It’s fun to know facts about our nation’s former presidents. From their backgrounds, personalities to their favorite food – it’s something that we can relate to.
Who would have known that one of our former presidents loved Mac ‘N’ Cheese?
If you want to know every US President’s most loved dish, then you are in the right place. Don’t forget to let us know which one you think has the best taste and the worst.
1. Oyster ice cream – James Madison
James Madison and his wife, Dolley Madison, loved ice cream. So it wouldn’t be surprising to see it on their presidential menu.
Dolley made her special ice cream from small and sweet oysters that she got from the Potomac River. Her husband, of course, loved her special dessert.
2. Raw eggs – Woodrow Wilson
President Woodrow Wilson had many health issues during his term. His favorite breakfast only consisted of two raw eggs and grape juice.
Some believed he loved the taste of raw eggs, while others believe that this breakfast was prescribed to him by a doctor.
3. Terrapin – Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison’s favorite meal was served at their grand Christmas dinner. The grand dining hall was filled with delicious meals but one stood out.
It was the terrapin a la Maryland. A dish similar to a stew, but only the elite had the opportunity to enjoy this must-have meal.
4. Cottage Cheese With Ketchup – Richard Nixon
We all have unique food combinations that we simply love.
Even Richard Nixon had a habit of requesting cottage cheese with ketchup for his breakfast, and he loved it!
5. Vinegar Pie – James K. Polk
Who doesn’t love pies? Even our past presidents had their favorite type of pie, but James K. Polk was a little bit different.
He loved the sweet and savory vinegar pie – a treat that will tickle your taste buds with sweet and sour flavors.
6. Squirrel Soup – James Garfield
James Garfield contracted dysentery when he was still serving the military. There, he had to be careful with what he was eating, and the best protein source that he could think of is, none other than squirrel soup.
It became his favorite meal and even asked for it while he was in the White House.
7. Hoppin’ John – Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson loved the Southern delicacies, especially the dish called Hoppin’ John. It’s a rice and pea-based construction that’s very filling.
After Johnson left his office, he returned to Tennessee to enjoy a simple life with his favorite southern foods.
8. Blancmange – Andrew Jackson
Former president Andrew Jackson a.k.a Ol’ Hickory, loved Blancmange, a French dish described as a gelatinous dessert thickened with cornstarch and milk.
He’s also famous for serving a whopping 1,400 wheel of cheese at one of his White House parties!
9. Mutton Chops – Chester Arthur
Chester A. Arthur is famous for his set of mutton chops on his face. Maybe the inspiration came from his favorite food. You’ve guessed it right – mutton chops!
10. Pork Rinds and Tabasco – George H.W. Bush
Do you still remember when George H.W Bush said this line:
“I am the president of the United States and I am not going to eat any more broccoli!”
While he hates the little green vegetable, he has also admitted that he loves pork rinds with Tabasco sauce. Savory and spicy!
11. Corn Pudding – Dwight Eisenhower
Did you know that former president Dwight Eisenhower loved corn pudding so much that he gave it a special name on the White House menu?
It was called President’s Corn Pudding.
12. Big Macs and Filet-O-Fish – Donald Trump
We all know that Donald Trump loves fast food, right?
His favorite meal at Mcdonald’s is an order of two Big Macs with two Filet-O-Fish, but skip the fries for this former president.
13. Spoon Bread – James Monroe
The famous texture of spoon bread is a mix of savory Yorkshire pudding and your classic cornbread.
No wonder James Monroe loved the Virginia spoonbread.
14. Tyler’s Pudding Pie – John Tyler
The Tyler’s pie has become an all-time favorite; you can even find it in some cookbook by the name “sugar-pie.”
Former President John Tyler loved the sugar-pie so much that he would even serve it to his guests.
15. Extra-Spicy Deer Sausage – Lyndon B. Johnson
If you had the rare chance of visiting the LBJ Ranch, you will be greeted with the former president’s favorite deer sausage. Those who were able to taste this special dish said that it was very spicy.
16. Lemony Rice Pudding – Ulysses S. Grant
Did you know that Ulysses S. Grant had his own recipe for his favorite rice pudding?
It had a special lemon flavor that made it tastier and unique, thus the name Lemony Rice Pudding.
17. Grits – Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter is known for his love of simple food. Grits is one of his top favorites, and he eats it daily.
He loved his Grits Baked with Cheese that it’s included in the family’s weekend breakfast menu.
18. Knockwurst and Sauerkraut – Warren G. Harding
Drinking and gambling were among the habits that former president Warren G. Harding kept during his stay at the White House.
While he was enjoying his leisure time, he would often request a bowl of knockwurst and sauerkraut.
19. Marshmallows on Sweet Potato – Herbert Hoover
For Herbert Hoover, marshmallows on top of cooked sweet potatoes was the best dessert. He even made his version of the recipe that he left in the White House’s archive.
20. New England Fish Chowder – John F. Kennedy
JFK was said to have a healthy appetite, and whenever there’s a chance, he would love to have a bowl of New England fish chowder with his meal.
The New England Fish Chowder is very easy to make and is a hearty soup full of flavors.
21. Cornmeal Pancakes – Rutherford Hayes
For breakfast, former president Rutherford Hayes only had a single cup of rich coffee and a daily serving of his well-loved cornmeal batter pancakes.
It was a great way to start the day.
22. Cheeseburger Pizza – George W. Bush
Who doesn’t love pizza? George W. Bush often requested a filling and savory Cheeseburger pizza from the White House kitchen.
It had beef, tomatoes, cheese, pickles, bacon, catsup, and mustard on top of a Margherita pizza. Sounds delicious? It sure does.
23. Scrambled Eggs and Hot Dogs – Franklin D. Roosevelt
Even though he was the president, Franklin D. Roosevelt still loved simple foods. He enjoys eating ordinary American dishes such as scrambled eggs and hotdogs.
24. Corned Beef and Cabbage – Grover Cleveland
If you ask former president Grover Cleveland what his favorite food was, he would surely pick corned beef and cabbage.
Even though his White House chefs offered him fancier dishes, he would still prefer the savory corned beef and cabbage.
Wikimedia Commons / Public domain/ Unknown author or not provided
Wikimedia Commons / Public domain/ Unknown author or not provided
25. Egg McMuffins – Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton’s choices of food aren’t the healthiest. His diet consists of chicken enchiladas slathered in Velveeta cheese, jalapeño cheeseburgers, and his all-time favorite, McDonald’s Egg McMuffin.
26. Pot Roast and Red Cabbage – Gerald Ford
Former President Gerald Ford may be famous for his controversial decision to pardon Richard Nixon, but no one questioned his taste when it comes to his favorite dish – the classic Pot Roast and Red Cabbage.
27. Jelly Beans – Ronald Reagan
Fun fact! Ronald Reagan started to eat jelly beans when he tried to stop smoking.
Soon, his addiction shifted to the colorful jelly beans. He even kept a jar with him all the time. Because of this, Reagan and company Jelly Belly candy started an unofficial partnership.
28. Fresh Philadelphia Butter – James Buchanan
Butter tastes amazing! No wonder James Buchanan loved it, and if you are wondering what his favorite brand was, it was Philadelphia.
He loved it so much that he would often request someone to deliver a locked brass kettle of Philadelphia butter in the White House.
29. Hoecakes and Honey – George Washington
There have been many records about America’s first president and many entries about his favorite food.
In his digital library, it tells how Washington loved eating fish. However, there was also an entire entry talking about how he loved hoecakes and honey.
30. Pickles – Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge and his wife, Grace, were among the first people to adopt Chinese cuisine. He loved trying different foods, but what he loved the most was to nibble on his favorite pickles.
31. Soup and Stew – Millard Fillmore
One of Millard Fillmore’s last words was reportedly about a bowl of soup, where he said, “The nourishment is palatable.”
Fillmore loved savory and hearty foods, such as stews and soups.
32. The McKinley Omelet – William McKinley
William McKinley was said to enjoy large breakfast servings, and of course, like many American breakfasts, eggs were a standard in their table.
His breakfast was even popularly known as the McKinley Omelet, a fancied version of the classic omelet that we know.
33. Ice Cream – Joe Biden
Joe Biden loves Italian food, more accurately pasta with red sauce.
But the people close to him, and even himself, have confessed his love for ice cream.
34. Fresh Vegetables – William Henry
Because of pneumonia, William Henry Harrison died just after 30 days of being elected as President.
His diet was good because he loved eating fresh vegetables. He even wrote about his garden in several letters.
35. New Englad Cheese – John Adams
John Adams loved New England cheese that he required his staff to make sure that he had enough supply. He would pair it with potatoes and bacon.
Until today, this type of dish is considered comfort food for many.
36. Cherries – Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor loved cherries. Even before his sudden death, he ate a large number of cherries and drank iced milk.
37. Apples – Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren loved everything about apples! He can eat it as it is or enjoys it in other ways. From apple pies, apple cakes to apple doughnuts, the former president would appreciate it.
38. Chicken Fricassee – Abraham Lincoln
Former president Abe Lincoln was known to be a man with simple taste, but there was one dish he couldn’t resist – a serving of Chicken Fricassee.
The creamy and filling dish with gravy and biscuits can relieve the president’s stress and bring back his appetite.
39. New Hampshire-Style Fried Apple Pies – Franklin Pierce
Pierce was the first president from New Hampshire, and of course, his heart belonged to the classic dishes from his hometown.
He proudly brought the classic New Hampshire-style fried apple pies when he moved to the White House.
40. Fried Chicken & Gravy – Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt loved eating meat, but his all-time favorite was, of course, fried chicken.
According to history, he can eat more than one chicken in just one sitting! Imagine how happy he would be if he saw KFC today.
41. Fresh Fruit – John Quincy Adams
Fresh fruits made John Quincy Adams very happy. He loved them so much that asked fruit trees to be planted during his stay at the presidential residence.
Can you imagine how beautiful the White House orchard was?
42. Cheeseburgers – Barack Obama
Barack Obama shared that he loves broccoli, but the people who are closest to him would disagree.
Obama loves cheeseburgers! However, he doesn’t go for the typical fast-food cheeseburgers because he prefers fancier versions of it.
43. 12-Ounce Steaks – William Taft
William Taft, known as the heaviest president, loved to eat a 12-ounce steak with every meal, from breakfast to dinner. He can even ask for another serving for dinner.
44. Mac ‘N’ Cheese – Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson loved Nouilly á Maccaroni, and if you are wondering, it’s commonly known as Macaroni and Cheese.
The creamy and savory dish is on the top list of his favorite food, along with ice cream and fries.
45. Mom’s Fried Chicken – Harry Truman
Former president Harry Truman only had one favorite, and that’s his mom’s fried chicken.
Ain’t he the sweetest? We’re pretty sure his mom’s signature fried chicken tastes amazing!
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