Posted on 11/18/2013 1:59:58 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
First Couple makes a repeat visit to the nation's first certified organic restaurant... Washington, DC -- President Barack Obama spent 4-1/2 hours on Friday night celebrating close friend and Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett's 57th birthday at Restaurant Nora, a hotspot for the power elite that is notable for being America's first certified organic eatery. (Above, with Jarrett in the Blue Room)
First Lady Michelle Obama and an unidentified group of friends also attended the birthday bash for Jarrett, a member of the Obamas' inner circle from Chicago who turned 57 on Thursday.
The intimate dinner was a respite from a long week that saw the President repeatedly voicing his "frustration" over the botched roll-out of Obamacare. He spent Friday huddled in Oval Office meetings with his Senior Advisors before arriving by motorcade at the DuPont Circle restaurant at 6:58 PM in the midst of a rainstorm.
The First Lady wore a black cocktail dress and the President wore a dark suit as they celebrated with Jarrett. They often mark milestones with her; last June they traveled to Chicago to attend the wedding of Jarrett's daughter, held in the backyard of Jarrett's home. She also accompanies the First Family on their summer vacations on Martha's Vineyard.
The White House released no guest list for the dinner party, which was a repeat visit for the First Couple. The President treated Mrs. Obama to a surprise birthday party at Nora in January of 2010, which Jarrett also attended.
Located in an historic converted row house, Nora offers a pricey, eclectic menu starring American, French and Asian-inflected dishes made with seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Entrees range from $29 to $36, and the wine list is deep. This week's dinner menu {PDF}.
Chef/owner Nora Pouillon has worked on Mrs. Obama's Let's Move! campaign, visiting the White House and attending events in DC with the White House chefs. She has also cooked for Democratic fundraisers. The restaurant was certified organic in 1995, which means that at least 95% of all ingredients must be produced by certified organic farmers, growers and suppliers.
Bill and Hillary Clinton were frequent patrons of Nora during his Presidential administration. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor were both spotted dining at Nora earlier this week, local media outlets reported.
The President and Mrs. Obama were not seen by the press pool as they departed the White House, arrived at Nora, nor as they departed to return to 1600 Penn at 11:39 PM, with the rain at downpour level.
A crowd of about 15 onlookers had gathered outside the restaurant during Jarrett's party, braving the weather to try to see the Presidential entourage as the dinner concluded. They were held at a distance due to a security perimeter that included street closures.
The visit to Nora was the President's second culinary excursion of the week. On Tuesday, he treated five active-duty service members to lunch at DC's Molly Malone's, an Irish-themed pub.
President Obama had no public events scheduled on Friday after traveling to Cleveland, Ohio for a speech on the economy and to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for a Democratic fundraiser on Thursday.
President Obama has no public events scheduled for Saturday. On Sunday, the First Family will attend the Oregon State vs. University of Maryland men’s basketball game in College Park, Maryland, the White House said. Mrs. Obama's brother Craig Robinson is head coach at Oregon State.
I imagine there was a lot more talking and a lot less eating.
A strategy session to buck up the “man who would be king.”
A gathering of the vile..
She will ask if it is a Coupe de Ville..
0bammy’s Rasputin..
I don’t recall a story about President Bush celebrating Doctor Rice’s birthday. Dang one sided media. Although the Bushes probably took her to dinner quietly and didm’t make a big deal about it.
Soros for sure is part of “we”, but there are more and I wonder who they are?
How many carbon burning SUVs did these assholes show up in?
Chicago.
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