Jeff Houck

The Tampa Tribune’s food writer since 2005, Jeff Houck covers the way people live through their food. He also hosts the Table Conversations food podcast and believes that everything crunchy is good.

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Presidential Tastebuds

Posted Nov 2, 2005 by Jeff Houck

Updated Nov 2, 2005 at 01:33 PM

An illuminating - if slightly snotty - interview by Deborah Solomon in the New York Times Magazine of former White House chef Ariel de Guzman was featured in Sunday’s edition.

An excerpt from the article:

I imagine you have fed many world leaders.

We ask them first if they are allergic to certain food. For one thing, Prince Bandar of Saudi Arabia - he won’t eat shellfish. He’s a constant visitor to the residence, and he is a very nice guy.

And when Bush was president and traveled overseas, did you ever worry that he would be poisoned?

No. Our guys will be in the kitchen, watching the preparation. It’s our guys who pick up the plate and serve the food to the president without anyone else touching it.

What about his drinks?

When he asks for a vodka on the rocks, it’s our guys who mix it from our own supply that we have to bring all the way around the world with us. Nobody knows that.