Presidential Preferences - Big Y® World Class Market®

With each new presidency, the nation’s curiosity about the inner workings of the White House is rekindled. Everyone wants to know about the new president and the first lady — they want to know what decorating changes, if any, have been made, what the first lady is wearing, and what’s being served at all those dinners for world leaders. Presidential preferences have interested the public since our very first president, and have started various gastronomical trends.

George Washington appreciated good food and good company. He was known as an excellent host, and it was rare that he and his wife, Martha, would dine alone. He loved hunting, and served various wild game and fowl for his guests. Other early presidents also enjoyed serving their guests the fruits of their labors. Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, James Madison and James Monroe were all gardeners, and the lawns of the White House were once home to their farming efforts.

Other presidents were more trendsetting in their unusual tastes and exotic preferences. Thomas Jefferson, who lived in France for a time, used French-trained chefs in his White House kitchen and introduced French dishes to the American public. American favorites such as French fries and macaroni and cheese have their origins in Jefferson’s stay in Paris. He also introduced the French technique of making ice cream, one of his particular favorites.

Other presidents have influenced the nation’s tastes as well. The refined tastes of John F. Kennedy and his First Lady certainly brought “haute cuisine” into the American foreground, as well as an old-fashioned New England favorite: JFK was known to carry a thermos of chowder with him on the campaign trail.

In contrast, Lyndon Johnson was a Texan through and through, and it’s no surprise that he brought the tangy-sweet taste of Texas barbecue to the White House.
Try this Barbecue Chicken Leg Recipe

Jimmy Carter was also a down-to-earth president, and he popularized Southern cuisine during his tenure. Ronald Reagan, on the other hand, was a California boy and a Hollywood star — so with his presidency came the healthy taste of California cuisine and a sweet tooth for Jelly Belly® candies. In fact, his fondness for the little jelly beans started a nationwide craze, and people everywhere enjoyed the colorful candies.

As the faces in the White House continue to change, so will the food trends — and the public’s interest.

from Big Y American Life Magazine, May 2004