Food Politics

Former White House Chef Disarms Foodie Elites

Photo: Getty Images

That dinner party in Washington, D.C., Sunday night had another save, Diner’s Journal reports: relations between the foodie elite and the White House kitchen. Former White House chef Walter Scheib and Alice Waters made nice after Waters was publicly disappointed about President Barack Obama’s apparent lack of interest in making
a federal case out of sustainable agriculture and organic food. It turns out that the White House kitchen has long been interested in local eating: The Clintons put in a vegetable garden on the roof (enough to feed the First Family, but not cover State dinners), and the president’s pantry is stocked with food from about 40 different local farmers and co-ops. And get this: Laura Bush was a big proponent of organic food. Who knew? We hope that, for Sasha and Malia’s sake, such lofty attitudes about food don’t prevent them from having unhealthy fun. No one wants to be the kid whose mom distributes raisins at slumber parties.

Another Scene From Joan Nathan’s Party [Diner’s Journal/NYT]

Former White House Chef Disarms Foodie Elites