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| Little known fact: the signing of the Declaration of Independence was also a potluck dinner. |
Today, I want to talk about politics.
American politics and food have always been a natural duo. It's well known that the Declaration of Independence was as much about freedom from British food as it was about freedom from British food tyranny. Indeed, the Founding Fathers were so concerned with the state of eating in America that they held a giant tea party in Boston to discuss the matter (I wonder if Benjamin Franklin was one for cucumber sandwiches? I see him more of an egg salad guy myself).
And of course the wives of the Founding Fathers were well known for their cookbooks:
Cooking Under Fire: Easy 30 Minute Meals When You Are (Literally) Cooking Under British Fire by Martha Washington, wife of George Washington.
One If By Land, Two If By Sea: A Founding Mother's Guide to Surf-and-Turf Cooking by Deborah Franklin, wife of Benjamin Franklin.
Gumbo Ain't French it's C-R-E-O-L-E: Recipes to Celebrate the Louisiana Purchase by Martha Jefferson, wife of Thomas Jefferson.
Today, the pairing of politics and food are is strong as ever. But just as politics have progressed since 1776, so have American tastes. George Washington and John Adams might have been fine sipping tea and munching on crumpets. In today's globalized world, that's no longer the case. Let's take a look:
Obama eating Mexican tacos (there's a happy guy!):
Mitt and Ann Romney's love of Puerto Rican papayas (that's the look of love on their faces, right?):
Newt Gingrich's love of Dutch poffertjes (puffy and full of hot air!):
And finally, Rick Santorum's love of . . . um . . . soft serve ice cream:
So there you have it, American food politics from the founding of this country through modern day! Eat up everyone and GO USA!
