As I perused the list of presenters I noticed a number of local chefs from the Olyimpic Peninsula and Seattle. But I was surprised to discover a neighbor on the list. John Moeller from Lancaster, PA was there to lead one of the classes and to discuss his 13 year tenure as a chef at the White House. I made sure to attend and had a front row seat!
His stories were nothing short of fascinating! With great warmth and detail he recounted his service to 3 Presidents and their families and friends from 1992 through 2005. From very formal state dinners to outdoor picnics, in Washington (the other one on the east coast) to Camp David, John served such luminaries as Nelson Mandela,Tony Blair, Julia Child and Vladimir Putin. And he mentioned an interesting fact about the grocery bill at the White House. Each month the President is given the list of expenses and is required to pay for all the food consumed. And another interesting note...There are no supermarket delivery trucks pulling up to the kitchen door at the White House. The culinary staff with Secret Service agents drive an unmarked van to area suppliers to procure the necessary ingredients for the weekly menu. John also spoke of his exerience of the tragic events of 911 and how on that day his staff had been preparing for the annual congressional picnic on the south lawn. All that had to be abruptly abandoned in light of the terrorist attacks. And then later that day he described how the entire White Staff had to evacuate the building, fearing that they also were a target.
John kindly autographed for me his book "Dining at the White House" and as he did he noticed the Herr's logo on my denim shirt. "Oh, I know that," he said to me. "It's the potato chips." Out on the other end of the continent he would be the only one who would.
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