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Obama Will Be on This Special ‘Diet’ While in Jerusalem
Even though healthy food proponent First Lady Michelle Obama isn’t joining the Middle East trip, President Barack Obama will be on a special diet while at his hotel in Jerusalem later this week. That’s because the historic King David Hotel has already cleaned its kitchen of any remnants of leavened products in preparation for Passover which begins next Monday night.
Out are these carbs: bread, pasta, pizza and cheeseburgers (which aren’t kosher anyway due to the merging of milk product and meat).
Haaretz reports all 233 rooms at the hotel have been booked for the presidential entourage:
The King David will roll out the carpet, but hold the rolls. With the hotel in a security lockdown, all the food necessary for the trip and the prosperous Pesach [Passover] crowd to follow is being stored in containers out back.
When U.S. President Barack Obama said yes to a long-overdue visit next week, his first since becoming president in 2008, it’s not clear that he knew what he was getting himself into. Gastronomically, anyway.
The Passover diet commemorates the Israelites’ flight from slavery in Egypt. During the escape, there was no time for the flour to rise. Not only do Jews eat matzo (bread with no yeast, or unleavened bread) during the eight days of the holiday, they also refrain from eating any leavened products. To be considered kosher for Passover, wheat products have to be cooked in less than 18 minutes, from adding water, to final baking.
Observant Jews spend the week before the holiday combing their homes for chametz – that is remnants of cookies and other leavened contraband eaten the rest of the year around the house. A turbo-charged spring cleaning, it’s an arduous and time-consuming process that can involve the use of feathers, flashlights, and even toothbrushes to get to hard-to-reach nooks. With only one non-Sabbath day between Obama’s visit and the start of the holiday, the King David Hotel had to clean out the crumbs early.
Haaretz Correspondent Ilene Prusher writes: “Given that this has been the most foodie-focused White House to date, with the first lady declaring war on junk food and childhood obesity, it’s not clear whether this will be good for Obama’s impression of Israel or not.”
Hotel manager Dror Danino tells Haaretz the intense cleaning plus presidential food security translates to a hotel “under siege.”
Chef Michel Nabet says, “Today, there are replacements – we can do a decent roll that will taste a lot like brioche.”
“But I prevent my staff from working with a pasta that is not so good. So, we won’t eat pasta and Obama won’t either, it’s not so bad. We’ll eat more fresh vegetables – we have no shortage of ingredients.”
If the kosher for Passover fare doesn’t hit the spot, maybe Obama can have a piece of this hope sculpture prepared by an Israeli child who sent the photo to the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv:
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro posted this photo of a chocolate Obama on Facebook
The Prime Minister’s Office released this menu for the meal that Chef Shalom Kadosh will prepare for the dinner at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Jerusalem residence later this week:
First course: Ravioli filled with comfit of Jerusalem artichokes; filet of red mullet tossed with green soybeans
Pink grapefruit and pomegranate sorbet to refresh the palate
Main course: Roast fillet of beef in aromatic spices and a selection of spring vegetables
Dessert: Apple crumble mixed with red fruits; Gewurztraminer zabaglione with citrus honey
Fig and date petits fours with caramelized green almonds; coffee/tea
Blogger Eddie Gehman Kohan who covers the White House for “Obama Foodorama” writes, “Beef is a favorite dish for President Obama, who has served it at most of his own high-profile White House dinners.” She also writes that Obama has never held a red-carpet dinner for Prime Minister Netanyahu, though he did host a special dinner for President Shimon Peres in June of last year.
Obama will also attend a state dinner in Jerusalem – to which the winner of the Miss Israel contest was also invited – hosted by President Peres, where hummus, falafel and tahini sauce are on the menu, a choice that’s annoying some Palestinians.
Peres’ office told Maariv that the menu – which also includes lamb chops and zucchini flowers stuffed with mushrooms – reflects “local Israeli cuisine.”
The Times of Israel reports that Palestinian chefs “have reacted with indignation”:
Ghassan Abdul Khaleq, a Palestinian chef, told the Palestinian daily al-Ayyam that hummus and falafel are Syrian and Palestinian dishes that “never were, and never will be, Israeli.
“We, a group of Palestinian chefs, are prepared to counter this flagrant Israeli attack on our culture by preparing the official dinner for presidents Obama and Abbas,” Abdul Khaleq told al-Ayyam. “[Our dinner] will reveal the fallacious claims of the occupation and its continuous attempts to rob our folklore, this time in the presence of the president of the biggest country in the world.”
The Times of Israel writes, “the grub that lands on his actual full plate is also threatening to turn into a conflagration.”
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Comments (87)
GrayPanther
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 10:36amThey better keep the Palestinians out of the kitchen. Even better, out of the city. There will be enough hatred in town with the Obama administration.
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davycrockett
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 2:03amIt looks like bread and water. Oh! I forgot they took away all leavened products. So it will be water and bitter herbs.
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blackfeather
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 10:31amwho gives a dog squat what he eats….I have a better option.
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charper1013
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 10:04amI’m sorry, but WHO CARES what Obama eats? Why is this even news?
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tzion
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 11:22amAs someone who observes Passover, I can assure you there is reason to care. You see, eating too much unleavened bread products in a short time can lead to severe constipation later. There are ways to prevent this outcome but I doubt Obama would even care to learn them. On the other hand, since Passover doesn’t start until after he leaves he might not actually have to worry about it.
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truckinwife
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 9:53amThis is insane, maybe we need to feed the POTUS a diet of prunes, I am sure that will not effect Passover. I would have recommended beef tongue or something on that level but I don’t want to offend Israel by breaking the Passover.
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13th Imam
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 9:42amAll the stray dogs are scurrying for cover.
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HigherRoad
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 9:38amDoes Netanyahu’s entourage take up an entire hotel when he’s in the U. S.? Just wondering?
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barber2
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 10:00amHIGHER: Hey, remember Hillary’s ” It takes a village ?” ( that was way before ” what difference does it make now ?” inspiring message )
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Neils60
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 10:32amNo, Bibi books a few rooms at a hotel that’s owned by the Marriott Corp., Washington, DC.
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SamIamTwo
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 9:37am“It’s not clear that he knew what he was getting himself into. Gastronomically, anyway.”
Should it not be stated: “It’s not clear that Obama knows anything.”
He is not loved in Israel…they loved Bill Clinton…when Bill was President…just tells us how far the have moved the bar of stupid. We have moved very far left and it is now obvious to all.
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poorrichard09
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 9:41amI heard on the Roger Hedgecock show that 0blama has a FOOD TASTER.
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barber2
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 9:36amI wonder if Obama will present the Israelis with one of those Danbury Mint Michelle Obama ” Inaugural Ball ” dolls !? Unbelievable ! The first lady with her new bangs and bright red ball gown . Our new Barbie !? Guess that must be part of the ” grooming Michelle ” for Obama III campaign….just like they groomed Barack , of the hidden school records, to drone him on America. All of the ” hope and change” baloney.
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willbedone
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 9:34amTO: time 2 end
Gringos is a Mexican word. It comes from the US Cavalry troupes singing “Green Grow” the Lilacs.
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progressiveslayer
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 9:27amI recommend fugu ie puffer fish,appropriately named for the POS fraud president.
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ArmedAndReallyPissed
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 9:39amPoor Fish. What a way to go.
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HigherRoad
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 9:17amUndoubtedly Obama will think nothing of having special food flown in to fit his fancy. That is merely a minor inconvenience for Barack and Michele who are accustomed to indulging their appetites at the taxpayer’s expense.
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Dushman Kush
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 9:08amThe Israelis will serve only their best to our Leader. They realize that He is their last hope.
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oldguy49
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 9:16amthey serve crow in Israel…???
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ArmedAndReallyPissed
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 9:21amI doubt Mein Fuhrer will even go to Jerusalem. He will probably have to make an unplanned visit to the view or Pimp with a limp. You know, somewhere of real importance.
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smv803
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 9:22pmI doubt that…….they’re doing just fine without us. In fact, I felt safer in Israel than I do here.
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BondmanPhil
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 1:16pmOn the contrary, Dushman Kush: As you look younger and younger at Israeli demographics, more Israelis are realizing that the U.S.-Israel relationship is not always to Israel’s advantage. An antagonistic State Dept., dubious support from BHO and some of his predecesors, the many strings attached to U.S. aid, and the massive funding of Israel’s enemies add up to a relationship that is at best neutral for Israel. One study concluded that every dollar of U.S. aid to Israel costs Israel up to $1.40. If it were not for the U.S. telling Israel to stand down, it is likely Israel would have dealt with Iran by now already. The younger generations of Israelis are tired of the “peace process” canard, and are beginning to look upward, rather than Westward, for support.
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ArmedAndReallyPissed
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 9:04amObama Will Be on This Special ‘Diet’ While in Jerusalem…………………………………………….
PLEASE-PLEASE let it be a lead Diet !
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EgbertThrockmorton
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 3:02pmWould you REALLY want to have DrunkUncleJoe as President? You are truly a sick person.
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huey6367
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 9:00amThe sequester requires cuts across the board. So the President is only allowed to order from the Dollar Menu at Mickey D’s.
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AlbertMaslar
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 6:31pmAnd guess where the dollar is coming from?
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 8:51amBeef? A favorite dish served at most White House functions? Anybody remember the flap he caused when he traveled to Texas and refused to eat their beef? Instead he had flown in lobster, and a variety of other seafood and vegetables.
I do expect there to be an eventual flap when pulls some sort of stunt at a meal. I also feel sorry for his food taster(s).
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ShamanWorld
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 8:56am@Rj. Didn’t hear about that one. Are you sure he didn’t share the lobsters with everyone else?(surf and turf is good)if not, Barry is more of a diva than his wife.
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ArmedAndReallyPissed
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 9:47amIt will be interesting ( and shocking ) to find out how many illegal things this Communist Pig is doing right now to set himself and his Kids up for life at our expense. Hell, we might not ever get rid of him. He’s like Genital Herpes. No cure. ( not one that anyone is willing to take )
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ShamanWorld
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 8:49amObama should instead pray for some manna from heaven. He’d be wise to not eat the Israeli or Palestinian prepared food, especially with only 10 percent of Israelis having a favorable opinion of him. That means the majority of the cooks in an Israeli restaurant are anti Obama. They don’t even need to poison it, they could just spit in it. Maybe BarryO should fast for the entire trip….
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SpankDaMonkey
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 8:48am.
I think a diet of sh!$ sandwiches should suffice…….
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AUsername
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 8:47amFried Chicken Watermelon and kool aid are kosher.
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 8:52amALOSERNAME, Just everybody remember, it took this lefty to go there.
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ShamanWorld
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 8:54amNow your talkin my kind of dinner. I’ll take my kook aid in grape flavor,and light on the sugar. Thanks
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TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 9:01amLol RJJ….. “ALOSERNAME”…..
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Chromo200
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 8:47amThat is OK he will make up for the loss of his favorite foods when he comes back. Great and a palistinian chef complaining .. I wonder what they will cook .. a little lamb or goat, a lot of humus, and maybe a bowl of Fatooush, and some fool um damas .. no knives and forks to eat with … you get to eat with your right hand.
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 8:53amCHROMO200, Hehehe, I find it so fitting that he is after all left handed.
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CatB
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 9:04amBarry is left handed … I see a mess coming no matter which hand he uses.
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spirited
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 9:50amMorning RJJ
Under handed: -lol
~When one hand washes the other
~A show of hands
~On the other hand
~The left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing
~From hand to mouth
~The hand that feeds
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Kisses6350
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 8:45amWho give a flying rats ass what the POTUS eats? Blaze? Your getting a “lil Huffington Post ish”! ***Smirks***
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progressiveslayer
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 8:35amYes yes we know the dictator gobbles up copious amounts of a thick creamy substance.
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TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 8:39amProvided by Larry Sinclair et al….
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biohazard23
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 8:41amPreferably within the confines of his favorite Chicago bath house, but any one of the DC bath houses will do.
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SGT Rock
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 8:35amJust feed him an Arugala salad with lobster and Kobe steaks, wash it down with some expensive champaigne. Nothing is too good for the Dear Leader, or a.k.a. World Emperor. Every time I see him I hear the Darth Vader/Emperor musicfrom Star Wars, (dumm, dumm, da-da-dumm dumm dumm).
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GoodCook
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 8:27amDon’t forget the food taster!
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Sargeking
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 8:26amHe loves Kobe steak at $457.00 per pound. The rest of us will have to do with Hamburger Helper. I have a two for one coupon. Lucky me!
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DZ-015
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 8:23amHow many imperial food tasters are in Obama’s entourage?
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Max jones
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 8:36amI’m Italian, and if any of you gringos out there eat any spaghetti this year, I’m going to come and TP your house and egg your car. Spaghetti IS the national dish of of Italy and it pi**es me off that you can get decent sauce out of a jar.
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TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 8:49amMAX. Hmmmm, all the real Italians I know call sauce “gravy”… and never call anyone “gringos.” And give some credit to the Chinese for your national dish. Other than THAT…. this Irishman LOVES eye-talian food as our’s absolutely suks eggs !
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Eastinfection
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 9:33amTIME2….
I’ll concede that Italians have mastered dinner/ supper but we Irish do a far superior breakfast.
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TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 9:40amINFECTION. I’ll concede that point…. lol. And give you a + 1 on the chalkboard.
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spirited
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 10:07am“sugo” is “gravy”: for mashed potatos
“salsa di pomodoro” is tomato sauce: for pasta
;^>When meats are cooked in tomato sauce
Italians usually call it “sugo” ~>in Italian
and (salsa) “sauce” in English.
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woodyee
Posted on March 18, 2013 at 11:50amYeah, well, I don’t recall ever eating anything made by a mick (what did I miss?) during my time in the City(NY), but the goombas made GREAT pizza; my favorite was sicilian, and there isn’t a pizza place in my side of the valley (Ca) that makes pizza, let alone sicilian style, that’s “decent”.
And they’ve SHRUNK! When I was a kid, today’s ‘large’ pizza would be a small; slices were .15, or .25 for sicilian.
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