like something that might be made out of worn-out handkerchiefs and Long Johns with holes in the seat. Back in the 1840s, though, a squirrel was a dish fit for a president and for his constituents, too. (Not Millard himself, though, or he would not have qualified for the presidency.) As apple orchards began to pop up across the country, hard cider became a staple and was even used as payment for some workers (via Washington State University). According to Parade, Bush's favorite snack was pork rinds, which he was known to eat often, much to the dismay of his wife Barbara. As a Southerner born and bred, President Jimmy Carter loved his corn bread. James Monroe, the fifth president, was born in Virginia and grew up eating southern food, including spoon bread, a type of cornmeal pudding popular in the American South and which likely has its origins amongst American Indians, according to TasteAtlas. It's a hearty dish that would have certainly been filling for the president. Truman, a Missouri native, was especially fond of one of his home state's products: sorghum, a molasses-like syrup that he would drizzle over cornbread. He also frequently drank whiskey, wine, and port. Bill Clinton did go jogging to get some exercise, but oftentimes his feet would find their way straight to McDonald's. However, we do know that Arthur was remembered for his extravagant taste and liked to host lavish dinner parties at the White House. This president was also known for his bushy sideburns, commonly referred to as mutton chops. Haller may have been good enough to make the haute cuisine necessary for formal occasions, but when you want smoked ribs done right, it's best to stick with a true pit master. Showing 30 distinct works. there's no written record of a sauce by this name prior to the 1950s. Roosevelt was known for his love of the outdoors and hunting, and so may have also enjoyed game meat. James Madison was a small man with big ideas. While he reportedly seriously likes pizza, he reportedly doesn't eat the crust. His wife reportedly loved to cook and likely introduced her presidential husband to a variety of foods throughout his life (via Food Timeline). Gerald Ford. She's not the first one to have combined tomatoes and sugar, though, as Cook's Country Eats Local says there's a similar recipe that dates back to the 1880s. Culinarily, Jackson may have been a man well ahead of his time. They likely enjoyed it in dishes such as corn muffins, stewed corn, and corn fritters. Both were paid scale: $330. While he liked peanuts just fine, they weren't his absolute favorite food. Not one, but two presidents claim to have squirrel as a favorite dish. The 33rd President also enjoyedchocolate cake, chicken and dumplings,custard pie, and fried chicken. estimated it at upwards of 2,300, but Dubya's chef did say of her boss, "He watches his portion control! Precocious boy left alone in a large house stormed by burglars. Unlike his presidential predecessor, Gerald Ford had a favorite food that we can surely all get behind: waffles. These rice cakes are deep-fried and often served with molasses or syrup. The series was shooting a scene at a real charity ball in Denver in 1983 when producers spotted Ford and his wife, Betty, among those in attendance. A poor economy meant steep budget cuts, while at the same the nation's Bicentennial needed to be celebrated in style with lobster and medallions of veal. There's something squirrely going on here. (McKinley being a Buckeye by birth), is made from potatoes and beets. He never really took to formal dining, either, as he'd rather have been eating the foods he grew up on like meatloaf and fried chicken. According to the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, the president enjoyed many other desserts, including apple and sugar cookies, both also made by Mamie. He's said to have preferred it with white gravy, too, as that's the way his mother used to make it. Culinarily, Jackson may have been a man well ahead of his time. A former president has never gone on to become a running mate for a presidential candidate, but Ford thought about it. While the president's favorite flavor was licorice, he celebrated his 1981 inauguration by treating his guests to 3 tons of Jelly Bellies in a patriotic selection of red (cherry), white (coconut), and blue (blueberry) hues. His actual tastes may have run more to something plainer and more savory, though. Jackson also had a fondness for lamb with rosemary, oysters, rabbit, duck, and fine French wines. Ford, a dog lover, adopted a golden retriever the family named Liberty after he had already taken office. Grover Cleveland, the only president to share a name with a current Muppet, was also the only one to serve two non-consecutive terms. Not one, but two presidents claim to have squirrel as a favorite dish. So proud of the recipe was he, though, that he submitted it to "The Original White House Cookbook," published in 1887. This happy little experiment resulted in a nice crusty pudding, and Monroe must have liked it if it stayed on the menu. When tabloids accused Britney Spears of eating squirrels while growing up, the, says they meant to demean her rather than to paint her as an Andrew Zimmern-style adventure eater. So proud of the recipe was he, though, that he submitted it to ", Turtle, like squirrels, is another 19th-century favorite that has fallen out of favor, although for entirely different reasons. The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library describes JFK as a "small eater," but when he did remember to eat, he seems to have been a meat and potatoes man. Haller may have been good enough to make the haute cuisine necessary for formal occasions, but when you want smoked ribs done right, it's best to stick with a true pit master. It seems he may have preferred plain home cooking to fancy chef creations. John Quincy Adams was the sixth president and son of President John Adams. Chester Arthur had the unique distinction of sharing his favorite food with his signature look. According to The Daily Beast, Wilson didn't have many favorite foods but requested chicken salad often. Jefferson is credited with popularizing several now classic dishes in America, including ice cream, macaroni and cheese, and french fries, according to Monticello. From a 1925 account of Roosevelt's presidency called "Released for Publication," we learn that the president was even known to eat an entire chicken in one meal. Madison's other favorites included oysters, vol au vent pastries, and veal fricassee, according to PBS. It seems he may have preferred plain home cooking to fancy chef creations. The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library cites Nesbitt as saying that the president's favorite foods were fish chowder, fruit cake, hot dogs, scrambled eggs, and He also enjoyed roast beef, pickles, and hot cereal. As his chef told the British newspaper The Sun (via. According to Lancaster History, fish, strawberries, and ice cream were all enjoyed by the former president. Ronald Reagan, the 40th president, was well known for his love of jelly beans. Poor James Polk. previous 1 2 next . Our first president was also a fan of fish, mutton, and home-brewed beer, as well as hazelnuts, which he snacked on often. According to his chef, one of his favorite dishes included New England chowder. Rutherford B. Hayes was born in Ohio, and his favorite food was a midwestern meal of cornmeal pancakes, made with cornmeal, flour, milk, eggs, and baking powder. How did he balance such a big family with the stressful job of being president? From cheeseburger pizza to custard pie, these are some of thefavorite meals ofUS presidents. Ford recalled their conversation as superficial. His birth-father handed him $25 and disappeared. GRR Airport Homepage According to ", ," he once claimed, "I could eat corn cakes as fast as two women can make them. The president's wife, Laura, toldABC News that they both missed good Mexican food more than anything else while living at the White House. These Were The U.S. Presidents' Favorite Foods - Mashed According to theU.S. National Archives, fried chicken was one of Harry Truman's favorite foods. He also enjoyed scrambled eggs, fish chowder, hot dogs, and fruitcakes. Hailing from Bah-stan,John F. Kennedy was known tobe inseparable from Bostonian dishes. According to "When the Cheering Stopped," this was one of the few "well-chosen" foods his doctor permitted him when his health issues started to impact his presidency. Although it might sound a little bizarre, squirrel was a relatively common protein in the 1800s. 1, was known for being a generous host at his homeinMount Vernon. Ford recalled their conversation as superficial. His birth-father handed him $25 and disappeared. One account of an evening's entertainment records quite the menu, including roast beef, goose, pork, mutton, cabbage, onions, potatoes, and pickles followed by mince pies, tarts, fruit, nuts, and cheese. Gerald Ford 10 Facts About Gerald Ford | Mental Floss Jefferson loved macaroni and cheese so much that he had a pasta machine at Monticello and had pasta shipped from Europe regularly (via Monticello). Rest well and thanks for the memories! So it's not surprising to learn that much of what he ate came from no more than a few miles from his Massachusetts home. Its rare that former presidents accept acting roles on primetime soaps, even when playing themselves. As he told the. Unlike squirrels, which are still quite prolific, many sea turtles are now so scarce that they fall under the protection of the, . He also enjoyed a dish called hot lobster salad enough to serve it on his 25th wedding anniversary. In one of her letters, she describes it as "such a pudding as would make our grandmothers clap their hands with joy worthy to be embalmed in romance or story." As ahero for many in theRepublican party, President RonaldReagan's economic policieshas been debated for decades. While it's unknown how much he ate such pies as an adult, he claimed that he had never eaten anything as good as his mother's recipe. So does he miss those enchiladas now? 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Rutherford B. Hayes may be better known for what he didn't like than what he did he was no fan of booze, to the point where he was known to have, by serving punch flavored with rum extract instead of real rum. LINK. Squirrel soup is typically made with squirrel meat, potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, and spices like thyme and pepper. Like John Quincy Adams, he often opted for fruit when it came to dessert. as red flannel hash and fanny daddies, but we'll demystify these dishes if you'll just keep scrolling. That same year, Ford married Elizabeth Betty Bloomer, a former dancer and model. For a cute story about one boy's search for his hero's favorite recipe, check out the 1969 children's classic ", The whole "eat local" movement is trendy these days, but back in John Adams' time, being a locavore was pretty much the norm. Franklin Pierce, the 14th president of the United States, was born in New Hampshire and grew up eating the specialties of New England, according to the Miller Center. While this sounds somewhat more palatable than cloth scraps, it's still not really something you'd expect to see come out of The White House kitchens. In her memoir "Secrets of the White House," his housekeeper Elizabeth Jaffray remarks that even after adopting this diet, "somehow he really didn't take off any great amount of weight." From squirrel soup to pork apple pie, here are some of the favorite foods of each U.S. president. Known for his time as a Major General in the War of 1812, Andrew Jackson focused his presidency on serving the common man (via The White House). (Calling a breeder in Minneapolis, the White House photographer and friend of Fords, David Kennerly, told the kennels owner he was acting on behalf of a middle-aged couple that live in a white house with a big yard.) One night, the trainer was absent, and Liberty approached Ford at 3 a.m. to be let out. Teddy Roosevelt wasn't the only president who was a fan of fried chicken. According to the biography ", ," Roosevelt was very fond of fried chicken. While George W. Bush, unlike his predecessor, wasn't known for frequenting fast food chains, he did enjoy homemade (or rather, White House chef-made) versions of what's typically considered junk food, with his favorite being cheeseburger pizza. 0 0. after a stint as Minister to France. ," this was one of the few "well-chosen" foods his doctor permitted him when his health issues started to impact his presidency. Man of letters that he was, Irving, who penned both "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," wrote to his sister to describe the trip. , holds the distinction of being our nation's heftiest POTUS to date. US Presidents - Favorite Foods - White House Chefs - Delish Calfs head soup. He was known to have a sweet tooth and puddings were some of his favorite desserts, as perFood Timeline. In "The Ultimate Pipe Book" author Richard Carleton Hacker stated that, "Former U.S. President Gerald R. Ford is a lifelong pipe smoker. In his diary, he described his orchards as bearing "fruit for the subsistence health and comfort of my descendants." This is likely because McKinley was a relatively private person who didn't share much about his personal life with the public. (, reports that the Trumans had no such compunction.) Take a culinary trip around the world from your kitchen. Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president, was born in New York City in 1858. According toFood Timeline, Clinton loved eating foods that weren't very good for him, but we can't blame him for that. Too bad he and James Buchanan never got to know each other, but as Harding was only two years old when his fellow president passed away at the age of 77, they were fated never to become sauerkraut buddies. Fortunately for everyone elected as president, one major perk of the job is access to a private chef. Bush, developed a taste for Tex-Mex cuisine while living in Texas. Famous chefs, including the easily-irritable Gordon Ramsay, havebeen known to criticize awell-done steak. Atone of his favorite oysterrestaurants he used to frequent, they even have "The Kennedy Booth", a table that was dedicated to him. When he was on his own, though, Washington liked to start his day with something simple: hoecakes, which are a kind of pancake made out of cornmeal. While Jefferson neither invented nor introduced ice cream, he was quite a fan, and at. Truman, a Missouri native, was especially fond of one of his home state's products: , something that may have caused a bit of frustration for Henry Haller, a White House chef who'd come from Switzerland. He was also fond of Jelly Belly jelly beans. He had seven children with his first wife, Letitia, and another seven with his second wife, Julia. In the lead-up to the 1956 election, The President's Kitchen Cabinet tells us that Ike made his stew recipe available to his supporters. He married Frances Folsom in 1886, and the couple had five children together. Before Martin Van Buren was president, he traveled to England accompanied by Washington Irving. ", William McKinley had a favorite dish that really doesn't sound appetizing at all red flannel hash. Cleveland also enjoyed other types of seafood, including oysters and lobsters. Taft was known to start each day with a 12-ounce steak, although eventually he took his doctor's advice and reduced the size of his steaks to 6 ounces. Doing so was more than a necessity for most of our past leaders, given that almost every president had at least one favorite food. James Madison may be the only president who ever had a line of snack cakes named after his wife, but he probably wasn't a huge devotee of sugary junk food, as there wasn't much of it available in the early 19th century. This southern staple often made an appearance throughout Carter's presidency and was even served to important visitors to the White House. So what goes into this not-so-descriptively named dish? Fortunately, Lyndon B. Johnson used that power to instead install abutton that was dedicated to have an aide bring him some Fresca. When you google "Abraham Lincoln" and "cake," you're likely to get a zillion recipes for modernized versions of an almond cake that, . Once his term in office was up, he and his wife traveled down the Mississippi by boat at a time when the South was in the grips of a cholera pandemic. Go figure. How did he balance such a big family with the stressful job of being president? Jimmy Carter: Grits Though he was known for his background True to his frontier background, he was also a man of simple tastes. He wasn't a big eater though and often had to be reminded to eat dinner. Wow, that's one heck of a pudding. Once his term in office was up, he and his wife traveled down the Mississippi by boat at a time when the South was in the grips of a cholera pandemic. ", in 2010, had nothing but nice things to say about the organization's eponym, although he did note that Ford presided over The White House at a rather difficult time. Theodore Roosevelt is still pretty popular, It's fitting, then, that one of the foods he liked best is something nearly everyone still enjoys today. He also likes Hagen-Dazs, so much so that the White House kitchen is typically stocked with its vanilla chocolate chip flavor. A simple mixture of meat, potatoes, and vegetables seemed to do the trick, and these kinds of soups were served often during Filmore's time as president. Ford was born Leslie Lynch King Junior, son to Leslie Lynch King and Dorothy King, on July 14, 1913 in Omaha, Nebraska. We can't blame him for finding this dish so good, as it's still one of the most comforting meals of all time. ", Source: Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee, Food Wine. Turtle, like squirrels, is another 19th-century favorite that has fallen out of favor, although for entirely different reasons. Presidents they're just like us, right? Was eating squirrel on the campaign trail circa 18-something akin to eating a funnel cake at the Iowa State Fair as is de rigueur for 21st-centurypresidential hopefuls? His daughter Amy praised one particular dish that Carter would make for the family, saying, "Daddy makes grits for breakfast, then breaks a couple of eggs into it and adds some cheese, and it's yummy. While we're skeptical of the source, grilled cheese seems like something that even a lousy cook could manage not to screw up too badly. Despite his efforts to stay healthy, several months later Polk would still succumb to the disease (through no fault of the ham, we're sure. spoonbread was born at Ash Lawn-Highland (home to Monroe, not Mason) when a dish of cornmeal mush was baked in the oven. The formula was about 60 percent rye, 3 percent corn and a very meager So, what was Cleveland eating when he occupied/didn't occupy/re-occupied The White House? Take a culinary trip around the world from your kitchen. Every US President's Favorite Food During Their Time in the Oval Office. William Henry Harrison was born in Virginia and served as the ninth president of the United States for only 31 days before he died of pneumonia (via The White House). His favorite dessert is butter pecan ice cream, and also enjoys butterscotch candy and bite-sized snickers bars. Not Harry S. Truman thoughhe was once quoted as saying, "only coyotes and predatory animals eat raw beef.". (Not Millard himself, though, or he would not have qualified for the presidency.) This dish was made with milk, rice, sugar, eggs, and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. In 1925, he spoke with a newspaper called the Daily Evening Item and dished on the first family's favorite foods. Adorned withlettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, pickles and onions, his love for burgers was evenportrayed on an episode of Saturday Night Live. Coolidge was reportedly a big eater in general who wasn't picky about many foods. He won a seat in the House of Representatives in 1948, a post he would occupy for the next 25 years. His wife, too, was, for the nonalcoholic beverage she favored. While Honest Abe purportedly praised it to the skies, what else could he say when trying to seal the marital deal? The intent behind this was to have them serve it up to their neighbors while convincing them to vote for the man who created it. On an episode of "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee," the former president said that he loves nachos so much, he needs someone to take them away from him while he's eating (via CNN). Ford was also a fan of other hearty American foods, including freshly baked bread, spare ribs, burgers, and ice cream. This ice cream is French vanilla in two senses of the term for one thing, it's made with eggs, but for another, the recipe may have come from Jefferson's French butler. Gerald Ford Butter Pecan Ice Cream Jimmy Carter Peanut Butter Pie Ronald Reagan Coconut Macaroons. All that hard work can in fact, make any man or woman hungry. On September 5, 1975, a disciple of Charles Mansons named Lynette Squeaky Fromme pulled out a .45 pistol during Fords visit to Sacramento, California in the hopes of winning Mansons approval. in a patriotic selection of red (cherry), white (coconut), and blue (blueberry) hues. , he would eat this dish accompanied by macaroni to help offset some of its richness. she describes it as "such a pudding as would make our grandmothers clap their hands with joy worthy to be embalmed in romance or story." Jackson was born in South Carolina and grew up eating southern food, including one of his favorites: leather britches. While Johnson was not one of the presidents he cooked for (these would be Ford, Clinton, and Bush the First), he tells, president's favorite in Johnson's hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina. Our first president, George Washington, was known for many things and while he did like cherries, his favorite meal was actually a breakfast of hoecakes and honey, according to the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association. Hoecakes are a type of cornmeal pancake that was popular among many southern states in the 18th century. Gerald Ford 's favorite breakfast food was English muffins, which according to news reports when he became president, he toasted every morning. Learn More > 24/7. They're also human, which means they have to eat. One, fancy-sounding dish he's known to have served as tenderloin with jezebel sauce. For one thing, all but a few of them are dead. Okay, there's no real proof that the cherries or milk he ate right before he died were the culprits, as it hasn't been possible to pinpoint an exact cause of death. So much so, that the Hoovers' cook Mary Rattley created a recipe for caramel tomatoes that was a hit with the first family. 1:26. , he was really into gardening, especially after he left The White House. Case in point: Free squirrel stew handed out at voter ralliesmay have helped William Henry Harrison get elected our ninth president. According to The Triangle News Leader, Hayes often requested this dish from his wife, Lucy. Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum While Honest Abe purportedly praised it to the skies, what else could he say when trying to seal the marital deal? The cookbook says such pies are made from steak and liver, but. that the president ate his curds and whey with pineapple, while presidential aide, to Nixon and his wife Pat goes so far as to commemorate the couple's midday meal preference in a rhyming couplet, "At lunchtime, they are quite easy to please, They just eat fruit and cold cottage cheese. The Politics of Food on the Campaign Trail James Madison may be the only president who ever had a, , but he probably wasn't a huge devotee of sugary junk food, as there wasn't much of it available in the early 19, admits that history has little to say about Madison's favorite foods, but the best guess is that this Virginia native enjoyed, . Sign up for our newsletter and receive the mighty updates! William Howard Taft was born in Ohio in 1857, studied law at Yale, and served as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (via The White House). Believe it or not,he had 15 children that we know of, the youngest born when he was 70 years old. Grover Cleveland was born in New Jersey and later moved to New York, where he became a lawyer (via The White House).