Well-fed pols
So Art Smith isn’t going to be the White House chef after all, as some had speculated. But that doesn’t mean the Chicago-based chef of D.C.’s new Art and Soul restaurant on Capitol Hill isn’t still something of a celebrity.
Smith hosted a private brunch for Oprah Winfrey on Sunday (a logical choice; he used to be her personal chef). Then on Monday night, he hosted an afterparty at Art and Soul. Spotted were White House Social Secretary Desiree Rodgers; Oprah’s best buddy, Gayle King, Maria Pinto, who has designed dresses for Michelle Obama; celebrity chefs Alice Waters, Tom Colicchio, Rock Harper and our own Spike Mendelsohn; newly minted Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill.; and former Sen. Bob Graham (Smith also used to be his personal chef). The coup de grace? Bill Clinton, who was at another party in the restaurant hosted by the Pritzker family, which ultimately merged with Smith’s party.
Smith also announced he’s bringing a project he calls “Safe Kitchen” to D.C. He’ll be partnering with D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services to teach children kitchen safety skills.
