Keep your eyes peeled
Eventually, the novelty of having their own personal chef might wear off, and the Barack and Michelle Obama will want to venture out into the city to try our vast array of culinary options. But where will they go?
You could do worse than to bet on proximity. The Willard Room, Old Ebbitt Grill, Cafe du Parc, Oval Room and Bombay Club are a few that are only a short walk from 1600 Pennsylvania (not that they’d walk anyway, but still…).
Ashok Bajaj, who owns Bombay Club and Oval Room, plans to do a little early courting of the new first couple. “In the past, what I’ve done is write them and invite them to come in,” he said. “I did it for Bush, Clinton and Bush Jr. I always say, ‘Welcome to the neighborhood.’ I always get a gracious letter [back] from the social secretary.”
He said the most important part of hosting the first family is the Secret Service. “You have to make the Secret Service comfortable. They don’t leave any stone unturned.”
You “also must be discrete,” he said. “You don’t want to show them off.” Of course, he adds, that didn’t apply so much to President Clinton, who “didn’t mind socializing.” In fact, when Clinton came in to Bajaj’s restaurant Ardeo in Cleveland Park, “We wanted to take Clinton upstairs because that’s what the Secret Service wanted. But he wanted to stay downstairs. We told him and he was like ‘Oh my God.’ ”
Beyond location and protocol, there’s the matter of cuisine. It’s been reported that one of the Obamas’ favorite spots in Chicago is the nouveau Mexican restaurant Topolobampo. So they could certainly turn to the José Andres’ Oyamel in Penn Quarter.
Or for a simpler bite of Tex-Mex, there’s always Cactus Cantina in Cleveland Park. On the one hand, it was a favorite of President Bush, and Obama may want to steer clear of associations with the Texan. But on the other, it’s only a short spell down the road from his daughters’ new school, Sidwell Friends.
Speaking of proximity to Sidwell, there’s always the well-regarded pizza at 2 Amy’s. After all, the Obamas are avowed lovers of the thin-crust pies at Fiesta Pizzeria in Hyde Park.
Or how about the popular Cafe Milano in Geogetown, where Michelle Obama dined during the primary season (it’s also a favorite of the Clintons)?
And let’s not forget Ben’s Chili Bowl, where the owners just added the Obamas’ name to Bill Cosby’s on the list of people who can eat for free there.
