During his relatively short 895 days as president, Ford had to attempt to restore American confidence in the Oval Office. He wasn't a big eater though and often had to be reminded to eat dinner. His daughter Amy praised one particular dish that Carter would make for the family, saying, "Daddy makes grits for breakfast, then breaks a couple of eggs into it and adds some cheese, and it's yummy. This dish was made with milk, rice, sugar, eggs, and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. These rice cakes are deep-fried and often served with molasses or syrup. LINK. spoonbread was born at Ash Lawn-Highland (home to Monroe, not Mason) when a dish of cornmeal mush was baked in the oven. Before Martin Van Buren was president, he traveled to England accompanied by Washington Irving. According totheManuscripts Cookbooks Survey, Tyler pudding wasn't really a pudding, per se, but was nearly identical to the Southern staple we now know as chess pie. Taft went on a diet in 1911, but it didn't seem to affect his weight much. Gerald Ford's favorite breakfast food was English muffins, which according to news reports when he became president, he toasted every morning. Dwight Eisenhower may have been a military hero prior to his presidency, but one lesser-known fact about him is that he also liked to cook. He was known for his hearty appetite, and would often eat large meals, although he wasn't a fan of the "fancy" cooking at the White House. as red flannel hash and fanny daddies, but we'll demystify these dishes if you'll just keep scrolling. His favorite meal was Sunday breakfast, which consisted of golden brown waffles topped with strawberries and sour cream. From squirrel soup to pork apple pie, here are some of the favorite foods of each U.S. president. We'll also reveal the name of the founding father-turned-president who shared a favorite dessert with our current POTUS, the identity of the two(!) Rice pudding was a popular dessert in the 19th century, and Grant enjoyed it often. According to theU.S. National Archives, fried chicken was one of Harry Truman's favorite foods. We assume Hoover enjoyed this combo to have it recorded in history. WebPresident Ford's Favorites Hobby: stamp collecting Breakfast: orange juice, melon, English muffins, and tea with lemon Food: pot roast and red cabbage (for recipes see The White Jefferson is credited with popularizing several now classic dishes in America, including ice cream, macaroni and cheese, and french fries, according to Monticello. 1, was known for being a generous host at his homeinMount Vernon. Jackson also had a fondness for lamb with rosemary, oysters, rabbit, duck, and fine French wines. Gerald Ford, in full Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr., original name Leslie Lynch King, Jr., (born July 14, 1913, Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.died December 26, 2006, Rancho Mirage, As his chef told the British newspaper The Sun (via. She's not the first one to have combined tomatoes and sugar, though, as Cook's Country Eats Local says there's a similar recipe that dates back to the 1880s. As a voracious consumer of these little treats, over three tons were consumed during hispresidential inauguration in 1981. Unfortunately, this dish didn't bring the best luck to Johnson, who had one of the worst presidencies in history, according to the Miller Center. 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. 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. When he was on his own, though, : hoecakes, which are a kind of pancake made out of cornmeal. At these stealthy soirees, Harding would always feed his friends the same meal: knockwurst with sauerkraut. He always had a jar to snack on in the Oval Office and even brought them to meetings. He probably didn't eat a great deal of it, though, since at 5' 4 and 100 pounds, he was the smallest of our presidents, notes Statista. First ladies have shared cookie recipes in the past, but they dont generally make them part of Thanksgiving dinner. One account of an evening's entertainment records quite the menu, including roast beef, goose, pork, mutton, cabbage, onions, potatoes, and pickles followed by mince pies, tarts, fruit, nuts, and cheese. The Guardian estimated it at upwards of 2,300, but Dubya's chef did say of her boss, "He watches his portion control!". Bush instead. George H.W. But the fact didnt sink in until 1930, when King visited him. Cabbage is a popular ingredient in many German dishes, which he ate frequently (via Food Timeline). According to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, his favorite food was New England fish chowder, no surprise given his roots. Afterwards, pork rind sales increased by 11-percent, and he was subsequently awarded 'Skin Man of the Year' by the pork-rind industry. George Washington, aka POTUS No. While Virginia calls itself "the mother of presidents" due to having been the birthplace of eight of our leaders, it's been a while since they've had one the Woodrow Wilson administration was the last one to be led by a son of the Old Dominion. What is Gerald Fords favorite food? Although. What Silent Cal liked best was a jelly roll filled with strawberry jam or currant jelly and covered with lemon icing. He also enjoyed potatoes and would sometimes have them for breakfast as well. Gerald Ford. One of Harding's favorite foods was chicken pot pie made with chicken, vegetables, and a flaky pastry crust. 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. 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. The Herman Goelitz Candy Company, which later introduced the brand Jelly Belly, regularly sent Reagan shipments of jelly beans during all eight years he held office in the White House. Man of letters that he was, Irving, who penned both "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,", to describe the trip. Perhaps he doesn't have to. Warren Harding, the 29th president, was born in Ohio in 1865 (via The White House). After his parents got a divorce, his mother remarried a paint salesman named Gerald Rudolff Ford. As for his favorite food? We can't blame him for finding this dish so good, as it's still one of the most comforting meals of all time. He even had a specialcup-holderdesigned for Air Force Oneso hisjarofJelly Belly beans wouldn'tspill during turbulence. According to a 2014 New York Times 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. Before becoming president,Jimmy Carterspent some time, . This included foods like clam chowder, fried pies, and, his favorite, fried clams (viaYesterday's Island). Not one, but two presidents claim to have squirrel as a favorite dish. This southern staple often made an appearance throughout Carter's presidency and was even served to important visitors to the White House. He also reportedly enjoys eating healthy and noshes on plenty of vegetables every day. 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. While a first family cannot live on lemonade alone, Hayes was also pretty fond of corn. Not one, but two presidents claim to have squirrel as a favorite dish. December 28, 2022. However, we do know that he was born in Ohio and liked to eat food from his home state. The 12th U.S. president was born in Virginia but grew up in Kentucky, where he developed a taste for Southern food and sweets (via Book of Days Tales). Learn More > 24/7. He's said to have preferred it with white gravy, too, as that's the way his mother used to make it. 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. also chose a New England boiled dinner (theirs made of beef, pork, chicken, and a bunch of root vegetables) to honor the second president. cites Nesbitt as saying that the president's favorite foods were fish chowder, fruit cake, hot dogs, scrambled eggs, and grilled cheese sandwiches. After some laughter from the crowd, he insisted that he wasn't kidding. Truman also enjoyed other American comfort foods like meatloaf and mashed potatoes, but he hated onions and claimed a dish containing them was ruined. Monroe also had a taste for French cuisine, which he likely picked up during his time as the U.S. Minister to France (via The History Chef). were ones for cornbread, corn fritters, and corn soup. 1:28. I like cleanliness and I think you're better off going there than maybe someplace where you have no idea where the food is coming from." Unlike squirrels, which are still quite prolific, many sea turtles are now so scarce that they fall under the protection of the Endangered Species Act. From their backgrounds, personalities to their favorite food its something that we can relate to. Chester Arthur had the unique distinction of sharing his favorite food with his signature look. The door to the second floor swung only one way: He got out, but couldnt get back in. This happy little experiment resulted in a nice crusty pudding, and Monroe must have liked it if it stayed on the menu. His wife, too, was known by the sobriquet of Lemonade Lucy for the nonalcoholic beverage she favored. Joe Biden, as per Politico, neither drinks nor smokes, but he does have one weakness he'll cheerfully admit. With more than 100 daily flights and 30+ nonstop routes, you can start your adventure to just about anywhere from GFIA. (Calling a breeder in Minneapolis, the White House photographer and friend of Fords, David Kennerly, told the kennels owner he was acting on behalf of a middle-aged couple that live in a white house with a big yard.) One night, the trainer was absent, and Liberty approached Ford at 3 a.m. to be let out. Former president Gerald Ford (1913-2006) had the unenviable task of following a disgraced Richard Nixon, the first man to resign from the presidency, in the wake of the Watergate scandal. 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. In addition to Fords clumsiness, satirists had a lot to dine out on when it came to some of Fords Yogi Berra-esque tongue slips. For one thing, all but a few of them are dead. He had seven children with his first wife, Letitia, and another seven with his second wife, Julia. Terrapin with cornbread sticks. 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. Had it been up to two different women, Ford wouldnt have lived to the ripe age of 93. A, 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. ", "That's one of those where I have to haveit taken away. Mrs. Coolidge, he said, was a big fan of his veal curry, but the president had more of a sweet tooth. WebGerald R. Ford International Airport is where the going gets good. The calorie total? While he reportedly seriously likes pizza, he reportedly doesn't eat the crust. According to Food Timeline, he was known to enjoy both meat and fish but didn't have any particular favorites. 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. However, that wasn't the only thing that had people raising their eyebrows. Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th president of the United States, has a sweet story behind his favorite food. ," his housekeeper Elizabeth Jaffray remarks that even after adopting this diet, "somehow he really didn't take off any great amount of weight." As one-time White House chef Franois Rysavy revealed in a book of the same name, Harrison, like the anonymous carolers of the song, was a big fig pudding fan. ," 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. Mrs. Coolidge, he said, was a big fan of his veal curry, but the president had more of a sweet tooth. When asked to name a favorite dish for posterity, though, the one Clinton came up with was chicken enchiladas. According to ", ," he once claimed, "I could eat corn cakes as fast as two women can make them. says the dish became one of his favorite Christmas traditions. Source: Fox News, Eisenhower Presidential Library. How did he balance such a big family with the stressful job of being president? His staff eventually came out with the President's cookbook that contained a slew of different recipes. January 4, 2023. 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. One of Wilson's favorite foods was chicken salad made with chopped chicken, mayonnaise, and diced vegetables. after a stint as Minister to France. Its rare that former presidents accept acting roles on primetime soaps, even when playing themselves. His housekeeper Henrietta Nesbitt was notorious for serving some of the, . 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. The. Americans, he once said, were possessed of a strong work ethnic, while sickle-cell Armenia was a disease for which he offered sympathy. According to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library, FDR had a particular fondness for grilled cheese sandwiches. A poor economy meant steep budget cuts, while at the same the nation's Bicentennial needed to be celebrated in style with lobster and medallions of veal. One of Harrison's favorite foods was corn, which is no surprise given his roots in the Midwest. Ford, a dog lover, adopted a golden retriever the family named Liberty after he had already taken office. Unlike his presidential predecessor, Gerald Ford had a favorite food that we can surely all get behind: waffles. President Gerald Fords favorite food was a savory pot roast and butter pecan ice cream . The cookbook says such pies are made from steak and liver, but. Fortunately, Lyndon B. Johnson used that power to instead install abutton that was dedicated to have an aide bring him some Fresca. Recipes for these dishes: Mrs. Fords Sunday Roast (Serves 6) From Henry Haller's, The White House Family Cookbook Henry Haller, speaking with Gerald R. Ford Foundation in 2010, had nothing but nice things to say about the organization's eponym, although he did note that Ford presided over The White House at a rather difficult time. He probably didn't eat a great deal of it, though, since at 5' 4 and 100 pounds, he was. says there's a similar recipe that dates back to the 1880s. Although food wasn't "much of a priority" for the couple while Bush was president, it was well-known that they enjoyed Tex-Mex food when they could get it (via Food Timeline). When the Fords were dining en famille, however, they preferred something a bit simpler. It's made with milk, cornmeal, flour, eggs, and baking soda and is usually served as a side dish. Cleveland also enjoyed other types of seafood, including oysters and lobsters. He also likes Hagen-Dazs, so much so that the, with its vanilla chocolate chip flavor. According to "Through Five Administrations," a book written by a former bodyguard to President Lincoln, he never stopped enjoying "things a growing farmer's boy would like." Who could be surprised that as a military man, President Dwight D. Eisenhower had a sweet side. Ford was willing to buck that trend in 1983 when he appeared on Dynasty, the ABC series about the wealthy Carrington family of Denver, Colorado. Roosevelt was known for his love of the outdoors and hunting, and so may have also enjoyed game meat. While Honest Abe purportedly praised it to the skies, what else could he say when trying to seal the marital deal? The former president is a big fan of McDonald'sand often orders the chain's Egg McMuffins(although he usually skips breakfast altogether), Big Macs, and Filet-o-Fish sandwiches (via Business Insider). James Polk, the 11th U.S. president, was born in North Carolina and grew up eating cornbread, also known as "corn pone." "I'll have guacamole coming out of my eyeballs," he admitted. Ulysses S. Grant was born in Ohio and later fought in the Civil War. T, he Adamses most likely had their dinner in the middle of the day and the main course would often be a boiled dinner of meat and potatoes. Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum, Desert Tragedy: Untold stories of Operation Eagle Claw, Into the heart of darkness: The bloody Battle of Marjah, The recon mission resulting in Neil Roberts ultimate sacrifice. 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. This is likely because McKinley was a relatively private person who didn't share much about his personal life with the public. Posted on 4/27/23 at 4:00 pm. When asked what his favorite snack food is by comedian Jerry Seinfeld on thelatest season of"Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee," President Obama quickly said, "nachos. (, reports that the Trumans had no such compunction.) His last words were even reportedly "the nourishment is palatable," referring to a bowl of soup he had just been fed (via The Independent). In his diary, he described his orchards as bearing "fruit for the subsistence health and comfort of my descendants." Source: Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum. 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. The former president also liked biscuits, chicken pot pie, and BLTs. Among his specialties was a beef stew made with a tomato-based broth and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Grover Cleveland, the only president to share a name with a current Muppet, was also the only one to serve two non-consecutive terms. PBS' "A Taste of History" also chose a New England boiled dinner (theirs made of beef, pork, chicken, and a bunch of root vegetables) to honor the second president. Whether these two were related, we'll never know. The actual dish, however, as described by Ohio's. 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. Arthur's most requested meal, according to Food Timeline, was a dinner of mutton chops and a glass of ale. 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 Adams grew a variety of plants, he was especially proud of his apple, apricot, peach, and plum trees. They likely enjoyed it in dishes such as corn muffins, stewed corn, and corn fritters. One of the highlights seems to have been "an old-fashioned English Christmas" complete with "mummers and morris dancers and the boar's head crowned with holly." But that's what happens when you perform an autopsy 164 years post-mortem, reports the Courier Journal. Sure, that stop did happen to be at Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream in Columbus, Ohio, but Biden has long been a fan of Jeni's. After doing her business on the south lawn, she and Ford tried to get back inside. President Joe Bidenhas made his stance on his favorite food very clear. 1:26. He was known for his love of fruit, which was unusual for the time (via Food Timeline). 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. According to Eat a Squirrel, 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. While he liked peanuts just fine, they weren't his absolute favorite food. He seemed to have a particular fondness for soups. The U.S. presidents make up an important part of our country's history. Wow, that's one heck of a pudding. (Not Millard himself, though, or he would not have qualified for the presidency.) 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. After being promised Betty would be on camera as well, Ford agreed. He grew heirloom apples (known back then simply as "apples), established one of the first wineries in the Old Dominion, and helped introduce les frites to les tats Unis after a stint as Minister to France. In an, , he admitted that "many pretenders to refinement despise [sauerkraut]," but said he was glad that "we both delight in the classical dish." 1:28. Oysters were a popular Southern dish in the 1800s are were a favorite of Martin Van Buren, who served from 1837 to 1841. He's not only the most recent of the "Rushmores," but is also a fan-favorite mascot with theWashington Nationals Racing Presidents. However, we do know that Arthur was remembered for his extravagant taste and liked to host lavish dinner parties at the White House. 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. Back in Chester A. Arthur's day, though, there was nothing this presidential gourmand liked better than a good turtle steak. Adorned withlettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, pickles and onions, his love for burgers was evenportrayed on an episode of Saturday Night Live. The future President legally changed his name to Gerald Ford in It was also one of Andrew Johnson's favorites, according to The History Chef. The footage inspired Chevy Chases portrayal of Ford as a klutz on Saturday Night Live, which Ford took in stride. , holds the distinction of being our nation's heftiest POTUS to date. While some critics might maintain that gobbling jellybeans isn't the healthiest of habits, it's one Ronald Reagan adopted in his pre-presidential days in order to ditch an even worse one the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library says he was attempting to give up tobacco. Like his predecessor and fellow Virginian James Madison, Wilson was very fond of Virginia country ham. ", Source: Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee, Food Wine. John F. Kennedy, born in Massachusetts, had a strong affinity for New England foods. clarifies that they were originally made from whatever leftovers were available, thus "resurrecting" the food and giving the pie its name. The hoecakes were fried and served with copious amounts of honey, which was exactly how Washington liked them. As per The President's Cookbook, he would eat this dish accompanied by macaroni to help offset some of its richness. According to Food Timeline, Millard Filmore was responsible for having the first iron cookstove installed in the White House. , 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 the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, the president enjoyed many other desserts, including apple and sugar cookies, both also made by Mamie. 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. Back came two from the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Mrs. Fords hometown.