Tasting the ’99 Percent’: Michelle Obama’s Birthday Bash
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Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg/Getty Images
What does the 99 percent taste like?
Diners can find out at BLT Steak, the restaurant where President Obama took the first lady for her birthday dinner Tuesday night.
The steak house’s Political Burger Board features a rotating smorgasbord of inside-the-beltway-inspired options, sometimes including the 99 percent burger (the cheapest burger on the board at $9.99), and its 1 percent counterpart, which piles braised ribs, foie gras, gold leaf and Grey Poupon on top of the beef. The Obama, a more permanent fixture on the menu, costs $28 and includes half a pound of American Kobe ground beef, bacon, cheddar cheese, burned tomato ketchup and scallion mustard.
The Executive Chef Victor Albisu created the burger board this April after winning Eater DC’s Obama Burger Challenge, according to BLT Steak Executive Director of Marketing Communications Kara Kenney.
Kenney said Albisu used the Obama burger “as a muse to create other politically themed burgers that were fun but also very tasty.”
But BLT’s burgers are bipartisan. Some choices on the rotating board have included the Romney, which has roast beef and bacon, the Cain, with its pizza motif, and the Perry, a fried chicken patty burger drizzled with ranch dressing.
In an interview in November with foodie news site Eater DC, former BLT Steak General Manager Troy Bock said Michelle Obama was a familiar face around the steak house.
The first lady was once spotted there by Washington Capitals’ Captain Alex Ovechkin and was later outed on his Twitter feed.
BLT Steak isn’t the only burger joint the first lady frequents. Fans and followers caught Michelle Obama ordering a 1,500-plus calorie meal at Shake Shack on 18th Street this summer. As part of her Let’s Move campaign to curb childhood obesity, Obama has emphasized the importance of indulging – in moderation. A year ago, she admitted her love of fatty foods in an interview with ABC News’ Robin Roberts.
“I love burgers and fries, you know? And I love ice cream and cake. So do most kids,” the first lady said. “We’re not talking about a lifestyle that excludes all that. That’s the fun of being a kid. That’s the fun of being a human.”
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” A year ago, she admitted her love of fatty foods in an interview with ABC News’ Robin Roberts.”
And it sure shows.
Posted by: kate | January 18, 2012, 1:48 pm 1:48 pm
Looks like part of the story is missing…
“But according to one food blog–in a town famous for leaks–the President and Mrs. Obama ordered a 10-ounce American Wagyu steak, which at $81 is the second most expensive item on the menu, just behind the 12-ounce American Wagyu for $92.
Dessert reportedly was a special-order red velvet cake.”
And to think they could have had a nice salad and an apple!
FIFY!!!
ABO
Posted by: ceeLeelee | January 18, 2012, 1:52 pm 1:52 pm
99%?
Posted by: newcountryman | January 18, 2012, 2:06 pm 2:06 pm
The President should have taken it easy on the American taxpayer by celibrating at one of the restaurants which reduces the birthday celebrants dinner by 1% for each year. Her dinner would have been almost half off!
Posted by: Common _ Sense | January 18, 2012, 2:23 pm 2:23 pm
At least they didn’t burn any jet fuel!
Posted by: newcountryman | January 18, 2012, 2:40 pm 2:40 pm
……. figures the haters would jump all over this.
Posted by: Pete | January 18, 2012, 3:53 pm 3:53 pm
I wonder how much that cost Tax Payers? Wouldn’t it be cheaper to have the bash in the White House? I wonder how much her birthday present cost tax payers?But there is a possibility that Obama paid for it himself don’t you think? I mean with all the millions he is getting paid off from Big Corps. I guess we were lucky he did not take her out of the Country on the jet that costs One hundred thousand every time they start it up.
Posted by: Valerie | January 18, 2012, 8:11 pm 8:11 pm