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Title details for Dinner With the President by Alex Prud'homme - Wait list

Dinner With the President

by Alex Prud'homme
Pat Grimes
Audiobook (Includes supplementary content)
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Some of the most significant moments in American history have occurred over meals, as U.S. presidents broke bread with friends or foe: Thomas Jefferson's nationbuilding receptions in the new capital, Washington, D.C.; Ulysses S. Grant's state dinner for the king of Hawaii; Teddy Roosevelt's groundbreaking supper with Booker T. Washington; Jimmy Carter's cakes and pies that fueled a détente between Israel and Egypt at Camp David. Here Alex Prud'homme invites listeners into the White House kitchen to reveal the sometimes curious tastes of 26 of America's most influential presidents, how their meals were prepared and by whom, and the ways their choices affected food policy around the world. What our leaders say about food touches on everything from our nation's shifting diet and local politics to global trade, science, religion, war, class, gender, race, and so much more. Prud'homme also details overlooked figures, like George Washington's enslaved chef, Hercules Posey, whose meals burnished the president's reputation before the cook narrowly escaped to freedom, and pioneering First Ladies, such as Dolley Madison and Jackie Kennedy, who used food and entertaining to build political and social relationships. As he weaves these stories together, Prud'homme shows that food is not just fuel when it is served to the most powerful people in the world. It is a tool of communication, a lever of power and persuasion, a form of entertainment, and a symbol of the nation.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    June 13, 2023

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781666642049
      • File size: 466905 KB
      • Duration: 16:12:43

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      For listeners who hunger for presidential trivia or who love food or history, this book on presidents and their food will be a treat. Narrator Pat Grimes serves up heaping helpings of fun facts and delectable details about presidential favorites ranging from George Washington's squirrel stew to Donald Trump's fast food. Grimes offers a solid narration. His voice is generally authoritative without sounding pedantic. He expresses humor and even surprise at appropriate moments. There are few direct quotes, so Grimes doesn't try to imitate presidents' voices. The author focuses on presidents in generally chronological order, and each presidential chapter is organized by themes. This episodic structure makes for easy listening and allows listeners to start and stop without losing the sense of the overall narrative. This work is a feast for the ears. R.C.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
    • Library Journal

      June 10, 2024

      Journalist Prud'homme (The French Chef in America) offers a well-researched account of presidential eating habits, with the White House kitchen at center stage and the president as the Eater-in-Chief. Prud'homme, who is Julia Child's great-nephew, was inspired by her documentaries describing sumptuous state dinners at the White House. His research reveals presidential food preferences and the ways in which food choices have shaped U.S. politics. For example, Ronald Reagan's love of jelly beans caused consumption of the candy to skyrocket, while the Obamas' vegetable garden spurred healthier eating for many. White House kitchens change with the presidents and reflect their likes and dislikes, many of which are borne out of their childhoods. Abraham Lincoln was fond of cornbread and raw honey, while Dwight D. Eisenhower sought out the simplicity of squirrel stew; Harry S. Truman was a self-identified meat-and-potatoes man, and Lyndon B. Johnson loved Texas barbeque. Pat Grimes narrates Prud'homme's insightful book with clarity and enthusiasm. He provides an animated yet measured performance, imparting delicious details while stressing Prud'homme's observations about the power of food to show honor, respect, generosity, and caring. VERDICT A delectable listen. Share with listeners interested in food and its intersection with politics and history.--Joanna M. Burkhardt

      Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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