Lincoln-era cuisine was on the luncheon menu for Barack Obama’s inauguration. 2009 is the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth and in his honor, the meal’s title was "A New Birth of Freedom."
The food was hearty and warm, which was surely welcome after the cold inaugural weather. Seafood stew began the meal. "Brace of American Birds," the main course, was two birds: Duck Breast served with Cherry Chutney as well as Herb-Roasted Pheasant with Wild Rice Stuffing complemented by Molasses-Whipped Sweet Potatoes. Dessert: Apple Cinnamon Sponge Cake.
The menu was established before the results of the November 4th election and was subjected to much scrutiny and tasting--as well as a double-check for food allergies.
Nancy Pelosi noted that the most searched term on the White House website inauguration day was for the luncheon’s recipes. They’re available from Delish below or as PDF files from the inaugural website.
It might make a nice menu for President’s Day in February too. Preparing one of the dishes could be an educational activity to do with children who might be better able to understand history when it’s put into a physical context.
Honoring Past Presidents
Obama's Inauguration Menu Features Lincoln-Era Cuisine
Trend Themes
1. Historical Cuisine - There is an opportunity for restaurants or chefs to introduce historical cuisine into their menus and turn it into a new food trend.
2. Interactive Education - An opportunity for educators to create interactive and experiential learning opportunities for children around historical events and their relevance to modern-day society.
3. Digital Downloads - An opportunity for businesses to offer digital downloads of recipes and menus, enabling customers to recreate these historical dishes at home.
Industry Implications
1. Hospitality - There is an opportunity for hotels and restaurants to incorporate historical cuisine into their menus, offering a unique dining experience for guests and attracting new customers.
2. Education - Schools and educational institutions can leverage historical cuisine as a hands-on learning experience, incorporating history and culture into their curricula.
3. E-commerce - Businesses can leverage the trend of historical cuisine by creating e-commerce platforms that offer food products and recipe downloads, catering to the growing demand for this type of cuisine.