![]() ![]() SM: That bill’s important because it puts small farmers at the forefront and they seem to be forgotten because the market’s been so monopolized by companies that aren’t doing it for the wrong reasons, but have a different outlook on growing commodities. LH: For people that don’t know, can you explain the nuts and bolts of the farm bill? Things I’m more worried about are things like the farm bill and the work we’ve done to improve school meals. It doesn’t matter if you’re a republican or a democrat. Food and restaurants at the end of the day are bipartisan. LH: Do you think Trump coming in will have any direct effects on Capitol Hill dining? For as long as he stays in Washington, D.C., we’ll keep it on the menu. We know the Prez Obama Burger is staying on. But I don’t know if we’re going to put it on the menu. SM: Well, we had a Trump burger against a Hillary burger at Good Stuff. LH: Speaking of burgers, you’ve had a Prez Obama Burger and a Michelle Melt, do you foresee a world where you’d have a Trump burger and what would you call it? I’m not sure if that’s something we’ll experience in the new administration to be honest. I remember that specifically because I was like, wait a second man, what are you doing? I’ve got burgers! Your wife and daughters come here…The great thing about the family is that they’ve really supported D.C., they went out. I remember them going to Ray’s Hell Burger a lot. I’m sure, just like yourself, they have their favorites spots, we like to think we’re one of them. SM: Eater just came out with a huge article saying all the restaurants they’ve supported and there were a ton of them. LH: In addition to your restaurants, were there other restaurants on Capitol Hill that saw a boost while Obama was in office? We don’t know who’s going to be the Secretary of Agriculture, so there’s a lot of things in flux right now. There’s going to be a huge shift, we’re about to experience it. ![]() SM: I think they left such a mark and inspired so many people that I think people are going to continue doing the work. LH: Things will obviously be different come next month when the Obamas transition out of the White House? That’s not important to just chefs, that’s important to anyone who eats. The first family has supported our small businesses, the farm bill, our food economy. ![]() Having the blessing of the first family-being able to go cook at the White House multiple times-and just have such great relationships has been great. My sister had a lot of experience in politics. All we had was an idea to open a family-owned restaurant and use some of the marketing of Top Chef, we never thought it would grow the way it did. So, for me and my family to have settled on this little edge here on Capitol Hill has been something special. Spike Mendelsohn: I’m an immigrant, I’m from Canada. How would you sum up what the last eight years were like for you? You were involved in “Let’s Move,” you had the Michelle Melt and Prez Obama Burger and the first family visited your restaurants. Laura Hayes: Obviously we’re on Capitol Hill and it’s not secret that you’ve done some great stuff with the Obama Administration. We sat down with the Top Chef alum in his third Capitol Hill restaurant, Béarnaise, to talk politics, burgers, and food policy. 2015 by Mayor Muriel Bowser.Īnyone involved in politics has an opinion on what’s to come following the 2016 presidential election. He serves as the chair of the District’s Food Policy Council, having been appointed in Feb. Maybe it’s his close distance to the Capitol dome or maybe he was inspired by the Obama Administration, but Mendelsohn too is dabbling in politics. The feeling’s mutual as Mendelsohn has been a supporter of both the first lady’s “Let’s Move” campaign and the 2014 farm bill that supports small farmers. 6 when We, The Pizza hosted Michelle Obama’s holiday party). ![]() And its not just the interns and staffers who love a good burger at Good Stuff Eatery or a slice of pie at We, The Pizza -the first family has shown Mendelsohn’s restaurants a lot of love (as recently as Dec. Please reload the page and try again.Ĭhef Spike Mendelsohn found his niche serving the movers and shakers on Capitol Hill with his trio of restaurants on Pennsylvania Avenue SE. Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. ![]()
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