We all have an inner foodie, and each of us have our special favorites when it comes to what we like to eat. In this article, we will have a casual look at some of our previous Presidents favorite foods. Perhaps you share some of their delights or want to prepare them for your guests, and if so –we’ll inform you of the equipment pieces you’ll need to create a presidential food experience!
George Washington (1789 – 1797)
George Washington was a lover of fish. If you run a deli or seafood shop, you are no stranger to the world of this delicious entrée. Having the right seafood case for your establishment is great way to display your best pieces, and keep them fresh all day long.
John Adams (1797 –1801)
President Adams enjoyed an entree called “Scooting –long- the-shore”, which included onion, potato and bacon. For slicing and chopping your onions and potatoes to perfection, why not invest in a quality cutter that will give you the perfect dice on your similar food items?
Thomas Jefferson (1801 –1809)
Jefferson was a lover of French Food. French Breads such as rye, bagels, and brioche make for a delicious sandwich. If you run a bakery, or sandwich shop – a bread slicer could be just what you need to give your patrons a taste of France.
James Madison (1809 –1817)
Virginia ham was a favorite of President Madison. Unfortunately for him, the meat slicer wasn’t invented yet but today, you can give customers perfectly sliced pieces of ham!
James Monroe (1817–1825)
Chicken and Rice was a dish that our past president, James Monroe was fond of. Today, it is still a common favorite. A rice cooker allows you to quickly prepare rice for the highly demand and fast moving commercial kitchen.
John Quincy Adams (1825 –1829)
Loved fruit and even had an orchard at the white house. Fruit is a healthy treat that we can all benefit from. It’s best enjoyed when sliced into neat pieces for a quick snack.
Andrew Jackson (1829 –1837)
Jackson expressed a fondness for beef tenderloin. Consider slow roasting this tasty dish in a convection oven for heightened tenderness and succulence.
Martin Van Buren (1837–1841)
Buren loved barbeque pork or boar’s head. He may have been missing the advantage of a high quality Ceramic Grill Smoker at the time, but you don’t have to!
William Henry Harrison (1841)
Cider, a favorite of William Henry Harrison – is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented juice of apples. Take a bit of inspiration from this president and add this drink to your bar menu.
John Tyler (1841 –1845)
For your tea lovers (like President John Tyler was), a tea brewer is a great equipment piece to have in your establishment to serve these patrons.
James Knox Polk (1845 –1849)
President Knox Polk isn’t the only foodie with a thing for eggs and omelets. Many people turn to this dish for breakfast, lunch or dinner. A flat griddle is a great kitchen tool for your hotel kitchen or breakfast spot if you want to create the perfect omelet.
Zachary Taylor (1849 –1850)
Close to Louisiana culture, Zach Taylor was a lover of Creole cuisine. This cuisine involves lots of rice and seafood. So having a good crock pot, rice cooker, and display case will serve you well if your clientele shares a Creole cuisine liking with President Taylor.
Millard Fillmore (1850–1853)
Fillmore was a lover of soup, and understandably so. Soup is a convenient dish that can be re-heated and enjoyed even after going back for seconds or thirds! Get your soup crock pot, and you can prepare this cozy, comfort food too.
Franklin Pierce (1853 –1857)
If you run a seafood restaurant, it’s likely you entertain some clam or oyster enthusiasts like as our previous President Franklin Pierce! A good seafood restaurant will have professional oyster shuckers on staff, but you can make everyone’s job easier using a manual oyster shucker or an electric oyster shucker.
James Buchanan (1857–1861)
Fresh butter was an important part of meals for President Buchanan. As a restaurateur or manager – you likely agree. Make sure your refrigeration is up to par for storing perishables like this in such a heated environment.
Abraham Lincoln (1861–1865)
How would you cater to Abe if he were to visit your breakfast bar? If you run a hotel kitchen, or another food service establishment, having the proper equipment will set you up for success to serve breakfast lovers at any time, whether they’re coming for the bacon (Lincoln’s favorite), or waffles, toast, and eggs!
Andrew Johnson, 1865-1869
Wild turkey for dinner anyone? Apparently, President Andrew Johnson would have happily obliged.
Ulysses S. Grant, 1869-1877
To enjoy Grant’s favorite dish, you will need a clean saucepan, combined with 1 1/2 cups cooked rice, 1 1/2 cups milk, sugar and salt. Don’t forget the egg, vanilla and butter!
Rutherford Birchard Hayes, 1877-1881
Following in the foodie footsteps of President Franklin Pierce, Haynes took a liking to oysters as well.
James Abram Garfield, 1881
Would you add squirrel soup on your winter menu for President James Abram Garfield?
Chester Alan Arthur, 1881-1885
This president had a love for mutton chop with a glass of ale.
Grover Cleveland, 1885-1889; 1893-1897
President Cleveland’s Irish roots from his mother’s side showed in his liking for corned beef and cabbage.
Benjamin Harrison, 1889-1893
Clear beef consommé was known to be a family favorite during Harrison’s presidency.
William McKinley, 1897-1901
McKinley was one to go straight to the meat and potatoes. Your guests can do the same whether they choose peeled or mashed!
Theodore Roosevelt, 1901-1909
Like many, Theodore Roosevelt just wanted his coffee.
William Howard Taft, 1909-1913
Taft loved steak and potatoes, and more. Is your steakhouse sizzling enough to appease other fellow steak lovers?
Woodrow Wilson, 1913-1921
I scream, you scream, but Woodrow screamed for strawberry ice cream. Keep all of your yummy flavors stored in a reliable ice-cream freezer so that those ice cream lovers can keep cool!
Warren Gamaliel Harding, 1921-1923
If Harding weren’t president, perhaps he would have been a hot dog stand owner, serving his favorite food to patrons – or perhaps eating away at profit. Either way, he would have needed a hot dog machine.
Calvin Coolidge, 1923-1929
President Coolidge was a fan of good old fashioned chicken. But how can we blame him, this dish can be fried, baked or grilled for a satisfying meal any time of the day no matter your foodservice establishment!
Herbert Clark Hoover, 1929-1933
If you were to visit the white house during Hoover’s presidency; there’s a chance you would have been offered a bowl of his favorite -Louisiana gumbo or a Maine lobster.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1933-
We’re not sure of exactly how he liked it, but we know that cheese was a favorite of this past US president.
Harry S. Truman, 1945-1953
The traditional, Senate Bean Soup, which is a soup made with navy beans, ham hocks, and onion, was a meal time favorite of President Harry S. Truman.
Dwight David Eisenhower, 1953-1961
Whose favorite meal was frozen TV dinners? Previous president Eisenhower. To maintain a frozen meal, an investment in a merchandiser freezer should do the trick.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 1961-1963
Kennedy enjoyed Vischysoisse, chicken, mashed potatoes, and always had soup with his lunch.
Lyndon Baines Johnson, 1963-1969
Tacos anyone? President Johnson was a fan of Mexican food. Investing in the best equipment for your Mexican restaurant will keep the crowd satisfied whether it’s Cinco de Mayo or a regular day of the week!
Richard Milhous Nixon, 1969-1974
What goes best with meatloaf? Nixon could probably tell you best, as this was one of his favorite meals.
Gerald Rudolph Ford, 1974-1977
Wine-stewed pork chops sound s like a delicious meal. Ford enjoyed this entre with a side of red cabbage and apples.
James Earl Carter, Jr., 1977-1981
Like others previously mentioned, chicken was an entree enjoyed by President Carter. Rotisserie chicken is a great seller in grocery stores, and restaurant alike. Why not invest in a rotisserie oven and capitalize on this foodie favorite.
Ronald Wilson Reagan, 1981-1989
In the 80s, perhaps your convenience store would have been a pit stop for Ronald Reagan as he had a love for sweets like Jelly Belly.
George Herbert Walker Bush, 1989-1993
Speaking of “junk food”, fried pork rinds was on the list of favorite for President George Bush.
William Jefferson Clinton, 1993-2001
Bill Clinton had no qualms about indulging in fast food. If you run a fast food operation, fryers and speed ovens are likely at the top of your list for commercial equipment.
George Walker Bush, 2001-2009
A good BLT or grilled cheese sandwich was enough to appease this president’s hunger pains. To prepare either of these you’ll need fresh bread, and you may find a bread slicer especially useful.
Barack Hussein Obama, 2009-2017
Unlike Clinton, President Obama was more of a healthy consumer, being a fan of nuts and organic herbal tea.
Donald Trump, 2017-
Fried macaroni bites are named one of Donald Trump’s favorites.
Do you know of some President favorites we’re missing? Share with us on social and let us know how you would serve your favorite president his favorite food in a unique recipe!