Could Kamala be the best food candidate?

July 23, 2024 by
 |  16 Comments  |  Leave Comment

In case you’ve been vacationing in an internet-free zone and didn’t hear the news, here it is: on Sunday Joe Biden exited the 2024 presidential race and endorsed Vice-President Kamala Harris. She has since secured enough pledged convention delegates to lock in the nomination, so it looks like Kamala (she prefers to use her first name) will be on the US Presidential ballot this autumn. While most candidates seem to stumble around food, whether it’s awkward burger flipping at a cookout or passing off someone else’s Instagram food photos as their own, Kamala may be the exception to the rule, says Eater’s Bettina Makalintal.

Masala dosa from Great British Chefs – Chef Recipes by Avinash Shashidhara

For starters, there is Cooking With Kamala, a cooking series that was published to Kamala’s YouTube channel in 2019, just before she ran for the Presidential nomination. In the most popular episode, she makes masala dosa with the actress Mindy Kaling. She seems comfortable – and relatable – in the kitchen. It’s clear she knows how to cook, despite having a high-powered career that includes many lofty positions like District Attorney of San Francisco and Attorney General of California.

Kamala also likes to visit a variety of restaurants, and DC restaurateurs hope that if she becomes President, she will be able to give a bump to the eateries she frequents, as Barack Obama did when he held office. (Trump only ate at one restaurant his entire Presidency, and Biden sticks to a few well-loved establishments.) Kamala is different. Says Centrolina chef Amy Brandwein, “The first thing I can say is, you know, she eats. This is a woman who enjoys food. I’ve seen her at the table, she’ll have a whole branzino.” Another chef, who has cooked at the VP’s residence, says that according to her staff, Kamala can be frequently found cooking with them in her kitchen. We’ll find out this autumn whether Kamala becomes the best food President in addition to the best food candidate.

Category: Antipasto

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16 Comments

  • sanfrannative  on  July 24, 2024

    She did make her political career in one of the great food towns…SF!!

  • susan g  on  July 24, 2024

    Yes, I miss the ‘good old days’ when the White House set high standards and had informed decisions about food. It spanned the range from late night snacks to formal dinners.

  • katsrising  on  July 24, 2024

    Love this

  • Chefsherri  on  July 25, 2024

    Focus on food, not politics.

  • Thrasymachus  on  July 25, 2024

    Kamala stands zero chance of becoming President no matter how many articles like this are produced telling us how amazing she is

  • Wende  on  July 25, 2024

    The answer is No, she will likely be the worst candidate for food! Here are two big reasons why:

    1) My interest in food, as far as a candidate goes, is that people should be able to afford it, and it isn’t likely that Harris-nomics will be any better than Bidenomics when it comes to handling inflation. Her policies, so far as they’ve been outlined, favor the continuation of inflation.

    2) If being the best food candidate is based on how many restaurants she eats in and how much food she eats, then that does not bode well for taxpayers who will be footing her potentially ginormous food bills as well as the salaries of her potentially high-profile kitchen staff!

    So, honestly, I don’t see how she can be the best food candidate unless of course it’s for her own enjoyment of food!

  • sassy_momma  on  July 25, 2024

    Really? Now Eatyourbooks is on the political train? I do not come to this website to read about politics no matter what kind of food spin. your try to put on it. Please stop, its annoying and does not sit well with all of your readers.

  • NaomiH  on  July 25, 2024

    Great article! I’ll have to see if I can find some of the earlier videos she filmed.

  • TBipp  on  July 25, 2024

    Glad to hear there may be a foodie in the White House. Thanks for the information.

  • Rinshin  on  July 26, 2024

    Please do not bring politics into here.

  • cadfael  on  July 27, 2024

    There have been quite a few books and articles in the past about the White House and food. I have a couple myself from chefs who used to work there. They are not political just interesting. It would be nice to recreate an atmosphere when it is safe to comment about food, fashion, architecture etc. because it is interesting outside of the political commentary. I appreciate the article. Thanks

  • FuzzyChef  on  July 28, 2024

    The dosa-making video is super-cute, folks should totally watch it.

  • Dr.Sam  on  August 2, 2024

    I would rather eat broken glass shards than anything that DEI candidate cooked.

  • Dthomasc  on  August 2, 2024

    One more thing to love about Kamala. Food brings people together, even the haters, I hope!

  • Sandik9562  on  August 3, 2024

    Regardless of her dining habits, she will definitely be the best presidential candidate,

  • Micklin  on  August 4, 2024

    This is so disappointing!! Geez, EYB pushing political agendas. Wow.?

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