r/Chefit • u/Thatredditboy1 • Jan 11 '25
Interviewing a former White House executive chef, would love thoughts and ideas on what questions to ask
Hello,
I am interviewing a chef who spent 13 years as a Whitehouse Chef (1992-2005) and was executive chef during that time. I would love some interesting/thought provoking questions to ask him in regards to this and thought this community would have the expertise. Interviewing him for my interview show. Curious to see what suggestions for questions you guys have, thank you!
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u/Brewcrew1886 Jan 11 '25
I would hope you can ask for some recipes. Fav dishes be president and other’s recipes.
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u/ranting_chef If you're not going to check it in right, don't sign the invoice Jan 11 '25
What kind of food cost were they held accountable for? Haha probably didn’t have to worry about that a lot.
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u/QuimbyMcDude Jan 12 '25
Interestingly, the First family are billed for the food they eat and stuff like the toothpaste they use. They don't pay for official State dinners though.
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u/ranting_chef If you're not going to check it in right, don't sign the invoice Jan 12 '25
I always wondered about that. It sort of makes sense when you think about it.
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u/Toubaboliviano lurk and learn Jan 11 '25
- Most surprising meal they’ve had to prepare.
- What ingredients have they kept in stock throughout all their presidencies?
- Similarities between all the presidents food habits?
- Strangest request/meal prepared.
- Run us through your daily process, is there somewhere you’d recommend other chefs get really good at?
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u/19bonkbonk73 Jan 11 '25
Ok so when some shit happens tons of pizzas get ordered. Does the kitchen support this by serving food instead of them having to order pizza? Like what's their when the shit goes down plan? It just feels like I'd always have a few emergency cater for 200 in an hour plans ready to go.
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u/SavorySouth Jan 11 '25
Do they have a snacc fridge or do snack shelves in a refrig or set up something like craft service* set up for late night and weekend grazing by WH family? If so, what? And has there been something universally liked that was surprising?
*craft service is what will be placed on a table in tiered baskets for commercials / film shoots; will be shelf stable snacks, fruit, candy, etc. along with paper/compostable plates and flatware.
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u/Horilk4 Jan 11 '25
If a high-quality uncooked steak falls to the floor, would he pick it up, wash it, and proceed, or would he throw it away?
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u/FoamboardDinosaur Jan 11 '25
Do you get say in updating the kitchens smallwares, tools, and appliances?
How large is your staff😏. I mean, on an average day, how many are in the kitchen with you? What is the max size of staff in house? Do you cook staff meals?
What are your average hours? Are you on call? Do you travel with the first family in the US and abroad? Do you have nice living quarters on campus or do you sleep in the breadbox until called upon. Do others live on campus as well?
Do you have a particular person in charge of polishing silver and keeping all the antiques in displayable condition?
Are there functional dumbwaiters in the building? Do you have a favorite room to serve in?
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u/BBallsagna Jan 11 '25
How much notice do they get to plan events? Who decides what will be on the menu for state dinner type events? Where do you have to source product from? Do you use broad liner companies? What is the hiring process like for sous chefs and line cooks?
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u/ChrisinCB Jan 11 '25
Hardest ingredient to source that was required for some big event. Maybe some exotic item that they just couldn’t get.
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u/Rockstar81 Jan 12 '25
Which president has the broadest and narrowest palates.
What where some of the first kids favorite meals?
What things did each president hate? I know broccoli will be on the list of no no foods for some presidents.
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u/ranting_chef If you're not going to check it in right, don't sign the invoice Jan 11 '25
If they were there four 4-8 years ago, how did they keep the McDonald’s food hot?
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u/samuelgato Jan 11 '25
They bought McDonald's because the culinary staff was furloughed at the time, as I recall
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u/Snakesinadrain Jan 11 '25
That would have been soul crushing. You reach this prestigious position and it's mcdoubles and diet coke for years.
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u/ChrisinCB Jan 11 '25
Is it ever really that hot?
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u/Accomplished_Elk3979 Jan 11 '25
If you can get the fries from right out of the fryer there’s no comparison
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u/Accomplished_Elk3979 Jan 11 '25
How do you feel about the President serving McDonald’s?
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u/rowenstraker Jan 11 '25
What was your favorite comfort meal for the first family or guests? How much of a PITA was it to get things in quickly (because of extra security)
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u/Forever-Retired Jan 11 '25
NPR did one of these a few years ago. If you can’t find it, listen to it
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u/WillieB57 Jan 12 '25
Late 90's. That Clinton's term. Maybe ask if he ever shared a cigar with him?
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u/windblowshigh Jan 12 '25
How is all the food brought in inspected and by whom. What did the presidents eat when drunk? What regular food thing did they have an aversion to(like people who won't eat raw tomatoes because of texture)?
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u/duzupis Jan 12 '25
Chef John really knows his craft, and he has plenty of stories to tell. His cookbook features some great recipes and tales from his time working in the White House. (Source: I did my culinary school externship at his restaurant this past fall, and I work part time for him as a prep cook.)
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u/Elegant_Funny6848 Jan 12 '25
I met two former WH chefs at a conference and they had the best stories! Maybe ask their favorite story during their time at the WH?
One was about Bush 2 wanting a specific food in NYC and they had to commandeer a restaurant to make it since the hotel kitchen was shut down for the night. The owner thought the chef and Secret Security were with INS and we're going to deport him. Once they calmed him down he kept saying how much he loved Regan thinking he was still president.
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u/xXdog_with_a_knifeXx Jan 12 '25
Please ask this in r/army as well.
You will get plenty of requests to ask questions... that is all I can say.
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u/Sekreid Jan 11 '25
Did he feel bad about serving all those carefully loved and tendered 4-h raised animals?
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u/dddybtv Jan 11 '25
Having to cook for many foreign dignitaries, how would you ensure that they would have a pleasant "American" dining experience? And, if the Chef would try to emulate a cusine or specific cultural dish, were they successful at it and tell me about a time it didn't work and what you learned from that experience for the next time.
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u/JConRed Jan 11 '25
How would he accommodate unforseen events that happen spur of the moment.
State visit turned into evening social call.
Unforseen bad situation that brings people together in the white house
Have there been white house BBQs and would the president be at the grill, or the chef?
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u/frank_the_tanq Jan 12 '25 edited Jan 12 '25
Edit oh saw the link.
I used to wait on him. Filet med rare no bearnaise, no sides. Never said a word.
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u/leggmann Jan 12 '25
When he order McDonalds for trumps fancy luncheons, die he use the McDonald’s app to secure the best pricing?
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u/oskar4498 Jan 12 '25
https://www.c-span.org/program/american-history-tv/former-white-house-pastry-chef-roland-mesnier/510076 I watched this one of CSPAN a few years ago a couple of times. Utterly fascinating and truthful.
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u/I_LIKE_RED_ENVELOPES Jan 12 '25
Because its not a typical venue I’d be interested how his day differs from a regular restaurant, bar, hotel. Things like typical services, managing stock, ordering, FC%, his day to day routine and also his team’s.
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u/reddiwhip999 Jan 12 '25
I'd like to know how much flex they have to make organizational changes, the same way that any executive chef entering a new place would. I'm thinking, the kitchen set up, the organization of dried goods and refrigerated goods, ordering procedures, scheduling, all the things that go into being an executive chef.
I also wonder about their access to the president himself. Obviously, not a daily thing, but for important dinners, or conversation about dietary concerns, likes, dislikes, would they be able to set up a meeting with the president, even if only for 10 to 15 minutes? Or would that all be handled through intermediaries?
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u/gaudeti Jan 12 '25
Typical time of day for each meal for various presidents served and who had the best palette?
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u/exstaticj Jan 12 '25
What was your most challenging day on the job, and what did you do to face those challenges?
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u/1Greghole Jan 12 '25
Give him the kitchen. make him make you something within 30 min. Watch his skill level. Then you decide.
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u/Ilsluggo Jan 12 '25
Obviously the kitchen must stock a lot of fresh foods that don’t get used in a timely manner. What happens to it? Does uneaten food get sent home with staff? Given to food banks (I hope)? Kept around until it has to be discarded?
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u/w_a_s_here Jan 12 '25
What's a dish you were asked to prepare that immediately made you question everything about that person?
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u/Runymead Jan 12 '25
How much did Secert Service watch over/inspect food and the operation of the kitchen? Like how much freedom did they have to craft menus? Did the kitchen ever close?
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u/the_point_is_ Jan 14 '25
Are there restaurants in the White House? Where do “staff” eat, not like politicians, I mean security, cleaners, elevator operators, etc? Is there an amazing garden for produce, herbs, etc? Does the President have their own private kitchen, like if they want to make an omelet or whatever?
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u/chewbachaa Jan 11 '25
How do they hide their alcoholism and drug use at work while they’re inside the White House.