A craving for fast food has seen President Barack Obama forego his usual lunch date in the White House and head straight to a burger bar. With a similarly peckish vice president Joe Biden in tow, the head of state fired up the motorcade for a brief trip to a suburban eatery by the name of Ray's Hell Burger....
Despite the VIP status of the two diners, normal rules applied with both men forced to stand in line for their slab of meat in a bun........
Mr Obama opted for a cheddar cheese burger with spicy mustard. His right-hand man went for a similarly classic American dish. Perhaps in a bid to repay the Washington press corps for largely favorable reporting, a generous-minded Mr Obama even offered to feed the gathered hacks.
"Who's taking orders here? My treat to the pool. Who want's a burger?" the president asked. Take up was mixed.
Surprised staff appeared reluctant to take money for the order, but Mr Obama insisted. "We're paying, or these people are gonna write about how we're free-loading," he said, referring to the newsmen and women present.....
Having paid - even leaving a tip of five dollars - Messrs Obama and Biden sat down at a table and had their lunch.
Mr Obama opted for a cheddar cheese burger with spicy mustard. His right-hand man went for a similarly classic American dish.I don't think that I've ever heard a cheeseburger, especially a cheddar one with mustard, described as a "classic American meal" before.
Five dollars? That’s like about a 2% tip for all the food he ordered.