Posted on 10/23/2016 9:10:07 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Yes, that's right. The president perhaps most famous food-wise for his not so expansive palate dug cheeseburger pizza.
There is one food companion so loyal; it is there with us late at night and still there in the morning. It is pizza and we love it so much that across the country Americans consume an average of 350 slices per second. From Hawaiian to meat lovers, there are plenty of topping options, but President Bush said why stop there? Behold a child’s dream and a Neapolitan nightmare: the cheeseburger pizza. It comes complete with mustard, ketchup, and pickles. Cristeta Comerford, a White House chef since 2005, told reporters about the questionable combo during his tenure. “For dinner, the President loves what we call home-made ‘cheeseburger pizzas’ because every ingredient of a cheeseburger is on top of a margherita pizza.” This bizarrely constructed hodge podge of a pie has made huge inroads. Most Pizza chains now have one on the menu and many of them are the most calorific selection. The Bacon BBQ Cheeseburger pizza from Pizza Hut weighs in at 650 calories a slice. In the same breath, Comerford also noted the Presidents dedication to working out. A slice a day does not keep the doctor away.
he Bush family started with the Clinton’s White House Chef, Walter Scheib. The chef was known for sophisticated and rather complex cuisine. After some stylistic disagreements, he was replaced. “If you had a grilled cheese, a peanut butter and honey, and a BLT,” Scheib told reporters, “pretty much you’ll cover the culinary universe as far as [President Bush] is concerned.” There was also the issue of the scallops. The First Lady was not a fan and the more they appeared on the table, the less she enjoyed them. What she did enjoy was fresh American produce, with beets being a favorite. She also loved fresh pea soup with mint. The family was no fuss to feed, happy with comfort staples and repeat favorites. Unsurprisingly, the Bush family also was (and still are) great fans of Tex-Mex; the spicier the better. Huevos Rancheros were a particular weekend favorite which made the table most Sundays after church. Their first state dinner was appropriately given for Vicente Fox, President of Mexico. Crab and chorizo, followed by a pepita crusted bison gave both families familiar flavors they enjoyed. For snacking, it was tex-mex chex, a twist on the classic that the family created at the Texas Governor’s mansion. With hot sauce, cumin, and Worcestershire sauce, handfuls of it are quick to disappear.
I had planned on doing Tex-Mex but this dish was too bizarre to ignore. I have included the White House pizza dough recipe and simple instructions for the assembly thereafter. I have enjoyed more pizza than the average bear, but I think I would give this one up for President Garfield’s squirrel soup or Fillmore’s pickled eggs. You have to try everything once. If you are in DC October 29th: Please join “Soulfood Scholar” Adrian Miller and I on the morning of October 29th as we share recipes and explore the legacy of African American White House chefs at the Smithsonian Food History Weekend. A complete guide to the presentations and events can be found here. George Bush’s Cheeseburger Pizza Dough recipe from: White House Chef by Walter Scheib and Andrew Friedman
Pizza Dough
½ cup plus 2 Tbsp warm water
½ cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp active dry yeast (not quick-rising)
¼ tsp honey
1 ½ cups bread flour
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
Cornmeal to dust the pizza stone
Toppings
4 Tbsp. crushed tomatoes
3 ounces mozzarella
5 basil leaves, torn
3 strips bacon, cooked till crispy then crumbled
½ lb. ground beef, browned
1 large pickle, sliced
Sprinkle of catchup and mustard
1 ½ ounce shredded cheddar, optional
Put a pizza stone on the center rack in the oven. (If you don’t have a pizza stone, use an inverted 12 inch cast iron pan that’s been greased with olive oil). Preheat oven to 450F
Put 2 Tbsp. of the water, the flour, yeast, and honey in a stainless steel bowl. Stir together, cover with plastic wrap, and let stand in a warm place until doubled in size (20 minutes).
Add the bread flour, oil, salt and remaining ½ cup water, stir together, cover, and let it double again (20 minutes.)
Knead the dough a bit to get any air out. Roll out the pizza dough on a heavily floured surface until ½ inch thick. Let sit for 15 mins. before baking.
Top the dough with crushed tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil.
Bake for 12 mins. Add bacon, beef, pickles, and additional cheddar (if desired). Return to oven for additional 3 mins.
Dress with ketchup and mustard. Serve.
Yes, qnd real Italian pizza is pointless and often disgusting. The thing most people around the world call pizza is an American creation. It wasnt until post WWI GIs brought the idea of Italian pizza back and New Yorkiffied it that it spread nack around the world with American soldiers. Each country then adapted its own bizarre creations.
I didn’t say anything about Iraq...
You don’t even know what “SHOEMAKER STICK TO THY LAST” means. LOL
Reverse snobbery is worse than the other kind and nobody is holding a gun to your head, making you eat what you don’t want to. ;^)
“You don’t even know what “SHOEMAKER STICK TO THY LAST” means. LOL”
What kind of assumptions are you making that I don’t know what that means :-)? Is it the “eating shoes” quip I made?
Either I have a singular wit or you lack a sense of humor. Maybe its both. However, you’re certainly making assumptions that are flat out wrong unlike my experiences with the hoity-toity folks at upscale restaurants :-).
Feel free to paint whatever picture you want based on my posts. I’ll admit they’re juvenile. I think your replies to my post are proving my point about fish egg snail eaters and their problems with a superiority complex to my fellow mouthbreathers :-).
Also ... reverse snobbery? That’s a new one. Is that like reverse racism or reverse sexism (I wonder what kind of sexism is involved with transgenders and how that might be reversed ... or if that falls into the “phobe” category and is not an “ism”)? Sorry for the superfluous musings ...
(For the record FRiend ... I get your point :-) ... and lesson learned :-) ).
I have an excellent sense of humor; you're just not particularly funny, nor clever, is all.
I made an assumption, because of your self-proclaimed "childish" replies and calling caviar: "fish sperm". Posting moronic crap, to sound clever and/or funny, doesn't work; not here, nor anywhere.
Some people eat squid, some enjoy eating octopus, some even like to eat raw blowfish sushi, which can kill you, and whilst others do enjoy eating snails, I wouldn't eat any of those things.
And then there are people go to The Pam, order a steak, that costs a very great deal of money and is such a great size, even the smallest portion, that it could easily feed a family of four, a dinner meal for three days or more.
Though there is only RACISM and SEXISM, there IS, indeed, "REVERSE SNOBBERY", which your posts tend to prove that you suffer from. Thankfully, your case isn't as "bad", though, as some posters', I've seen over the years here. They almost made a profession of it.
Look, we all need food to live.
Some foods and veggies are better for you than others, prices for ALL food has gone up astronomically, these past few decades, and other food, such as chicken, have come down in price, in the past 100 years, to the point where it is shockingly cheap. Food fads come and go and then come back again. That's just how it is. :-)
“Yes, it was the “eating shoes” quip.
I have an excellent sense of humor; you’re just not particularly funny, nor clever, is all.”
LOL! Now I’m starting to think that you’re my wife posting with a comment like that :-) .
Your points are well taken. I will certainly try and engage my brain before opening my mouth next time ... (bracing myself for another insult in 3 ... 2 ... 1 ... :-) ).
What began as sort of combative, has now turned into just friendly banter and I hope that you now like me more, than you did at the start of this, as I now like you.
Friends? :-)
And I just noticed that the L, in the name of that restaurant, is missing. Good grief, I really should wear my glasses and proof read, before hitting the "send" button. ;^)
Actually, I liked you the moment you “attacked” me and put me back into place :-). We are certainly friends :-).
“Good grief, I really should wear my glasses and proof read, before hitting the “send” button. ;^)”
I will certainly proofread anything I post and completely delete it if I get ridiculous in the future :-).
In the meantime, nice meeting you, and I hope to run into you again w/o some ridiculous, not-very-well-thought-out post due to your’s truly being the focus of the discussion :-).
I’m going to grab a 6AM plate of morning escargot after coding stuff for the past 13 hours :-P ....
In any event, I hope that you enjoyed your morning snail crepes and cafe au lait. Until we meet on the next thread...just remember: WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE PARIS!. :-)
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