Obamas Minibar: President And First Lady Eat At Jos? Andr?s Restaurant On Valentine's Day

WASHINGTON -- The Obamas ate Valentine's Day dinner at chef Jos? Andr?s' restaurant Minibar.

It was a choice that pleased foodies, and caused some grumbling among those who were held up by the Obamas' security in D.C.'s Penn Quarter neighborhood.

Others wondered how the first couple scored reservations at the restaurant, which takes only six diners per seating.

Politico notes that Andr?s -- who was named "Outstanding Chef? by the James Beard Foundation in 2011 and was named 2012 Chef of the Year by the Daily Meal -- is a fan of the president.

According to the Obama Foodarama blog, the feeling is very mutual.

Minibar specializes in inventive food with a hefty pricetag -- 20-plus courses start at $225. The Washington Post's Tom Sietsema, who wrote a disappointing review of the restaurant in December, paid $1800 for his party of four, after tip.

When contacted by The Huffington Post, Minibar representatives declined to say what the Obamas ate during their Valentine's Day meal. Northern Virginia Magazine notes that while the restaurant's menu changes regularly, "munchies" may include Cotton Candy Eel, "Dragon's Breath" Popcorn and Boneless Chicken Wing, while dessert could be Saffron Gumdrop with Edible Wrapper or Chocolate Covered Corn Nuts.

The Obamas have been widely praised for their support of D.C.'s restaurants.

• Wells Blue Bunny Ice Cream, Le Mars, IA

  Josh Haner, a staff photographer for <em>The New York Times</em> who covered the GOP races in Iowa, shared in this article with NY Times blogger James Estrin that Wells Blue Bunny Ice Cream in Le Mars, Iowa, is a must-visit for candidates racing through the state.? <a href="http://www.thedailymeal.com/over-top-burger-toppings-slideshow?utm_source=huffington%2Bpost&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=eat%2Bto%2Bbe%2Bpresident" target="_hplink"><strong>Click here to see Outrageous Burger Toppings</strong></a> <em>Photo Credit:</em> ? <strong>Wells Blue Bunny Ice Cream</strong>

• The Machine Shed, Rockford, Ill.

  Famous for its chocolate-covered bacon and Krispy Kreme cheeseburger, The Machine Shed in Rockford, Ill., has been visited by Mitt Romney and Rick Perry this year. <a href="http://www.thedailymeal.com/coolest-people-food-slideshow?utm_source=huffington%2Bpost&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=eat%2Bto%2Bbe%2Bpresident" target="_hplink"><strong>Click here to see The Coolest People in Food</strong></a> <em>Photo Credit:</em> ? <strong>The Machine Shed</strong>

• Lizard's Thicket, Columbia, S.C.

  Perry and Santorum both enjoyed some down-home Southern cooking at this South Carolina joint. The restaurant has hosted rallies for half the GOP candidates this year and was Hillary Clinton's restaurant of choice during her 2008 campaign for president in Columbia.? <a href="http://www.thedailymeal.com/what-stars-eat-between-takes-slideshow?utm_source=huffington%2Bpost&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=eat%2Bto%2Bbe%2Bpresident" target="_hplink"><strong>Click here to see What the Stars Eat Between Takes</strong></a> <em>Photo Credit:</em> ? <strong>Lizard's Thicket</strong>

• Comma Coffee, Carson City, Nev.

  Comma Coffee is a relatively new kid on the block to political campaign stops, but since they opened their doors in 2000, they have hosted Hillary Clinton, President Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Dennis Kucinich, Ron Paul and even former President Jimmy Carter. <a href="http://www.thedailymeal.com/americas-50-most-powerful-people-food-2012-0?utm_source=huffington%2Bpost&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=eat%2Bto%2Bbe%2Bpresident" target="_hplink"><strong>Click here to see America's 50 Most Powerful People in Food</strong></a> <em>Photo Credit:</em> ? <strong> Journalist </strong>

• Wings Plus, Coral Springs, Fla.

  According to The Sun Sentinel, former President George W. Bush put Wings Plus on the political campaign map in Florida by campaigning there for re-election in 2004. This campaign season,?Wings Plus has hosted rallies for Herman Cain, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich. <a href="http://www.thedailymeal.com/americas-15-best-french-fries-slideshow?utm_source=huffington%2Bpost&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=eat%2Bto%2Bbe%2Bpresident" target="_hplink"><strong>Click here to see America's Best French Fries</strong></a> <em>Photo Credit:</em> ? <strong>Wings Plus</strong>

• Pizza Ranch, Hull, IA

  Ames.Patch.com says that there have been more than 35 visits by Republican candidates this year to Pizza Ranch restaurants in Iowa. The sudden popularity is explained by Dennis Goldford, a political science professor at Drake University. "It's a very convenient location where, presumably, the people who go there know what Pizza Ranch is about. It's a good place to find like-minded people who are open to this kind of message." He's referring to the chain's web site language, where they state their vision is "to glorify God by positively impacting the world we live in."? <a href="http://www.thedailymeal.com/america-s-most-outrageous-grilled-cheese-sandwiches-slideshow?utm_source=huffington%2Bpost&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=eat%2Bto%2Bbe%2Bpresident" target="_hplink"><strong>Click here to see America's Most Outrageous Grilled Cheese Sandwiches</strong></a> <em>Photo Credit:</em> ? <strong>apolitics</strong>

• Tommy's Country Ham House, Greenville, S.C.

  Tommy's is a de rigueur stop for candidates on the trail in South Carolina. The Greenville restaurant made headlines this year when both Romney and Gingrich's campaigns booked events for the same time on the same day. Although a Ham House showdown was avoided by some creative rescheduling, both candidates cracked jokes at their rescheduled appearances. "Callista and I are thrilled to be here, but I have a question -- where's Mitt?" Gingrich joked. "I thought he was going to stay and maybe we'd have a little debate here this morning. So I'm kind of confused."? <a href="http://www.thedailymeal.com/americas-oldest-restaurants-slideshow?utm_source=huffington%2Bpost&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=eat%2Bto%2Bbe%2Bpresident" target="_hplink"><strong>Click here to see America's Oldest Restaurants</strong></a> <em>Photo Credit:</em> ? <strong>Tommy's Country Ham House</strong>

• Charlie Parker's Diner, Springfield, Ill.

  Mitt Romney visited this Springfield, Ill., diner for pancakes and omelettes during a campaign stop in March. While there, Romney told a joke, comparing Charlie's Famous Giant Pancake, to the Puerto Rico primary results: "These pancakes are about as large as my win in Puerto Rico last night, I must admit," Romney said. "The margin is just about as good." <a href="http://www.thedailymeal.com/where-eat-if-you-want-be-president-slideshow?utm_source=huffington%2Bpost&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=eat%2Bto%2Bbe%2Bpresident" target="_hplink"><strong>Click here to see More Places to Eat If You Want to Become President</strong></a> <em>Photo Credit:</em> ? <strong>Jimmy Wayne</strong>

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/14/obamas-minibar_n_2691242.html

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