Showbiz Heavyweights Attend Michelle Obama's Beverly Hills Fundraiser

Harvey Weinstein, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Steve Bing, Quincy Jones, Berry Gordy, Rob Reiner, Reed Hastings; $35,800 per couple...Transcript
After getting Jay Leno to eat his vegetables on The Tonight Show on Tuesday, First Lady Michelle Obama in the evening attended a high-dollar Democratic National Committee fundraiser in Beverly Hills. Held at the home of former Ambassador to the Bahamas Nicole Avant and her husband, Ted Sarandos of Netflix, President Obama's 135 donors were deep-pocketed show biz supporters.

They included film powerhouses Harvey Weinstein, Arnon Milchan, and Jeffrey Katzenberg; Netflix CEO Reed Hastings; music industry powerhouses Quincy Jones and Berry Gordy; Jerry Ross, co-founder of A&M Records; film producer/real estate mogul Steve Bing; Irena and Mike Medavoy; Rob and Michele Reiner; and recording artists/producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Vivica Ferrell, wife of comedian Will Ferrell, was also on hand; they will host a Los Angeles fundraiser for President Obama later this month. Tickets started at $5,000 per person, and $35,800 per couple got a special greeting and photo with the First Lady. Joshua Radin performed.

Mrs. Obama will attend a DNC luncheon on Wednesday in Los Angeles, after hosting a Let's Move! event and filming The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Transcript of the First Lady's remarks:

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the First Lady
____________________________________________________

For Immediate Release
January 31, 2012

REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY
AT A CAMPAIGN EVENT

Private Residence
Beverly Hills, California

6:56 P.M. PST

MRS. OBAMA: Well, thank you so much. (Applause.) It's always a pleasure to be here, and it's an honor to be with all of you.

And I want to start by thanking my dear friend, Ambassador Avant -- love saying that. And thank you for that kind introduction, but as I told her, she is a pretty phenomenal woman herself -- taking one for the team, awesome; just being there, so steadfast. (Applause.) And, Ted, what a smart man. (Laughter.) It's all I can say. You all have a beautiful family. You all have been just such terrific friends. I can't thank you enough for your steadfast support and love.

And I also want to thank Joshua Radin for performing, and his crew. (Applause.) Thank you so much for being here.

And I want to thank all of the host committee, everybody. We have -- this is a fabulous crew. Four years -- three years ago -- how long has it been? (Laughter.) You remember that first time? You all did a great job. (Laughter.) Remember that? We know you're going to do it again. You all are just -- become true friends, and we wouldn't be able to do this without you. We truly couldn't.

And I want to thank everybody else, all of you, for taking the time to be here this evening.

And I know that there’s a reason why you're all here tonight, and it's not just to see me -- because it's a little chilly out here and I know you Californians aren't used to the cold air. (Laughter.)

But you’re here because you know that we stand at a fundamental crossroads for our country. You’re here because you know that in less than a year from now, we are going to make a choice that will impact our lives for decades to come.

And you’re here because you know that choice won’t just affect all of us; it will affect our children, it will affect our grandchildren, and it will affect the world that we leave for them long after we’re gone.

And that is why I am here tonight. That’s why I'm here tonight, that's why I'm going to be out here for the next year, that's why we're ready for four more years. (Applause.)

As First Lady, I have had the privilege of traveling across this country, meeting folks from all different backgrounds, and hearing what’s going on in their lives.

And every day, I hear about how folks are struggling to keep it together -- how they're trying to pay the bills, how they’re trying to keep that business afloat. I hear about how they're taking that extra shift, how they're working that extra job; how they’re saving and sacrificing, never spending a dime on themselves because they desperately want something better for their kids.

And make no mistake about it, these struggles are not new. For decades now, middle-class folks have been squeezed from all sides. The cost of things -- basic things: gas, groceries, tuition -- have been continuously rising, but people’s paychecks just haven’t kept up.

So when the economic crisis hit, for far too many families the bottom just completely fell out. Now, over the last few years, your President has worked very hard to dig us out of this mess. And he has made -- we have made some magnificent progress. (Applause.) We have had 22 straight months of private sector job growth, and the unemployment rate is now the lowest it’s been in nearly three years. (Applause.)

But we know that there are still a lot of people struggling, and we have a long way to go. And we've been working hard to rebuild this economy based on a vision, your President's vision, a vision that we all share -– the belief that, as Barack says, that hard work should pay off; that responsibility should be rewarded; and that everyone -- everyone -- should get a fair shot, and do their fair share, and play by the same rules. These are basic American values. These are the values that so many of us were raised with, including myself.

And you know my story: My father was a blue-collar worker, city water plant. My family lived in a little-bitty apartment on the South Side of Chicago. Neither of my parents went to college, but they worked, and they saved, and they sacrificed -- shoot, my mom is still sacrificing for us -- because they wanted something better for me and my brother.

And more than anything else, that is what’s at stake -- that fundamental promise that no matter who you are, or how you started out, if you work hard, you can build a decent life for yourself, and an even better life for your kids. That's what's at stake.

And on just about every issue -– from health to education to the economy -– that is the choice we face.

For example, when we talk about tax cuts for the middle class, or unemployment insurance for folks out of work, we're talking about whether people can heat their homes. We're talking about whether folks can put a meal on the table, put gas in their car so that they can go look for work. I mean, these kind of cuts are about whether folks can afford to own a home, send their kids to college, retire with a little dignity and security. It’s about whether people will have more money in their pockets, which means more money in our economy, which means more jobs.

That’s what’s at stake. That's the choice we face.

And if we think for a minute about what this administration has done to stand up for the American consumer -- I’m talking about families getting hit with those hidden credit card fees; I’m talking about students -- our students, America's students -- drowning in debt; seniors -- our seniors, America's seniors -- losing their homes, losing their savings because they were tricked into loans they couldn’t afford, couldn't understand.

And that’s why my husband created a new consumer watchdog with just one simple mission, and that is to protect folks from exactly these kind of abuses. That's what it's about. Because he believes that when you’ve worked, and you’ve saved, and you've followed the rules, you shouldn’t lose it all to someone looking to make some easy money. That’s not fair. That's not right. And, believe me, your President is working hard to do something about just that.

And what about all that we have done together for our small businesses? I mean, these are the companies that create two-thirds of all new jobs each year -- two-thirds of all new jobs. I’m talking about the mom who opens the drycleaner on the corner to help provide for her kids, or the family that's been running the neighborhood diner for generations, or the veteran who launches a startup and pursues that American Dream that he fought so hard for.

See, these are the folks who work themselves to the bone during the day, then they head home and pore over the books into the night, determined to make the numbers add up. And for these folks, the small business tax cuts that this President has passed mean the difference between hiring new employees or handing out pink slips; it's the difference between keeping their doors open, or closing up shop for good.

That's the choice that we're going to make in this election.

And then, of course, we can't forget the very first bill my husband signed into law -- the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to make sure that women get equal pay for equal work. (Applause.) The very first thing he did as President.

And he did this because he knows what it means when women aren’t treated fairly in the workplace. And he watched his own grandmother -– a woman with a high school education –- work her way up to become vice president at a little community bank. And she worked hard, and she was good at her job. But he watched as she hit that glass ceiling that is so familiar to so many, and she watched men no more qualified than she was -– men she had actually trained -– be promoted up the ladder ahead of her.

So believe me, Barack, for him, this issue is not abstract. This isn't hypothetical. And he signed the bill because he knows that closing that pay gap, that can mean the difference between women losing $50, $100, $500 from each check, or having that money to buy gas, groceries, school clothes for their kids.

He did it because when nearly two-thirds of women are breadwinners or co-breadwinners, he knows that women’s success in this economy is the key to families’ success in this economy. And he did it -- (applause) -- he did it because, as he put it, we believe that here in America, there are no second-class citizens in our workplace.

And that is what’s at stake.

And let’s talk for just a minute about health care. Because last year, we all made history together by finally passing health reform. (Applause.) We all did that. But now, there are folks who are actually talking about repealing that reform. So today, we have to ask ourselves, are we going to stand by and let that happen? Are we going to let insurance companies refuse to cover basic things like cancer screenings and prenatal care that don't just save money, but save lives? Or will we stand up for our lives, and for the lives of the people we love?

What are we going to do? Are we going to go back to the days when insurance companies could deny our children coverage because they have a pre-existing condition like cancer, diabetes, even asthma? Or will we stand up and say that in this country, no one should ever have to choose between going bankrupt or watching their child suffer because they can’t afford a doctor?

And when our kids get older and graduate from school, we know how hard it is for them to find jobs that provide insurance. That’s why, as part of health reform, kids can now stay on their parents’ insurance until they’re 26 years old -- 26 years old. (Applause.) And today, that is how 2.5 million of our young people are getting their coverage.

So will we take that insurance away from our kids? Or will we say that we don't want our sons and our daughters going without health care when they’re just starting out, when they’re just trying to build families and careers of their own? But that is the choice we face.

And think, for a moment, about what has been done for education. I mean, think about all the investments made to raise standards and reform our public schools. I mean, this is about improving the circumstances for millions of children in this country. Kids that we know today are sitting in crumbling classrooms -- our kids, kids with so much promise, kids who could be anything they wanted if we just gave them a chance.

And think about how this President has tripled investments for job training at community colleges. I mean, this is about hundreds of thousands of hard-working people who are determined to get the skills they need to get a better job and better wages. I mean, these folks are doing everything right, everything they’re supposed to. They’re working full-time. They’re raising their kids. But they still make it to class every evening, study late into the night because they desperately want something better for their families.

And make no mistake about it, these investments in our students, in our workers will determine nothing less than the future of our economy. It will determine nothing less than whether we’re prepared to make the discoveries and to build the industries that will let us compete with any country, anywhere in the world. That’s what’s at stake.

And let’s not forget what it meant when my husband appointed those two brilliant Supreme Court Justices, and for the first time in our history, our daughters and sons watched three women take their seat on our nation’s highest court. (Applause.) And we cannot forget the impact their decisions will have on our lives for decades to come -- on our privacy and security, on whether we can speak freely, worship openly and, yes, love whomever we choose. That’s what’s at stake. That’s the choice that we are facing in this election. (Applause.)

And, finally, let’s not forget all that this administration has done to keep our country safe and to restore our standing in the world. (Applause.) And thanks to our brave men and women in uniform, we finally brought to justice the man behind the 9/11 attacks and so many other horrific acts of terror. (Applause.)

My husband ended the war in Iraq and brought home our troops for the holidays. (Applause.) And we are working vehemently to give our veterans and their families the kind of education, employment, and benefits that they have earned.

And because my husband ended "don’t ask, don’t tell," our troops will never again have to lie about who they are to serve the country they love. (Applause.) That is what’s at stake. (Applause.) That is what’s at stake.

So make no mistake about it -- I mean, whether it’s health care or the economy, whether it’s education or foreign policy, the choice we make will determine nothing less than who we are as a country and, more importantly, who do we want to be. I mean, who are we?

Will we be a country where opportunity is limited to the few at the top? Who are we? Or will we be a place where if you work hard, you can get ahead no matter who you are or how you started? Who are we? Will we tell folks who’ve done everything right, but are still struggling to get by, are we going to tell them, tough luck, you’re on your own? Who are we?

Or will we honor the fundamental American belief that this country is strongest when we’re all better off? What’s it going to be? Will we continue all the change we’ve begun and the progress we’ve made, or will we allow everything we’ve fought for to just slip away? Because that’s the choice, and those are definitely the stakes.

And, believe me, Barack knows this better than anybody. He understands these issues, because he’s lived them. He was raised by a single mother he watched struggle to put herself through school and pay the bills. This isn’t a joke. When she needed help, his grandmother stepped in, waking up every morning to catch some bus before dawn to that job at the bank. And even though she was passed over for those promotions, she didn’t complain. She just kept on showing up and doing her best.

So Barack knows what it means when a family struggles. He knows what it means when someone doesn’t have a chance to fulfill their potential, because those are the experiences that have made him the man and, more importantly, the President he is today. And we are blessed to have him. (Applause.)

And that’s what I hear in his voice when he returns home after a long day traveling around the country and he tells me about the folks he’s met. And I see that in those quiet moments when the girls have gone to bed and he’s up poring over letters and briefings, letters from people all over the country. The letter from the woman dying of cancer whose insurance company won’t cover her care; the letter from the father still struggling to pay his family’s bills; the letter from too many young people with so much promise, but so few opportunities.

And I hear the passion and the determination in his voice. He says, "You won’t believe what folks are still going through." That’s what he tells me. He says, "Michelle, this ain’t right, and we have to fix this. We have so much more work to do."

And I tell this to everybody, but when it comes to the people he meets, Barack has a memory like a steel trap. He might not remember your name, but if he's had a few minutes and a decent conversation with you, he will never forget your story. It’s like it becomes imprinted on his heart. And that's the things he carries with him every single day -- it’s our collection of struggles and hopes and dreams.

And that is where Barack gets his passion. That’s where Barack gets his toughness and his fight. And that’s why, even in the hardest moments when it seems like all is lost and we're sweating it, and we’re sweating him -- (laughter) -- Barack never loses sight of the end goal. He sees it so clearly. He never lets himself get distracted by the chatter and the noise. He just keeps moving forward.

Because he has a vision for this country. A President has to have a vision. He has a vision that we all share. But I have said this before and I will say it again -- many of you has heard me before -- he cannot do this alone. That was never the promise -- never. I know I didn’t make it. (Laughter.) He needs your help. (Applause.)

He needs your help. We need your help. He needs you to make those phone calls, write those checks, but register those voters. He needs you to take the “I’m In” cards, sign them. Get your friends and neighbors and colleagues to sign them. Convince people what’s at stake, and ask them to give just a little part of their lives each week to this campaign.

Because we all know that this is not just about one extraordinary man. It never was -- although I think he is fabulous, my husband. (Laughter.) He's very cute and he can sing, go figure. (Laughter and applause.) This is really about us. This is about all of us. It always has been. It’s about us coming together for the values we believe in and for the country we want to be.

And I’m not going to kid you, this journey is going to be long and it is going to have many twists and turns along the way. But the truth is that that’s how change always happens in this country, always. The reality is that change is slow. Real change -- real change never happens all at once. But if we keep showing up -- if we keep fighting the good fight, if we keep believing in the country that we know is right -- then eventually we get there. We always do. We always get there in this country -- maybe not in our lifetimes, but maybe in our children’s lifetimes, maybe in our grandchildren’s lifetimes.

Because in the end, that’s what this is all about. In the end, we’re not fighting these battles for ourselves. We’re fighting them for the children in our lives, our sons and our daughters, our grandsons and our granddaughters. We’re fighting for the world we want to leave for them. It’s about them.

And I’m in this fight not just as a mother who wants to leave a legacy for my children. I’m in this as a citizen who knows what we can do together to change this country for the better. Because the truth is that no matter what happens, my girls will be okay. My girls are blessed. They will have plenty of advantages and opportunities. And I know that’s probably true for many of your kids as well.

But I think that the last few years have shown us the truth of what Barack has always said: that if any child in this country is left behind, then that matters to all of us, even if she is not our daughter, even if he is not our son. If any family in this country struggles, then we cannot be fully content with our own family’s good fortune.

In the end, we cannot separate our individual stories from the broader American story, because we know that in this country we rise and we fall together. That’s who we are. (Applause.) That’s who we are. (Applause.)

And we know that if we make the right choices and have the right priorities, we can ensure that everyone in this country, everyone gets a fair shake and everyone has a chance to get ahead. That’s what’s at stake.

So, folks, it is time for us to get moving. It is time for us to get to work. (Applause.) So I have one last question: Are you all in this? Are you in this? (Applause.) Wait, wait, wait -- come on. I need to -- I know it’s a little chilly, but I need to know: Are we in this? (Applause.) Are you all ready to get fired up about this like me? Because I am ready. (Applause.) I hope you all are ready to go, because I look forward to being out there. I’m going to be out there hard, and we’re going to need you with us every single step of the way.

Thank you all so much. God bless. (Applause.)

END 7:20 P.M. PST
##

Let's Move! Success: Michelle Obama Gets Jay Leno To Eat Veggies On "Tonight Show"

First Lady talks about her new book, her childhood obesity campaign, and gifts Leno with a jar of White House honey...Video
On Tuesday, First Lady Michelle Obama achieved her goal of getting Jay Leno to eat some vegetables during an appearance on The Tonight Show to promote her Let's Move! campaign--and to talk Campaign 2012. During the taping of the NBC show in Burbank, Leno's desk was turned into a buffet, complete with slices of veggie-topped pizza, a cone-shaped basket of baked sweet potato fries, and apples. The First Lady had run a mini campaign on Twitter to encourage Leno to try some veggies, and she sweetened the deal by bringing along a big jar of White House Honey, from the beehive that sits beside her Kitchen Garden. (Above: Mrs. Obama with Leno and his buffet)

Leno told Parade magazine in a 2006 interview that he hadn't eaten a vegetable since 1969.

"I admit my diet is not good," Leno said during his monologue. "My idea of fruit salad is a bowl of Skittles. The only fiber I get is when I eat a slice of pizza and the cardboard from the box gets stuck in the cheese."

Mrs. Obama was all smiles as she encouraged Leno to try the healthy feast: "You are such a role model for millions, it would be wonderful," she said. He started with the veggie pizza, which was topped with eggplant, green peppers and zucchini, and made with a whole-wheat crust.

"This a good way for people of your ilk, who don't like vegetables, to incorporate them," Mrs. Obama said.

"That does smell very good. I assume this is sausage-pepperoni,” Leno joked, and added "it's not bad," after taking a few bites. "It would be better with sausage and pepperoni."

He hailed the sweet potato fries as "quite good."

"I heard you haven't had an apple in a decade," Mrs. Obama said, as she offered a plate of apples to Leno. "And with some of our White House honey, if you dip it, it will help it go down just a little easier."

“’White House honey.’ That sounds bad," Leno quipped. "You know, with a different president that could mean a whole different thing, ‘a little White House honey.’”

Leno dipped his apple in the honey, and took a bite. He got a big round of applause.

Mrs. Obama also discussed her forthcoming book, American Grown, which will be published in May. The book cover was flashed onscreen.

"It's about the Kitchen Garden," she said. Asked if the White House will ever have a cattle herd to go along with the beehive and the garden, Mrs. Obama said no, and credited First Dog Bo.

Asked by Leno if she has any veggies she doesn't like, Mrs. Obama said beets.

"I am not a beet lover," Mrs. Obama said. "I believe there is a beet gene, and I don't have it." It's a theory the First Lady first posited during a Ladies' Home Journal cover story in 2010.

Leno had a surprise for Mrs. Obama: He took out a plate of beets, and offered her some.

"Tricky, tricky," Mrs. Obama said.

"All I ask is that you try ," Leno said.

The First Lady took a bite, wrinkling her nose, and got cheers. Mrs. Obama may not like beets, but they were in the salad she served during her luncheon for the APEC Leaders Spouses last November in Hawaii.

"She ate every bite," Chef Ed Kenney, who cooked the meal, told Obama Foodorama.

Mrs. Obama also discussed President Obama's new career as a singer--thanks to Al Green--daughters Malia and Sasha, and the re-election campaign.

Leno eats an apple and White House honey in this clip:



Leno's White House gift...
The First Lady's beehive is the first to ever be on White House grounds, and was installed when she first planted her Kitchen Garden in 2009. Overseen by beekeeper Charlie Brandts, it produced 243 pounds of honey in 2011. The honey is used for everything from First Family meals to State Dinners, and jars of it have been included in Mrs. Obama's diplomatic gifts, including a garden-centric gift for His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, during President Obama's State Visit to the UK in 2011. White House honey is also used to make White House homebrewed beer. (Above: A jar of White House honey; the lid reads "from the South Lawn")

Mrs. Obama, on a two-day swing through Los Angeles, spoke at a DNC reception on Tuesday evening, and will tape The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Wednesday. She'll also attend a Let's Move! event on Wednesday morning, before heading to a DNC luncheon.

The President last appeared on The Tonight Show in October of 2011, and after joking to Leno that the White House was in danger of getting egged on Halloween thanks to his wife's insistence on including dried fruit in treat bags handed out to costumed school kids, more candy was actually added to the treat bags.

*NBC photo & video; honey photo by Obama Foodorama

Ask Michelle Obama About Let's Move!

CNN hosting video Q & A for First Lady's second anniversary celebration; deadline is Feb. 7...
First Lady Michelle Obama is taking a page from President Obama's virtual playbook, and answering questions submitted via video about her Let's Move! initiative. CNN is running the project, ahead of the second anniversary of the campaign, which Mrs. Obama will celebrate next week with a visit to Des Moines, Iowa.

"Interested parties can post a video for Mrs. Obama by noon ET on Tuesday, February 7," CNN said, asking that these be kept short: "under 15 seconds works best for video questions." The network also invited participants to "share an update from your community on how people are combating childhood obesity."

In Iowa, Mrs. Obama will host an event at the Wells Fargo Arena, joined by thousands of kids and Gov. Terry Branstad, the Republican leader who has adopted his predecessor's Healthiest State program, a public-private partnership with a goal of making Iowa the nation’s healthiest state by 2016. The project is the key reason Mrs. Obama is visiting Des Moines, according to an aide.

"I’m looking forward to visiting Des Moines and celebrating all that Let’s Move! and Iowa have done to help our kids lead healthier lives," Mrs. Obama said.

The First Lady celebrated the one-year anniversary of her campaign in 2011 in Georgia, with a speech at North Point Community Church in Alpharetta and a visit to Burgess-Peterson Academy in Atlanta. She launched the campaign at the White House event in 2010. An overview of the campaign is here.

President Obama on Monday held his first-ever virtual interview from the White House.

*CNN photo

Video: President Obama's Virtual Interview

President Obama on Monday held his first-ever virtual interview during a "hangout" on Google +. A follow up to last week's State of the Union Address, the President answered questions ranging from why he's sending money to Afghanistan to plans for his upcoming twentieth wedding anniversary.

"It was the first online conversation to happen at the White House in real time -- ever," the White House said. "More than 227,000 people had taken time to participate -- submitting questions for the President to answer or voting for their favorite."



*White House photo by Pete Souza

Publication Pushed To May For First Lady Michelle Obama's New Book "American Grown"

Publisher cites production issues and a different cover: Mrs. Obama's book about gardening and healthy eating has a new subtitle, too...
First Lady Michelle Obama's inspiring book about the White House Kitchen Garden, American Grown, will be published on May 1 rather than its previously announced date of April 10, according to a spokesman from Crown Publishing Group. The lavishly photographed book, which includes personal stories and recipes, also has a new subtitle: "The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America." Above, the new book jacket, with the new subtitle.

The original subtitle was "How the White House Kitchen Garden inspires families, schools and communities." Crown spokesman Tammy Blake said "the new subtitle reflects a collaboration between the author and the publisher." The book was first announced in March of 2011, at the time allowing just 13 months to the project's debut. Pushing the publication date by three weeks is due to production issues, according to Blake.

"The production process for this beautifully illustrated four-color book took a little longer than anticipated," Blake said.

The photographic efforts to document Mrs. Obama working in her garden for American Grown began the day the book was announced, and included Mrs. Obama's most recent Fall Harvest event in 2011. Acclaimed food/lifestyle lensman Quentin Bacon got the assignment, which included battling 100 degree heat during the May 30 cover shoot with Mrs. Obama. Bacon's work has appeared in celebrity chefs' bestsellers, including books by Mario Batali and Ina Garten. (Above: Bacon with Mrs. Obama during a photo session for the book)

"We are very pleased to be able to publish it in advance of Mother's Day," Blake said of American Grown.

Crown has pegged part of its major promotional sales push for the First Lady's first outing as an author to Mother's Day, touting it as "the perfect gift" to book sellers. The publisher has promised author appearances to promote the book, but neither the White House nor Crown will confirm where or if these will occur. Promotional efforts will include social media, TV, print ads, and author interviews. The 256-page hardcover will sell for $30 in the US market.

Mrs. Obama took no advance for the book, and will donate her proceeds to an unnamed charity, according to Crown. (Above: The now collectible cover art released by Crown in October of 2011, with the old subtitle)

Mrs. Obama will appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Tuesday, Jan. 31, and NBC announced that she will be talking about the book. It is one of three TV appearances for Mrs. Obama this week, ahead of the two-year anniversary of the Let's Move! campaign.

*Cover art courtesy of Crown Publishing; Bacon photo from Quentin Bacon

Rachael Ray Dishes On Her Day With First Lady Michelle Obama...And Worries About Paula Deen

Healthy school lunches, exercise, the Super Bowl, White House dating: Exclusive interview with First Lady will air on Wednesday...

By Marian Burros

Rachael Ray, talk show host and cook, couldn’t stop talking. From her interview with Michelle Obama, set to air on Feb. 1, to her anxiety about fellow chef Paula Deen, there was no dead air when Obama Foodorama caught up with her last week. Ray still hadn’t come down from her high after an appearance on Wednesday morning with the First Lady at Parklawn Elementary School in Alexandria, VA, where Mrs. Obama unveiled the new federal regulations that put more fruits and vegetables and whole grains in school meals, while removing some of the sugar, fat and sodium. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was on hand for the long-awaited announcement, too. (Above: Mrs. Obama and Ray eat lunch with the Parklawn kids)

“There’s no more pleasurable way to spend the day than what I did,” Ray said.

Mrs. Obama gave Ray a shout out as she unveiled USDA's new standards: “I want to give a special hello to Rachael Ray, who’s a special guest here. She has been a true advocate on this issue for quite some time, and we're just thrilled that she's here with us today.”

Later, Mrs. Obama described the Southwestern showcase lunch she enjoyed in the school's cafeteria, made with Ray's recipes, as “nice and well prepared.”

Or in Ray's words, Yum-O. Mrs. Obama, Ray, and the Secretary sat down with 200 plus second and fourth graders to feast on ground turkey tacos with black beans and corn salad, brown rice, and fresh fruit and milk. And to add a little icing to the cake, Vilsack asked Ray for the taco recipe. She also joined the Secretary for a special conference call with reporters.

“It feels like a vacation," Ray said. "Because there’s good food and the joy of the First Lady coming and sitting down here and Sec. Vilsack and the kids and enjoying what will be part of the new school lunch. I love to be able to work with schools and add flavor like ground coriander and improve the kids’ palates.”

Ray interviewed Mrs. Obama in the school's library, sitting on child-sized chairs with a background of books. Ray was last at the White House in June of 2010, when she joined Mrs. Obama for the launch of the Chefs Move to Schools project. Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass and Second Lady Jill Biden have both appeared on Ray's show.

"Mrs. Obama chatted about how excited she is about coming up on the second year" of the Let’s Move campaign, Ray said. “About the Super Bowl and exercise.”

The First Lady also discussed the dangers of having a teenage daughter who's approaching dating age: Malia Obama turned 13 last July.

"Who should the boys be more afraid of, you or your husband?" Ray asked Mrs. Obama.

Mrs. Obama also told Ray she "absolutely" misses grocery shopping now that she's in the White House.

"That's why I have my little secret Target runs," Mrs. Obama said. One of which happened to be captured on film by a veteran White House photographer who has traveled abroad with Mrs. Obama.

Ray ponders pizza as a vegetable...
Her day with the First Lady had one annoying little cloud for Ray. She said she didn’t understand why so many people insisted on mentioning that Congress had weakened the school lunch regulations by allowing a serving of pizza to be considered a vegetable (because of the tomato paste on it) and insisting that potatoes be allowed on the menu every day--including French fries. (Above: Ray in the lunchline at Parklawn)

“There’s so much good," Ray told Obama Foodorama. "It’s very exciting to see such a major and substantive turn around, seeing all of these great strides come to life.”

“I don’t think we should be focusing on pizza. Whether your opinion is it’s a problem or not a problem, you have to see the large picture: That pizza on the menu will be accompanied by leafy green vegetables."

"The only level playing field we have is the school for attacking hunger and obesity and the subsequent diabetes. Can you image the health care costs for the next generation and we’ve done this to them. There are kids under 10 who are already on diabetes medication. I feel so sorry for them.”

Healthy recipes, promotional deals, and Deen...
Diabetes, cooking show hosts. Paula Deen recently announced she has diabetes, in fact she has had it for three years, and has inked what is reported to be a $6 million deal with pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk to be the spokesperson for Victorza, an injectable diabetes medication. At the same time, Deen continues to promote less-than-healthy recipes, and to make butter, sugar and salt companies richer by touting foods laden with these products.

Ray said she has "no opinion" on Deen's very disconnected value net. But she is worried about Deen.

"I love Paula, I think she has been a hard worker," Ray said. "She loves food and she loves people. I feel very anxious for her. She is going through an anxious time."

"I’ve always loved her I’m sure she’s trying to balance it out for herself in her own home and what she’s going to share with her audience. It must be a very personal thing."

Asked about her own less-than healthy food promotions on her show and website, Ray defended these. On Ray's website, the promotional clip for her interview with Mrs. Obama features advertisements for food and exercise, including one for Twix candy bars.

“On our website we always try to have healthy options though we don’t always think about diabetes on our show," Ray said. "Every day we are not teaching lean, mean cuisine but the food I cook in my own home is balanced. “

On the other hand the Super Bowl is coming.

“I always try to cook for Super Bowl," Ray said. "I don’t like low fat or no fat cheese. I think you should eat a moderate diet. Then you don’t feel so bad if every once in awhile you want a chili dog.”

Or her 7-Layer Chili Dog Dip, which is laden with full-fat sour cream and cheese, as well as hot dogs, chili con carne, beans, and salsa.

"The seven layer--forget it," Ray said, gleeful, by way of enthusing about her signature recipe.

Ray and Alliance for a Healthier Generation...
Ray's school lunch recipes that were served at Parklawn were developed for her work with Alliance for a Healthier Generation, former President Bill Clinton's non-profit foundation with the American Heart Association, created to combat childhood obesity. Mr. Clinton, pounds lighter than when he was in the White House and now a vegan after battling heart disease, is not the type to enjoy 7-Layer Chili Dog Dip. Ray's healthy school lunch recipes are available to schools nationwide, according to the Alliance, and will be used in the National School Lunch Program. (Above: Ray with Vilsack during their conference call)

Mrs. Obama's interview with Ray is part of a TV triple-header this week: She's also appearing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Jan. 31, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Feb. 2. On Feb. 9, Mrs. Obama kicks off a three-day national tour to celebrate the second anniversary of the Let's Move! campaign with a visit to Des Moines, Iowa.

*Click here for Ray's Parklawn recipes, adapted for home use.

*Top photo by Reuters; second by AP; Vilsack photo courtesy of Rachel Ray

Michelle Obama Launches Twitter Campaign To Get Jay Leno To Eat His Veggies

Tonight Show host doesn't like the First Lady's favorite food group: "We'll see about that!" Mrs. Obama tweets...
UPDATE: The First Lady gets Leno to eat his veggies
"I don't think I've had a vegetable since 1969," comic Jay Leno told Parade magazine in 2006.

"My mother gave up on trying to make me eat them."

Six years later, First Lady Michelle Obama is stepping in as Mom in Chief: She's launched a Twitter campaign to get Leno to eat some vegetables onscreen when she joins him on Tuesday, Jan. 31 in his Burbank studio to film The Tonight Show. (At top: Mrs. Obama with Leno during a 2008 appearance)

".@JayLeno says he never eats vegetables…we'll see about that! #LetsMove to get Jay to eat some veggies on #TheTonightShow on 1/31! -mo," the First Lady tweeted on the Let's Move! account.

Mrs. Obama will promote the upcoming second anniversary of her campaign when she visits Leno, ahead of a three-day tour which kicks off on Feb. 9 with a visit to Des Moines, Iowa. Leno has not yet responded to Mrs. Obama's tweet, but he's been vocal about his love of unhealthy food, and jokes about it on his show. He's never actually eaten a salad, he said. (Update: Leno retweeted Mrs. Obama late today)

"I eat a lot of junk food like pizza hamburgers and hot dogs. When I have a soda, I have a soda — not a diet soda," he told Parade.

Leno has also joked about Let's Move!. Last October, he aired a doctored video clip of Mrs. Obama punching out NBC's Al Roker during an interview when they were discussing her efforts to get kids physically fit.

Mrs. Obama's veggie challenge to Leno is her first personal tweet on the @LetsMove account--distinguished from staffers' tweets by the "mo" signature--though the account debuted in February of 2011. The First Lady's own @MichelleObama account launched on Jan. 12 this year. She will be taking questions from followers of that account this week, according to a tweet from a staffer. (Above: Mrs. Obama's Leno tweet)

The visit to The Tonight Show is her first appearance as First Lady, though Mrs. Obama appeared via satellite from the White House in March of 2010 to do Leno's segment 10 @ Ten, responding to questions about President Obama's habits. Mrs. Obama also joined Leno for a studio visit in October of 2008, weeks before Mr. Obama's election victory. NBC says Tuesday's outing is the first appearance from a First Lady on a late-night TV chat show.

The President last appeared on The Tonight Show in October of 2011, and after joking to Leno that the White House was in danger of getting egged on Halloween thanks to his wife's insistence on including dried fruit in treat bags handed out to costumed school kids, more candy was actually added to the treat bags. (Above: The President and Leno backstage during the visit)

More TV, and a Let's Move! event in Los Angeles...
Mrs. Obama will be in Los Angeles from Jan. 31-Feb. 1, and she will also tape The Ellen DeGeneres Show to promote Let's Move!; that interview will air on Thursday, Feb. 2. Mrs. Obama has one Let's Move! event scheduled during her LA trip. On Wednesday morning, she will attend an event with Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts and Robert Ross, CEO of The California Endowment, to highlight efforts to eliminate food deserts. She will also speak at a DNC fundraising reception on Tuesday night, and at a fundraising lunch on Wednesday.

Mrs. Obama knocks out Al Roker in this Leno clip:



Related: There has been one White House Tweetup for the Let's Move! campaign, held in October of 2011, as Mrs. Obama hosted the Fall Harvest of her Kitchen Garden. Check the sidebar of the blog for White House vegetable recipes.

*Top photo courtesy of Warner Bros./Michael Rozman/AP; the President with Leno by Pete Souza/White House; video from The Tonight Show

Excerpts From President Obama's Remarks, 99th Annual Alfalfa Club Dinner

The White House on Sunday released tidbits from President Obama's remarks at the 99th Annual Alfalfa Club Dinner, held Saturday night at the Capital Hilton by the exclusive members-only social club for the nation's elite. Over a dinner of Lobster and Filet Mignon, the President joked about his reputation, crooner Al Green, and his "We Can't Wait" campaign.  He ribbed club members Warren Buffett, House Speaker John Boehner, seated at the head table, and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush.

"One of my big goals this year was to get out and be among everyday, ordinary Americans -- like the men and women of the Alfalfa Club," President Obama quipped to his audience of billionaires and powerbrokers.

The black-tie event was closed to press. First Lady Michelle Obama accompanied her husband as a noisy protest from Occupy DC went on for hours outside the hotel, which included a human blockade to prevent guests from entering the party, and throwing glitter bombs at fancily dressed VIPs.

"It is great to be here tonight, because I have about 45 more minutes on the State of the Union that I’d like to deliver tonight," President Obama opened.

"You've heard it from the pundits: "Obama is cloistered in the White House." "He's aloof." "He's in the bubble." "He's not connecting,"" the President said. "And that’s why one of my big goals this year was to get out and be among everyday, ordinary Americans -- like the men and women of the Alfalfa Club."

The hundreds of Occupy DC protesters were making this same point outside of the hotel, shouting "shame! shame! shame!" as they noted that the dinner is for the 1% of powerbrokers they decry as having ruined the US economic system. Protesters threw glitter bombs at arriving guests, and created a human blockade to try to prohibit entrance.

"At least my harshest critics can agree I have a promising future -- as a Al Green impersonator," President Obama said.

The President sang a few bars of Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" at a campaign fundraiser in New York two weeks ago, causing an almost 500% rise in the sales of Green's single.

The Alfalfa Club annually nominates a member to serves as President, and this year it was Jeb Bush, who visited the President on Friday at the White House, joined by his father, former President George H. W. Bush, also a member guest at the dinner.

"It is great to see Jeb Bush, who is accepting a nomination for President tonight," President Obama said. "I have to say, though, it's not fair to tease your friends like that."

President Obama has engaged in a series of Executive actions to continue his agenda without Congress, and Boehner heard about it.

"And Speaker Boehner, it is good to see you at the head table. I know how badly Eric Cantor wanted your seat. But, John, I want you to know: I am eager to work with members of Congress to be entertaining tonight. But if Congress is unwilling to cooperate, I will be funny without them."

Warren Buffett's secretary, Debbie Bosanek, has become the face of President Obama's campaign to reform tax law, after he proposed "The Buffett Rule" last September, following an op-ed from Buffett in which the billionaire opined that he paid a lower tax rate than his underling.

"I’d like to acknowledge a very good friend of mine -- Warren Buffet’s secretary’s boss is in the house," President Obama said.

Bosanek was seated in the First Lady's Box during the State of the Union Address.

The President had a few serious moments in his speech.

“Let us never forget the extraordinary privilege that we share as Americans, and the responsibility that we all have, as leaders, to the continued success of this country that’s made so many of our stories possible,” he said.

Guests spotted on the red carpet entering the dinner included tech entrepreneur Steve Case; Sen. John Kerry (D-MA); Sen. Pat Leahy (D-VT); and Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr.. Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) was among those who got glitter-bombed by Occupy DC as he crossed the street to get to the red carpet with companions. (Above: A photo of the Alfalfa Dinner entree, tweeted by Chef José Andrés, a guest at the dinner)

There are about 200 current Alfalfa Club members, who include Colin Powell, Madeleine Albright, Tom Daschle, Newt Gingrich, Alan Greenspan, Vernon Jordan Jr., and Steve Forbes. The Alfalfa Club was founded in 1913, with its primary function being to celebrate the birthday of Confederate Civil War General Robert E. Lee (born Jan. 19, 1807). The annual dinner is its only event, and is held on the last Saturday in January each year. The club didn't admit African Americans as members until 1974, and women had to wait until 1994.

President Obama last attended the Alfalfa Club dinner in 2009.

"This dinner began almost one hundred years ago as a way to celebrate the birthday of General Robert E. Lee," President Obama said in 2009. "If he were here with us tonight, the General would be 202 years old. And very confused."

The name of the club comes from the alfalfa plant's reputation of doing anything for a drink.

*Entree photo by José Andrés; top photo by AP

On The Menu As President, First Lady Attend Alfalfa Club Dinner: VIPS, Filet Mignon & Protest

UPDATE: EXCERPTS FROM OBAMA'S REMARKS
Hundreds of members of Occupy DC held a large, noisy protest in front of the Capital Hilton on Saturday night, but it didn't prevent President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama from arriving on time for the 99th Annual Alfalfa Club Dinner. An exclusive organization with members from America's 1% power elite, the Alfalfa Club exists for the sole purpose of hosting the affair on the last Saturday of every January. As is always the case, the dinner was closed to media, who were not allowed to hear President Obama make his comedic remarks. The President's pool, held far away from the action, had just one glimpse of Mrs. Obama all night; she wore a floor-length gown in red. (Above: Mrs. Obama in a red gown at a 2011 black tie affair; it is one of her favorite colors)

Among the moguls and politicos spotted on the red carpet, held under a white tent in front of the hotel and away from the protest: President G. H. W. Bush and his son Jeb Bush, former Governor of Florida, who visited with the President on Friday afternoon at the White House, as well as President George Bush; President Obama's favorite billionaire, Warren Buffett; tech entrepreneur Steve Case; Sen. John Kerry (D-MA); Sen. Pat Leahy (D-VT); and Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr.. Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) was among those who got glitter-bombed by members of Occupy DC as he crossed the street to get to the red carpet with companions (video below).

The Alfalfa Dinner menu is always the same...
Acclaimed DC chef José Andrés was one of the few guests who tweeted about the event, which included tweeting to Obama Foodorama the photo, above, of his entree. It was a rare Filet Mignon and vegetables; the Alfalfa Club Dinner menu is the same each year, and also includes Lobster.

"At the Alfalfa club dinner.....one unique experience...i feel like Forrest Gump," Andrés tweeted as he entered the dinner.

His next tweet read "now they say that if you tweet they throw you out....." And then after the dinner Andrés sent the entree photo, noting : "im breaking the rules? You owe me one." Andrés hosted Mrs. Obama and a party of pals at his Oyamel restaurant in DC on Friday night.

President attended dinner in 2009...
The Alfalfa Club was founded in 1913, with its primary function being to celebrate the birthday of Confederate Civil War General Robert E. Lee (born Jan. 19, 1807). The club didn't admit African Americans as members until 1974, and women had to wait until 1994.

"This dinner began almost one hundred years ago as a way to celebrate the birthday of General Robert E. Lee," President Obama said in 2009. "If he were here with us tonight, the General would be 202 years old. And very confused."

There are about 200 current Alfalfa Club members, which include Colin Powell, Madeleine Albright, Tom Daschle, Newt Gingrich, Buffett, Alan Greenspan, Vernon Jordan Jr., and Steve Forbes. Gingrich did not attend this evening; he's campaigning in Florida. Former Presidents Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon were members, as are the Bushes. The Alfalfa Club's name is a reference to the plant's supposed willingness to do anything for a drink.

The President and Mrs. Obama arrived at 7:02 PM and were back at the White House by 9:25 PM. They traveled the very short distance from the Capital Hilton to the White House in a 16-vehicle motorcade, which dropped them off and picked them up beneath the white tent in front of the hotel. The President's press pool enjoyed a sandwich buffet at the hotel, heavy on roast beef and turkey, as they were held far away from the action.

The 99% protest the 1%...
Thanks to the Occupy DC protest, there was a heavy security presence, which included police on horseback, street closures and barricades. Protesters carried banners and signs, and some women stripped off their shirts so they could not be touched by police. The protest was much tweeted, and there was a livestream of the action. Occupy DC has been given until Monday by District officials to vacate two encampments, both located within blocks of the White House. The National Park Service is scheduled to dismantle the encampments. (Above: Police on horseback face the Occupy protesters)

The video below, from Occupy DC, shows Sen. Lieberman getting glitter bombed as protesters shout "shame shame shame!" The protest delayed but did not prevent guest arrivals.



Occupy DC protesters were last out in force in front of the White House on the First Lady's birthday on Jan. 17, as the President and Mrs. Obama celebrated at nearby BLT Steak.

*The 2011 Alfalfa Club Dinner program, courtesy of Occupy DC.

*Entree photo by José Andrés; protest photo by AP; video from Occupy DC

As President Obama Attends Alfalfa Club Dinner, Members Of Occupy DC Stage Protest

Singing, dancing, stripping, and glitter throwing as protesters descend on exclusive dinner...
UPDATE: A FULL POST ABOUT THE DINNER IS HERE.
President Obama on Saturday night attended the 99th Annual Alfalfa Club Dinner, an exclusive event for the nation's powerbrokers put on each year on the last Saturday in January by the members-only social club. Held at the Capital Hilton, the area was surrounded by a heavy police presence as the President, accompanied by First Lady Michelle Obama, arrived at 7:02 PM in the presidential limousine, part of a 16-vehicle motorcade. Protesters from Occupy DC filled streets near the hotel, chanting and holding up signs and banners, throwing glitter, and later dancing in the area. Protesters tried to block guests from entering, but were unsuccesful. A large white tent was set up in front of the hotel for secure arrivals. The dinner featured comedic remarks from the President and was closed to press, who instead covered the protests. (Above: Glitter rains down on police during the protest)

Some women Occupy DC protesters took off their shirts, in theory preventing police from touching them. Police on horseback moved among the crowd, who were held back by barricades. (Above: Shirtless protesters from Occupy DC)

Occupy DC has been given until Monday by District officials to vacate two encampments, both located within blocks of the White House. The protest continued as the Alfalfa Dinner progressed.

"Protesters still dancing, mingling. This is great for morale, given what we're facing on Monday," tweeted @OccupyKSt more than an hour after the President and Mrs. Obama arrived. The K street encampment is located in McPherson Square.

Occupy DC protesters were last out in force in front of the White House on the First Lady's birthday on Jan. 17, as the President and Mrs. Obama celebrated at nearby BLT Steak. Hundreds gathered outside the gates of the North Lawn, and threw a smoke bomb over the fence, which caused a White Housue lockdown and the closure of Pennsylvania Avenue.

The protest on Saturday night was much tweeted, and there was a livestream of the action. Above, with this photo of police on hand to contain the protest, @mmorri tweeted "Pepper spray super speakers at #alfalfadinner #occupydc."

*Top photo by AP; other photos by Mike Morris, @mmorri

Tonight: President Obama, First Lady Will Attend Exclusive Alfalfa Club Dinner

Members-only club founded to celebrate birthday of Confederate Civil War General Robert E. Lee...
UPDATE: A FULL POST IS HERE. Occupy DC was out in force to protest the dinner.
President Obama will deliver remarks at the 99th Annual Alfalfa Club Dinner at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC this evening. First Lady Michelle Obama will also attend the 7:15 PM affair. The dinner is always closed to press, and always held on the last Saturday each January. The private, exclusive membership of about 200 is former Presidents, Cabinet Secretaries, Supreme Court Justices, lawmakers, and powerful business leaders. Each is allowed to bring two guests to the affair. The menu is always the same: Filet Mignon and Lobster, so the steak-loving First Couple should be pleased.

President Obama's remarks will be comedic, as is the tradition at the Alfalfa Club. It was founded in 1913, with its primary function being to celebrate the birthday of Confederate Civil War General Robert E. Lee (born Jan. 19, 1807). President Obama spoke at the dinner in 2009. The club didn't admit African Americans as members until 1974, and women had to wait until 1994.

"This dinner began almost one hundred years ago as a way to celebrate the birthday of General Robert E. Lee," President Obama said. "If he were here with us tonight, the General would be 202 years old. And very confused."

Presidential Alfalfa Club members...
During the course of the dinner, the Club's leadership will nominate a presidential candidate to serve for the year; the candidate is then required to make a speech. Several past candidates went on to become US Presidents after being nominated, including Richard Nixon in 1965 (elected in 1968), Ronald Reagan in 1974 (elected in 1980), and George W. Bush in 1998 (elected in 2000). In 2001, the Club's presidential nomination went to Sen. John McCain (R-AZ). He had no luck with the US presidency. President Bush's father, President George H. W. Bush, is in DC this weekend: He and his son, Jeb Bush, former Governor of Florida, met with President Obama in the Oval Office on Friday evening. The White House released a photo of the meeting, but did not include it on President Obama's official schedule for the day (above).

The Alfalfa Club's name is a reference to the plant's supposed willingness to do anything for a drink.

*Bush photo by Pete Souza/White House.

Friday Night Dinner Party For First Lady: Michelle Obama & Friends At DC's Oyamel Restaurant

A repeat visit to Chef José Andrés' Chinatown eatery...
Perhaps tired from his three-day, five-state tour this week, President Obama was not part of his wife's dinner party on Friday night as First Lady Michelle Obama paid a visit to Washington, DC's Oyamel. Mrs. Obama arrived at the Chinatown restaurant at about 6:30 PM with a large group of friends, according to a source inside the popular eatery, and stayed for more than two hours. Owner/executive chef José Andrés, a partner in Mrs. Obama's Let's Move! campaign, was on hand to greet the First Lady. He was in the audience on Wednesday as Mrs. Obama announced USDA's new school nutrition standards. Andrés also appeared on CBS This Morning to discuss Mrs. Obama and the healthier school meals.

The First Lady's security detail was very busy...
Mrs. Obama and her party of about ten dined in Oyamel's glassed-off private area in the main dining room. She has visited the restaurant before, and unlike some of her "incognito" culinary adventures in DC, such as repeat visits to BLT Steak, this one was hard to miss. Agents flanked the busy main dining room, noisy with an end-of-week crowd. In front of the restaurant, on 7th Street NW, the area was partially blocked off, and filled with an armed security detail. Patrons hoping to dine were lined up to be wanded and patted down by Secret Service, who also searched handbags and briefcases. Guests were asked to put these down on the sidewalk to the side, for a thorough search. (Above: The exterior of Oyamel)

The First Lady left after 8:30 PM, exiting out a back door of the restaurant into her waiting motorcade. She loves Andrés' cooking: Since moving into the White House, Mrs. Obama has dined at his Greek/Mediterranean restaurant, Zaytinya, at least three times. Members of the First Lady's entourage were also later spotted dining at Andrés' nearby Jaleo restaurant; the chef stopped by to chat with them, too.

Perhaps Mrs. Obama was in the mood for Oyamel because she visited Florida on Thursday to announce a commitment from Goya Foods to the Let's Move! campaign, and to attend DNC fundraisers. Goya is the largest Hispanic food company in the US.

Andrés is a big fan of Twitter, but he is the most discreet chef who has cooked for Mrs. Obama, and never tweets about the visits of his most high-profile regular guest. But he did tweet about her efforts with school lunch.

"On my way to hear Ms. Obama give a speech about School lunch reform..awesome! Biggest contribution of a First Lady to USA ever @BarackObama," Andrés tweeted before he joined Mrs. Obama at Parklawn Elementary School in Alexandria, VA.

The Oyamel menu...
A cookbook author and host of the PBS show Made in Spain, the James Beard Award-winning Andrés has been a superstar on the DC restaurant scene for more than two decades. Oyamel's menu stars small plates, "Anojitos," billed as "the little dishes from the streets," which include items such as Carne Apache, grass-fed beef with sweet onion, pickled cactus, serrano chile, cilantro and smoked pasilla de Oaxaca chile oil for $11, and Ceviche de Atun Pacifico, Tuna with Maggi-lime marinade, scallions, avocado, toasted pecans, jalapenos and crispy amaranth ($12). There's also "Authentic Mexican" tacos in hand-made corn tortillas, a wide variety Carnes (meats) and Mariscos (seafood), as well as salads and vegetables, all ranging in price from $7-$14. The dinner menu [PDF].

Watch Andrés in action on CBS: (he comes in at 2:30)



Information: Oyamel is located at 401 7th St NW, Washington, DC, 20004. Phone: (202) 628-1005.

*Top photo by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama; Oyamel photos courtesy of Oyamel; CBS video