Recently in Barack Obama Category

So the heads of state attending the high-profile G20 summit in London's Docklands are to get down to the not inconsiderable task of saving the world economy today.

Well good luck with that one. But it appears the G20 circus has been both feast and famine for the world leaders and those in the hospitality industry.

There was some trouble in the City yesterday affecting Compass Group and Lexington, while later the likes of Barack Obama enjoyed a slap up meal at Downing Street prepared by Jamie Oliver.

The Ritz hotel was one of many taking no chances, electing to board up and hucker down. And thanks to Vacherin for their snap from one of their contracts yesterday that you can see at the top of this entry.

At the Excel Centre at London's Docklands where the summit proper is taking place, it's good news for Compass Group, whose Leith's brand is looking after the feeding duties. However it's not so good for Creativevents who run a number of fixed sites, a stand and on-floor catering at the exhibtion centre on a standard day and have been, essentially, kicked out for the duration.

All around caterers have had to adapt, with Elior, which has many contracts within the City, ordering in extra stock and changing some menus to temporarily make more use of dry and frozen goods in case protests affect deliveries.

Still, with most City clients facing lockdown on the premises, Simon Titchner, managing director at ISS Eaton, candidly told Kitchen Rat: "Actually the protests helped us yesterday as takings were up across the business as all customers used their internal restaurant facilities as they could not go out."

Feast and famine. Feast and famine.

G20 Sumit website>>

World leaders start G20 summit>>

Vacherin appoints head chef for first public restaurant venture>>

Recession presents "great opportunity" for contract caterers to prove worth>>

The fall out from Presiden Obama's warning about company junkets is starting to happen. Following on from VisitBritain's David Hornby's concerns the other week, US hoteliers have cottoned on to the disastrous implications Obama's 'no corporate conferences' policy could have on the industry and have banded together to lobby congress.

Newly elected President Barack Obama is being hailed as the saviour of America. Not only is he being tasked with righting the country's trashed economy and saving the world from global warming, but now wine enthusiasts are also praying for the White House wine cellar to be redeemed.

Under the auspices of tee-totaller 'Dubya', the cellar's stocks had depleted from Thomas Jeffersen's 20,000 cache to a paltry 500 bottles. To make matters worse, those served were, by all accounts, pretty awful - with wines that are described as having enough "presence" to stand up to the 55 minute state meals. No delicate aromas or subtle flavours there then.

It's hoped that the suave and sophisticated Obama, as a lover of fine food and wine, will restore the collection to something of its former glory, although foodies have already been disappointed by the retention of George Bush's white house chef, Christeta Comerford. 

Barack Obama will be inaugurated as America's 44th president today and it's not just the folks across the pond who'll be celebrating the beginning of a new era in world politics.

Over here in the UK the many US-themed restaurants and bars will be putting on special events too so make sure you head down to one of them to mark the occasion.

Momma Cheri's Soul Food Shack in Brighton is inviting people to pop in throughout the day and there'll be an open microphone giving everybody the chance to say what's on their mind. And for all those who have to work today, there'll be another party on Sunday (25 January). 

London's Chicago Rib Shack in Knightsbridge is also putting on a special party with live music, party food, free beer and footage of the inauguration ceremony taking place in Washington DC.  

TGI Fridays across London will be celebrating Obama collectively toasting him at 9pm with special American cocktails at its venues across the city. They will also be screening all the inauguration celebrations.

Arguably the largest party is taking place at the O2 Arena's Indigo, with the 20109 Change event featuring celebrity performances as well as a live feed to Washington DC to see the inauguration of Obama as it happens.

Finally Madame Tussauds is unveiling a new statue of Barack Obama in a detailed recreation of the Oval Office. Admission is free to all US citizens with valid ID today, and footage of the inauguration ceremony will be shown live in the World Leaders zone.

Among Barack Obama's many important appointments to office is not actually whether Hillary Clinton will be Secretary of State but who will be named as the new White House chef.

According to the New York Daily News, it seems that there are three chaps in the running to cook for the US President Elect. 

Celebrity chat show host and flagrant Obama supporter Oprah Winfrey's former personal cook and Chicago restaurateur Art Smith is the front runner, as well as another Windy City chef Rick Bayless, who owns two Mexican restaurants in Obama's hometown. Denver-based chef Daniel Young, is the final candidate, who it seems was wrongly rumoured to have cooked for Obama at the Democratic National Convention.

At least whoever gets the gig will be able to be a little more creative than Dubya's chef, who allegedly spent eight years refining the BLT and white bread grilled cheese sarnies and burgers.

Barack Obama's historic landslide victory over Republican rival John McCain last night was not only good news for Democrats and those of a liberal persuasion.

Hospitality operators across London and the UK were also celebrating as ex-pats and interested observers packed into pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels to watch the drama unfold into the early hours.

There were 200 guests at The American Bar at the Stafford Hotel near Mayfair 300 at the Chicago Rib Shack in Knightsbridge, while a whopping 800 turned out at Yates's Wine Lodge, in Leicester Square.

The scene was repeated in bars and hotels across Europe, including Ernest Hemingway's favourite watering hole in Paris, Harry's Bar.

And it wasn't just Europe. Hotels and bars across Asia were packed to the rafters, with the Marriott in Beijing alone seeing 600 punters watching state after state turn Democrat blue. 

Your correspondent was far more professional, watching BBC until the early hours while tucked up in bed...

US presidential candidate Barack Obama proved that despite the gravity of the ecomonic crisis, food is still the way to American voters' hearts.

In a recent speech in West Philadelpia he mentioned pie not once, not twice, but 15 times to raucous cheers from the audience each time he uttered the word.

Sweet potato pie was the favourite with 13 mentions, followed by quickie nods to lemon meringue and coconut cream pie.

And we wonder why Americans have an obesity problem! Doh.