US ambassador determined to get Barack Obama to try Vegemite

Herald Sun ^ | 15th November 2011 | Phillip Hudson

[naturalman1975]

BARACK Obama will be given a jar of kids' Vegemite to tempt him to try the popular breakfast spread when he arrives in Australia tomorrow.

US ambassador Jeffrey Bleich said he was a convert and told the Herald Sun he would try to change the presidential tastebuds after Mr Obama described Vegemite as "horrible".

In March, when Prime Minister Julia Gillard visited a Washington school with Mr Obama, he told students he was no fan of the traditional Australian breakfast staple, describing it as "a quasi-vegetable by-product paste".

Ms Gillard fired back that she loved Vegemite and now has the US ambassador on her side.

"You have to learn how to prepare it properly with warm toast and thick butter and thin Vegemite," Mr Bleich said yesterday.

"I'm going to locate some of that starter Vegemite for him, the one with the orange lid."

[naturalman1975]

Now, personally, despite being a true blue Australian, I hate vegemite. Six years in an Australian boarding school means I cringe at the sight of it.

But if President Obama is seen eating the mild and passive form of Vegemite specifically marketed for small children in this country... I'm not sure that's a good look.

[dfwgator]

Is Vegemite considered ‘Halal’?

[MplsSteve]

Seriously, what does Vegemite taste like?

Does it have a taste?

[muleskinner]

Vegemite = shoe polish + salt. The ambassador must not like his boss.

[surroundedbyblue]

Sorry, I love Australia but this stuff tastes like sh*t.

[sten]

try getting him to eat spam instead

if he’s actually from Hawaii... he would love it, as spam has been a local favorite since WW2

[naturalman1975]

Overwhelmingly salty. More salty than salt, I think.

And that’s the good part of it.

[tumblindice]

Tell him it costs $550.00 an ounce and he’ll eat it with a spoon.

[struggle]

HAHAHAHA, now I’m totally distracted from the economy cratering.

[jimfree]

“It’s tasty too!” - Lucille Ball

[naturalman1975]

Is Vegemite considered ‘Halal’?

Yes, actually. It always has been but Kraft chose to get it certified as such last year and it now says it is Halal on the label. Caused some controversy.

[Mount Athos]

Vegemite is the most nutritionally dense non-meat food there is. It’s brewers yeast, the leftovers from the beer making process.

It’s overpoweringly flavorful.
I love it

[Buckeye McFrog]

It is a by-product of brewing beer. I would have thought our Beer Summit President would have loved this stuff.

[jessduntno]

It tastes like chicken.

[JimSEA]

I’m ok with water boarding but this is a bit too extreme, even applied to O.

[Bud Krieger]

The best way I could describe how it tastes is :

“salty coffee” spread on toast....

[marjiwoj]

Forget the Vegemite... Can Obama speak Australian???

[Rudder]

Mix brewer’s yeast with enough mayonnaise to make a spreadable paste and serve it on whole wheat toast...grrreat!

[mdittmar]

Always liked Bovril,Health,Strength,Beauty.

[ladyvet]

Does it go bad? I've had a jar in the pantry for a couple of years and have never been brave or drunk enough to try it.