Obama: Nancy Pelosi 'One of the Best Speakers of the House This Country Ever Had

President Barack Obama heaped praise on House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi Saturday night, and predicted she will be back in the speaker's chair when 2013 rolls around.

"I am biased, but I think Nancy [Pelosi] was one of the best speakers of the house this country ever had," Obama said after the California Democrat introduced him at a gala for the National Italian American Foundation.

"She was no doubt the best Italian American speaker of the house we ever had," he continued. "And I believe that she will be the best speaker of the house again in 2013."

Pelosi, the first female speaker of the U.S. House, lost the title to Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) after the 2010 midterm elections.

Obama made several other comments to try and connect with the Italian American audience, lamenting at one point, "I do not, in fact, have any Italian ancestry. Not all of us are that lucky."

"I can't cook as well as any of your grandmothers," he added. "Michelle won't let me have seconds or thirds anymore."

"So all I've got to offer is a last name that ends in a vowel," Obama said. "That's all I've got."