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. William McKinley had a favorite dish that really doesn't sound appetizing at all red flannel hash. Ronald Reagan, the 40th president, was well known for his love of jelly beans. ," may have been a favorite dish of Millard Fillmore's due to the fact that it originated in the North of England, as did the Fillmore line. Pot Roast and Red Cabbage Gerald Ford. One, fancy-sounding dish he's known to have served as tenderloin with jezebel sauce. George Washington. 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. So much so, that the Hoovers' cook Mary Rattley created a recipe for caramel tomatoes that was a hit with the first family. 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. 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. 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. 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. Another of Fords favorite escapes is his 147,000-acre ranch, where he raises a herd of 3,500 cattle for market and also sells hunting trips. 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. 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. Back in Chester A. Arthur's day, though, there was nothing this presidential gourmand liked better than a good. 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. 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. Hayes wasn't a big drinker, however, and banned alcohol in the White House during his time there. In an 1866 letter to a friend, he admitted that "many pretenders to refinement despise [sauerkraut]," but said he was glad that "we both delight in the classical dish." While the combo might make some gag, cottage cheese was a staple in many homes in the 1970s, so it probably wasn't the strangest meal of the era (via VICE). President Gerald Ford's favorite food was a savory pot roast and butter pecan ice cream. With more than 100 daily flights and 30+ nonstop routes, you can start your adventure to just about anywhere from GFIA. , he was really into gardening, especially after he left The White House. After being promised Betty would be on camera as well, Ford agreed. While today bitter is better, back when Herbert Hoover occupied the Oval Office, sweet foods were very much en Vogue. As he told the Gerald R. Ford Foundation in 2010, the Johnsons brought a cook known as the Barbecue King all the way from Texas to prepare some of the president's favorite meals. It rates 18 different mentions in. The Gerald R. Ford Library says that pot roast and red cabbage was one of the president's favorites, even if Haller remembers the dish as being pork chops and red cabbage, instead. Still, one thing each of our leaders has had in common is that they've all liked to eat food. His actual tastes may have run more to something plainer and more savory, though. H.R. According to The Daily Beast, cornbread was a staple of the Polk household, even though no one in the family was known for their love of food. One of his favorite dishes was said to be New England fish chowder, although a National Press ClubPresident's Day-themed dinner chose bay scallop chowder to represent the 35th Commander-in-Chief. 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. (Not Millard himself, though, or he would not have qualified for the presidency.) Back came two from the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Mrs. Fords hometown. , however, explains that fannie daddies are actually clam fritters, something that's long been popular in New England (, James Buchanan, our 15th president, came from a Scots-Irish background on both sides, as lovingly detailed by Northern Ireland's, But, one of his favorite foods was something he himself described as an "honest German dish": fermented cabbage, aka sauerkraut. According to ". Lyndon Johnson was a Texas man through and through. Gerald Ford: Waffles with strawberries and sour cream, german apple pancakes, white bread, prime rib, new parsnips, and Garfield pie (made with apples, not the cat). 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. From cheeseburger pizza to custard pie, these are some of thefavorite meals ofUS presidents. From their backgrounds, personalities to their favorite food its something that we can relate to. 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 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. It didn't just end there though the onlyPresident to resign in US history loved to have ketchup with his beloved cottage cheese. Consistency, too, is the hallmark of fast food. 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. Who could be surprised that as a military man, President Dwight D. Eisenhower had a sweet side. He probably didn't eat a great deal of it, though, since at 5' 4 and 100 pounds, he was. Warren G. Harding presided over the nation during Prohibition, so his dinners of state were as booze-free as those of Rutherford B. Hayes. Eventually, the Secret Service was alerted to his absence and let him inside. We can't blame him for finding this dish so good, as it's still one of the most comforting meals of all time. 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. It seems like something that might be made out of worn-out handkerchiefs and Long Johns with holes in the seat. According to Food Timeline, he was known to enjoy both meat and fish but didn't have any particular favorites. The actual dish, however, as described by Ohio's Tribune Chronicle (McKinley being a Buckeye by birth), is made from potatoes and beets. 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. Wow, that's one heck of a pudding. It rates 18 different mentions in his diary,and among Hayes' favorite recipes were ones for cornbread, corn fritters, and corn soup. Many of the dishes on this list may seem strange by today's standards, but keep in mind that people living a century or so ago would likely be horrified by the idea of kale smoothies or chocolate with 0% sugar. As he told the. His wife, too, was known by the sobriquet of Lemonade Lucy for the nonalcoholic beverage she favored. Although John Tyler lived simply, he loved food. ," this was one of the few "well-chosen" foods his doctor permitted him when his health issues started to impact his presidency. Ford, a dog lover, adopted a golden retriever the family named Liberty after he had already taken office. As, at a campaign stop in 2016, "My name is Joe Biden and I love ice cream." The Great American Bagel. He was also fond of Jelly Belly jelly beans. He picked one up and proceeded Haller wasn't the only one to do the cooking, though. Bush, developed a taste for Tex-Mex cuisine while living in Texas. While Johnson was not one of the presidents he cooked for (these would be Ford, Clinton, and Bush the First), he tells Laurel Circlethat he learned to make the 17th president's favorite in Johnson's hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina. This is likely because McKinley was a relatively private person who didn't share much about his personal life with the public. A dinner hosted one year by the Officer's Club on the Marine base at Twentynine Palms, California featured presidential favorites, but the one listed for Franklin Pierce may have raised a few eyebrows: fannie daddies, a dish with a name that sounds like a naughty joke from a Victorian novel. Calas-tous-chauds, which means "hot rice cakes" in Creole, was a favorite of Zachary Taylor. One recipe was for scalloped potatoes; the other was for the coveted Double Chocolate Chip Cookies. According to Food Timeline, President Calvin Coolidge's mother used to make these pies for him. Our first president was also a fan of fish, mutton, and home-brewed beer, as well as hazelnuts, which he snacked on often. Fortunately, Lyndon B. Johnson used that power to instead install abutton that was dedicated to have an aide bring him some Fresca. The most According to The History Chef, it was likely a favorite of Harrison because it was filling and could be made to feed a crowd by adding more water or broth. January 4, 2023. Ling P. Quan, a chef who'd worked in The White House during the Harding administration, stayed on to work for the Coolidges, as well. While "Annie" reminds us that Herbert Hoover wasn't the most popular president, he did love a popular Thanksgiving side dish: sweet potatoes and marshmallows. While George Washington was the metaphorical father of our country, John Tyler was the president who went the farthest towards becoming the literal embodiment of this epithet. But, one of his favorite foods was something he himself described as an "honest German dish": fermented cabbage, aka sauerkraut. 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. It seems he may have preferred plain home cooking to fancy chef creations. Sign up for our newsletter and receive the mighty updates! (My Journal Courier reports that the Trumans had no such compunction.) What Silent Cal liked best was a jelly roll filled with strawberry jam or currant jelly and covered with lemon icing. 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. Washington sold whiskey (made near Mount Vernon), but he probably rarely, if ever, drank it. Fromme was sentenced to life and was released in 2009. The calorie total? He also enjoyed a tomato omelet, or at least the equivalent of that dish as it was made in the mid-1800s. While traveling through Europe, Jefferson developed a taste for fine cuisine and wine, which he then brought back to the States. When Old Hickory was in The White House, his state dinners, according to ", " combined haute cuisine with plainer fare more reflective of his Tennessee roots. According to The White House website, he was both the 22nd and 24th president, with a brief break for Benjamin Harrison at number 23. He is very fond of chili, though, and in an interview with, , neither drinks nor smokes, but he does have one weakness he'll cheerfully admit. While George Washington was the metaphorical father of our country, John Tyler was the president who went the farthest towards becoming the literal embodiment of this epithet. Recipe Circus, however, explains that fannie daddies are actually clam fritters, something that's long been popular in New England (Pierce, as you may or may not recall, was a New Hampshire man, notes The White House). When the Fords were dining en famille, however, they preferred something a bit simpler. clarifies that they were originally made from whatever leftovers were available, thus "resurrecting" the food and giving the pie its name. According to "George Mason: The Founding Father Who Gave Us The Bill Of Rights," spoonbread was born at Ash Lawn-Highland (home to Monroe, not Mason) when a dish of cornmeal mush was baked in the oven. The sufficient reason, we'd say, to assume the man was fairly fond of fruit and may have been eating his recommended daily allowance years before the USDA existed to do the recommending. In 1925, he spoke with a newspaper called the Daily Evening Item and dished on the first family's favorite foods. He also enjoyed roast beef, pickles, and hot cereal. According to The History Chef, grits were on the menu as soon as the Carters moved into the White House. He famously hated broccoli, which is something many of us can relate to, but what he did enjoy noshing on was pork rinds doused with Tabasco sauce. Although beignets are more popular these days, calas-tous-chauds were immensely popular before World War II. Source: Fox News, Eisenhower Presidential Library. As a Southerner born and bred, President Jimmy Carter loved his corn bread. 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. 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. (, reports that the Trumans had no such compunction.) Both were paid scale: $330. Jocelyn Hsu. One fancy-sounding dish he's known to have served as tenderloin with jezebel sauce. 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). When Ford took office in August 1974, the American public looked on to see how he would adjudicate the fate of the man he was replacing. The calorie total? Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president, was born in New York City in 1858. Go figure. For more on our 38th president, take a look at some of the more unusual facts about his early years, his political feats, and why he once considered being a co-president with Ronald Reagan. Pork apple pie may sound unappealing, but when you know how well apples and pork go together, it doesn't seem so far-fetched. , holds the distinction of being our nation's heftiest POTUS to date. James Buchanan liked many different foods, so it's hard to track down his true favorite. Johnson, who took over as the president after JFK was assassinated, was born and raised in Texas and carried pride in his state throughout his entire life (via The White House). He also frequently drank whiskey, wine, and port. Take a culinary trip around the world from your kitchen. The former president's wife, Sarah, was extremely frugal and likely made corn pone often because it was cheap. The wedding had been delayed until just before the 1948 House election because Ford was concerned conservative voters might take issue with marrying an ex-dancer who had already been divorced. In 1980, as Ronald Reagan was preparing for a Republican nomination, his team thought Midwesterner Ford would be appealing to voters who felt distanced by Reagans West Coast presence. Town & Country says this humble dish even made its appearance at opulent state dinners, but according to D.C.-based journalist Emily Edson Briggs, Grant's banquet version was anything but plain. According to KARK, Mamie Eisenhower, the president's wife, used to make fudge that was so good, her husband submitted it as a recipe for a cookbook compiled by the Women's National Press Club in 1955. With a type of pudding that came to share his name. After attending Yale and entering law practice in Michigan, Ford became interested in politics. He celebrates Halloween all year with spook-tacular treats. Cabbage is a popular ingredient in many German dishes, which he ate frequently (via Food Timeline). All that hard work can in fact, make any man or woman hungry. Gerald Ford: Pot roast Ford would follow his classic American dinner of choice with butter pecan ice cream. Van Buren was born in New York but his family had Dutch roots, which may also explain his love of these mollusks (via Presidential Power). There's something squirrely going on here. Talk about being influential. Perhaps due in part to his love of this carb-heavy meal, Taft was also the heaviest president in history, weighing in at over 330 pounds. ), As far as we are aware, Zachary Taylor is the only U.S. president to have been, 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. 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.). So proud of the recipe was he, though, that he submitted it to "The Original White House Cookbook," published in 1887. Ford, however, chafed at the diminished powers of a vice-president and instead asked that Reagans campaign consider a co-presidency ticket that would give him greater influence in office. 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. One restaurant that was particularly honored by his patronage was Ben's Chili Bowl, so much so that the ownerspainted him into a mural several years after his 2009 visit. Hoppin' John is a dish made from rice, pork, and black-eyed peas that's popular in the south. According to Will Patterson, a chef who has cooked for three different presidents, one of Andrew Johnson's favorite dishes was Hoppin' John. While he enjoyed fine food, he was a busy man and seemed to have a particular love for a good soup or stew. He won a seat in the House of Representatives in 1948, a post he would occupy for the next 25 years. He was known (and probably thanked) for bringing Texas barbecue to the White House during his time as president. ", "That's one of those where I have to haveit taken away. 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. notes that the rest of Buchanan's diet wasn't too healthy, so he still suffered from health problems such as gout. According to the Richard Nixon Presidential Library, the former president's favorite breakfast consisted of cottage cheese topped with ketchup and black pepper. He also enjoyed potatoes and would sometimes have them for breakfast as well. All that hard work can in fact, make any man or woman hungry. WebGerald R. Ford International Airport is where the going gets good. also chose a New England boiled dinner (theirs made of beef, pork, chicken, and a bunch of root vegetables) to honor the second president. It's made with milk, cornmeal, flour, eggs, and baking soda and is usually served as a side dish. According to "Our Capital on the Potomac," the president once asked to trade his gourmet grub for the corned beef and cabbage being served in the servants' hall and later described it as "the best dinner I had eaten in months.". He seemed to have a particular fondness for soups. While the president's favorite flavor was licorice, he celebrated his 1981 inauguration by treating his guests to. The cookbook says such pies are made from steak and liver, but. According to PBS, Adams particularly loved to drink his cider while eating a simple dinner prepared by his wife Abigail. His wife reportedly loved to cook and likely introduced her presidential husband to a variety of foods throughout his life (via Food Timeline). There's not a lot known about William McKinley's dietary habits. Ulysses S. Grant was born in Ohio and later fought in the Civil War. Garfield was the second president to count squirrel as one of his favorite meals, which is nearly unheard of today. Arthur's meal of choice matched his facial hair style, as both were known as mutton chops. 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. 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. LINK. Jackson was born in South Carolina and grew up eating southern food, including one of his favorites: leather britches. However, he seldom showed his conservative side when it came to his favorite food: Jelly Belly jelly beans. When Old Hickory was in The White House, his state dinners, according to "A Rich and Fertile Land," combined haute cuisine with plainer fare more reflective of his Tennessee roots. He once tripped down the stairs while de-boarding Air Force One; while skiing, a chair lift hit his back. While Honest Abe purportedly praised it to the skies, what else could he say when trying to seal the marital deal? Polk was as cautious as could be, how he politely refused the unfamiliar food offered him in New Orleans and instead quietly asked for an old standby, a slice of ham with cornbread. PresidentRichard Nixon was well-known to love his cottage cheese. 26. Ford was always on the lookout for ways to earn money to make his way through law schoolso when he was asked to pose for a Look magazine photo spread with girlfriend and model Phyllis Brown in 1940, he did it. Wilson was known for being a very private person and didn't share much about his personal life with the public, making it hard to uncover his favorite dishes. Other foods the now-retired president enjoys include chili, chocolate, trail mix, and roasted nuts (via The New York Times). Moore was also sentenced to life but got paroled in 2007. James Polk, the 11th U.S. president, was born in North Carolina and grew up eating cornbread, also known as "corn pone." December 28, 2022. Bill Clinton did go jogging to get some exercise, but oftentimes his feet would find their way straight to McDonald's. 1:26. reveals that his nickname for 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue was the "Great White Jail." 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. While a first family cannot live on lemonade alone, Hayes was also pretty fond of corn. There, his staff would serve everything from mutton chops to roast beef to macaroni pie. These Were The U.S. Presidents' Favorite Foods, Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library. Ford recalled their conversation as superficial. His birth-father handed him $25 and disappeared. This dish was made with milk, rice, sugar, eggs, and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. 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. Not so his private parties ", " relates how he would frequently invite his pals over for an evening of poker and bathtub gin (or more likely a private pre-Prohibition stash). Precocious boy left alone in a large house stormed by burglars. This included foods like hoecakes, as well as old-fashioned bacon. In San Francisco 17 days later, Fords life was again threatened by a woman named Sara Jane Moore, a left-wing activist prone to mood swings. This president was also known for his bushy sideburns, commonly referred to as mutton chops. His favorite meal was Sunday breakfast, which consisted of golden brown waffles topped with strawberries and sour cream. He was known for his love of fruit, which was unusual for the time (via Food Timeline). Gerald Ford. 1:28. Source: Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum. Mighty Networks, 2023. Okay, no, for the most part, they are not. Our first president had very simple tastes and a hearty It was also one of Andrew Johnson's favorites, according to The History Chef. As his chef told the British newspaper The Sun (via. According to a 2014. article, the former president hasn't been strictly vegan ever since his doctor advised him that lean protein is necessary in order to be adequately nourished while maintaining a healthy weight. Perhaps the most elegant eatery of the 19th century was. Many of our presidents have had favorite foods that sound quite relatable, such as ice cream, steak, and chili, while others, especially going back a century or so, liked to eat no-longer-popular dishes such as boar's head, turtle steak, and sugar-stuffed tomatoes. As the President, you have at your disposal a button to send the world into a nuclear ice age. According to "The Presidents' Cookbook," though, not a dessert on the menu at this ritzy restaurant could woo Grant away from his beloved rice pudding. Thomas Jefferson was not only a founding father but apparently a founding foodie. He always had a jar to snack on in the Oval Office and even brought them to meetings. 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. A New York Times article written a month prior to the 39th president's inauguration says he was really into dairy products of all kinds: milk, buttermilk, butter, and especially cheese. 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-century, , this may not be the case, as James Garfield's own squirrel soup recipe seems to have predated his presidency and may have roots in his Ohio boyhood. ," we learn that the president was even known to eat an entire chicken in one meal. TerHorst, left his job after determining that he could not in good conscience support [Fords] decision to pardon former President Nixon., Despite his background as an athletehe played football at MichiganFord had the misfortune of being caught on camera when he suffered an occasional lapse into klutziness. Not so his private parties "Entertaining in the White House" relates how he would frequently invite his pals over for an evening of poker and bathtub gin (or more likely a private pre-Prohibition stash). So much so, that the Hoovers' cook Mary Rattley created a recipe for caramel tomatoes that was a hit with the first family. 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. As a voracious consumer of these little treats, over three tons were consumed during hispresidential inauguration in 1981. 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. Grover Cleveland, the only president to share a name with a current Muppet, was also the only one to serve two non-consecutive terms. Fortunately for everyone elected as president, one major perk of the job is access to a private chef. Perhaps he doesn't have to. It's estimated that President John Adams drank about When asked to name a favorite dish for posterity, though, the one Clinton came up with was chicken enchiladas. Johnson was born in North Carolina and later moved to Tennessee, where he became a tailor. While he reportedly seriously likes pizza, he reportedly doesn't eat the crust. He is very fond of chili, though, and in an interview with North Coast Journal, he revealed that he still uses afavorite recipe that dates back to his college days. Gerald Ford Butter Pecan Ice Cream Jimmy Carter Peanut Butter Pie Ronald Reagan Coconut Macaroons. As ahero for many in theRepublican party, President RonaldReagan's economic policieshas been debated for decades. These were all on the menu when U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt According to The History Chef, Harrison and his wife Caroline were known as "corn addicts" who ate the vegetable often.

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