Oh my, oh my!  I really went to The White House.  Yesterday.  Yup!

 

I was invited, due to my affiliation with Women Chefs and Restaurateurs, to be a part of the kick-off of Michelle Obama's Chefs Move to Schools initiative.  This is part of her signature project to combat childhood obesity and to have a healthier population in our country.

 

We are going to have a special Dinner and Conversation on Wednesday, June 23 - right here.  The dinner will benefit The French Broad Tailgate market and will be a chance for you to eat a meal from our local farmers.   I will also share with you the experience of this trip and the, "Now what?" that is already happening her in our area.

 

We had the run of the lawn, the gardens, and the outside of the White House before the First lady's presentation.  It was HOT outside so most of us ended up tucked into a shady corner, wherever we could find it.

 

Sam Kass is the White House Assistant Chef and the Food Initiative Coordinator and also the one, along with The First Lady, who is the main energy behind the Chefs Move to Schools.

 

He is also a chiseled fellow, making the women gasp and the men suck in their mid sections. Oh, we were all thinking, if only WE could look like THAT!

 

Here are our dinners for the week. Order by noon and we'll have your dinner ready to pick up by 3. We are open until 8 now which makes it easy for you to dawdle if you like. Feel free to stay right here with us if you like. We'll reheat your meal and stay out of your way.

 

 

Monday June 7

* Orange Ginger Chicken with Wild Rice Pilaf 11.25

 

Tuesday June 8

Herb Roasted Salmon with Corn Cakes 13.25

 

Wednesday June 9

Fennel-roasted Chicken with German Potato Salad 11.25

 

Thursday June 10 Shrimp Florentine with Panzanella 12.25

 

Friday June 11

Grilled Scallops with Braised Rosemary Lentils 12.50

 

* these are gluten free

 

(though it is important to know that

We make a special casserole each week.

 

 

Order by noon or so. Order a half if you have around 4 folks. If you have a bigger group, or you just like leftovers, order a full-sized one.

 

Then come pick up between 3:00 and 8:00. (Or bring a gang and enjoy your dinner right here. We do have beer and wine by the glass, you know.)

 

Please order by phone (252-1500) or stop in to speak to one of us in person.

 

This week's casserole is:

 

Wednesday, June 9

Mac and Cheese with Summertime Vegetables

Full: 30 Half: 15

 

We make Lasagna every Friday. Here's this Friday's offering:

 

Friday, June 11

Tuscan Beef and Cippoline Onions

Full: 45 Half: 22.50

 

One of my chef colleagues knows The First Beekeeper and graced me with a quick introduction.  He pointed out the very fragrant Basswood in the air, telling me that the bees were very busy collecting that nectar. 

 

There were a LOT of us (not the 50 nor the 5000 that we had heard might appear) and it took time to get us through the three lines that were set up.  Each chef's name was checked before we were allowed through to - yes - another three lines where we were checked again.  Then though the metal detector before we were let go.

 

Meanwhile, back here we're looking forward to having Alex Krug and friends in our cafe this Thursday night.  6-8pm

 

No cover charge is collected, though we place a tip basket out for the musicians.

 

 

June 5, 2010

 

Hey there. Um, I went to The White House yesterday. (I guess you already know that, don’t you?) No doubt about it, it was a big event for little me. A pile of us went to a breakfast and heard from some influential, inspirational folks who are actively working within the existing schools system and are somehow managing to make a difference to our school children.

 

And then we all walked about two blocks and stood in line a LONG time (an hour?) waiting to have our credentials checked before we could go onto the grounds. Still, just standing there waiting was pretty exciting and we all bounced around pinching ourselves, or maybe it was just me.

 

Once we got past the gates a big clog happened when we all got to the first place where we could see the actual big white house. And up close it IS big! Marines kept us moving in the right direction, off where they didn’t want us and on the path, moving, moving, moving along. They were formal and casual at the same time, answering questions if asked, but generally keeping their distance.

 

We wandered through the gardens, sipped ice water, listened to the Marine Corps jazz band who were parked under a big shade tree. It was all very elegant, with all of us in our white jackets.

 

And then we got to sit down, ready to hear from our First Lady. The sun blazed down and those white coats did not absorb one bit of the light. I did not have any sunglasses with me but pulled out a Local Food Guide for Kids from here and used it as a sun visor – which worked very well. I had a handbag full of gifts that people had given me.

 

“Can you please bring this letter/cd/gift/request/greeting to The White House for me?” a lot of folks had requested. Well, I DID bring them all – and brought them all back too. No one would accept any gifts from any of us and, frankly, we were there for HER, not to have her hear about US. (I am going to mail all the gifts and letters and the Local Food Guides too.)

 

But anyway, it was a whirlwind of a day. Up and back and immediately on to a rehearsal dinner, that was well underway by the time I arrived. Today started with a visit to the local market where some of our local elected officials kicked off THEIR program to get people moving – right around here. Then off to a delivery, then a morning of meetings and such and, soon, off I go to a wedding. On Monday I go to Iowa to cook for those big wig magazine editors which is a trip all about honey and bees and such.

 

Then I think things slow down a bit. Maybe. Maybe not.

Rochelle, the gal in pink, owns Chefwear, a chef's clothing company.  She is on the Women Chef's board of directors and was part of our delegation at The White House.