A short time after I came to work at the White House, we found ourselves in need of a new chef. I was asked to reach out to well-known American chefs and solicit their recommendations for a new White House executive chef. One of the people I called was Thomas Keller, famed chef and food innovator, owner of French Laundry and Per Se, and author of some of the great cookbooks of our time. He was kind and helpful, and […]
Bess Abell was Lyndon Johnson’s Social Secretary. The daughter of Earle Clements, a man who served Kentucky as both its governor and senator, she has lived her entire life around politics, and is currently the dean of the former social secretaries sorority. I love being around Bess. In addition to having some of the best social secretary stories of all time, she is a gifted raconteur, and always draws roars of laughter with her tales of Lyndon Johnson. Johnson was […]
After a weekend of too many heavy meals, and possibly an unauthorized visit to Shake Shack (don’t tell my kids), a vegetarian meal can go a long way toward regaining one’s nutritional equilibrium. I guarantee that you will be completely full after eating this meal. The quinoa salad is very substantial, and the butter-roasted radishes have a mellow flavor that is very appealing – almost like a slightly-spicy potato. The quinoa salad comes from Gwyneth Paltrow’s It’s All Good cookbook, […]
If you’re a foodie, you know all about acai bowls. They’re a frozen smoothie made of acai (pronounced ah-saw-ee) berries, assorted fresh fruit and honey, topped with more fresh fruit, coconut shavings and sometimes, granola. Acai berries come from the Amazon rainforest, and are reputed to be a powerful antioxidant. I’m not qualified to attest to the health benefits of acai, but the acai bowl is the most delicious thing I’ve had in a long time; it’s like eating a […]
My husband really hates to exercise. In fact, he prefers not to break a sweat under any circumstances, and if possible, to avoid exercising outdoors at all times. If I can persuade him to take a walk with me, we have a negotiation over the route: he will walk if we stay on the sidewalks, but if I suggest we go through the woods in Dumbarton Oaks Park, he’s out. These are the minor quirks of a long-married couple, but […]
