June 6, 2008 |
Short Order
Is Oprah’s chef Art Smith fated for the White House kitchen? On Sunday Obama and friends will be eating Mexican catered by Oprah’s chef Art Smith - an Obama favorite - through his restaurant Table 52. No one was saying where Chicago’s triumphant favorite will be worshiping, but insiders in the Chicago food chain were planning a homey supper of guacamole, tacos, rice and beans, dips and salsas through the restaurant’s catering arm. Even before the momentous huddle with Hillary, the Sunday supper SOS went out. Chicago fooderati, gathered at Smith’s home Monday for the backyard cookout launch of a new free-range organic veal, were buzzing about whether Oprah’s chef of a decade might take over the White House kitchen. Smith’s confidantes are sure he would agree to handle ceremonial events but not daily feeding. The Jasper, Florida-born Smith – touched by the golden Oprah effect – has won two James Beard Foundation awards – one for his first cookbook, Back to the Table, and the second in 2007 as Humanitarian of the Year for founding Common Threads, a children’s organization fostering cultural awareness. Smith is also a consultant to Chicago meat supplier Allen Brothers, a partner with Strauss Brands of Milwaukee in their campaign to market Meadow Reserve Veal, billed as sustainable, ethically-raised, leaner and mothers’ milk-fed.
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