Tastemakers: The politics of eating & drinking

Oct. 19, 2008

Our most recent presidents were known for their “junk food” habits. George W. Bush loves nachos and Bill Clinton couldn’t jog past a McDonald’s without stopping in for a Big Mac. Both presidents were known nibblers and President Bush had a famous incident with a pretzel. At that moment, he probably wishes that he had not given up drinking beer. His father loved pork rinds (but was famous for hating broccoli).
Presidential candidates Obama and McCain, and their running mates, seem to take a healthier approach to their diets. Obama does have one thing in common with President Bush: both love Mexican food. Obama has been spotted often at Chicago’s famed Topolobampo, where celebrity chef Rick Bayless whips up Mexican-themed small-plates, his famous guacamole for Obama. He washes the food down with a margarita. At the end of the day, Obama’s favorite food seems to be a good bowl of chili.
As for McCain, he claims to “eat everything, but I don’t always do well with vegetables.” When put on the spot as to what his favorite food is, BBQ spareribs goes to the top of the list. Makes sense, as this is a perfect food to pair with Budweiser, which is certainly the beverage of choice for McCain. McCain’s running mate, Sarah Palin’s favorite dish is moose stew and she eats her share of Alaskan salmon.
Joe Biden is known around D.C. for his passion for pasta. Biden is famous for cooking penne pasta and homemade sauce for his guests; and it is a safe bet if you see him dining out that he will have a bowl of pasta in front of him.
When it comes to alcohol consumption, our current president gave up drinking 25 years ago. Clinton enjoyed a beer or two at times. Ford drank gin and tonics in the White House, while Nixon enjoyed rum and Cokes and dry martinis. Jimmy Carter was not much of a drinker, but it is a safe bet that he had a Billy Beer or two in his lifetime. The current candidates all enjoy a drink from time to time. McCain’s family owns a large Budweiser distributorship in Arizona, so there probably are not any cold Bud’s on the Obama campaign bus.
The Magic Hat Brewery in Vermont has jumped into the political mix. Not by supporting any particular candidate, but supporting the political process in general. Earlier this summer they released “Participation” an All-American style lager. The idea behind the brew is to encourage people to register to vote and to create political discussion among voters.
“People forget that the Constitution and Bill of Rights were conceived in local taverns,” said Alan Newman of Magic Hat. “Local taverns were and still are the hotbeds of political debate and discussion of ideals.
On a local level, winemaker Larry Mawby released an Obama sparkling wine earlier this summer for a fundraising event for the Leelanau County Democrats. The wine hasn’t been endorsed by Obama (apparently he doesn’t like wine) but it has been popular at the winery, selling as quickly as Mawby is able to make it.
Be sure to get out and vote on November 4 and then go out and celebrate at your favorite local eatery. Be sure to enjoy local wines and brews during your celebration.