CHICAGO — Former President George H.W. Bush famously disliked broccoli. His son, the outgoing president, is a Texas meat-eater. President-elect Barack Obama loves chili and shuns beets.
Obama’s aversion to beets aside — “I always avoid eating them,” he says — the new first family are foodies with wide-ranging palates. They have hankerings for Mexican food and enjoy handcrafted pastas, and their kids dig fried chicken and macaroni and cheese.
“They are totally adventurous people. … They enjoy food,” said chef Rick Bayless of Topolobampo, an upscale contemporary Mexican restaurant in downtown Chicago that’s a favorite of the Obamas.
Soon, the White House staff will be catering to the family’s food needs, and what the Obamas eat in their hometown of Chicago offers a hint at what might be served at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. At the White House now, Tex-Mex and barbecue are among the favorites of President Bush.
At Bayless’ restaurant, Obama and his wife, Michelle, usually begin their meals with tortilla soup and guacamole, followed by something from a changing seasonal menu to reflect the freshest fare.
The Obamas aren’t teetotalers, partaking of the restaurant’s margaritas and wine.
“They never turn a nose up at anything we suggest to them,” said Bayless, whose Frontera Grill was named outstanding restaurant by the James Beard Foundation last year.
But it’s not just fancy dining the Obamas like. They enjoy takeout from a neighborhood pizza joint and an island-inspired restaurant not far from their home where Michelle Obama fancies the grilled tilapia.
“She enjoys her food but tries to eat healthy as well,” said close family friend Sandy Matthews.
The incoming president’s taste in food can also be simple. In response to an Associated Press survey of all the primary candidates, Obama listed chili as his favorite food to cook.
But on the campaign trail, he proved himself a picky and healthy eater with an aide-assisted diet managed to prevent Obama from packing on the presidential pounds.
The Obama daughters, 10-year-old Malia and 7-year-old Sasha, have a few favorites of their own. When they stay over at close family friend Yvonne Davila’s house, they often request her fried chicken and macaroni and cheese.
Another family friend, Kaye “Mama Kaye” Wilson, said Malia is a fan of her lemon meringue pie and Sasha enjoys her cobbler.
