The Food Section: Appetizers

What Would Obama Eat?

White House Top Chef contestant Rick Bayless outlines what he would serve the next President.

Top Chef: White House Transition Edition

According to the Daily News, chefs Art Smith, Rick Bayless, and Daniel Young are contenders to lead the Obama administration kitchen.

Who Might Head Up the USDA Under Obama?

FACTBOX: Vilsack, Buis and Stenholm among USDA possibles [Reuters]

The Iconic Role of the Diner in Political Campaigns

The Lure of the Diner [Wall Street Journal]

Food Wars: Who Owns Hummus?

Fadi Abboud, president of the Lebanese Industrialists Association, is accusing Israel of stealing traditionally Middle Eastern dishes like hummus. He plans to file a lawsuit to stop Israel from marketing hummus and other dishes as Israeli.

Abboud says the lawsuit will be based on a 2002 precedent wherein Greece won exclusive rights to use the name feta in the European Union after a long court case over he cheese with Denmark.

Hummus war looms between Lebanon and Israel [International Herald Tribune]

Wine at the White House

The official White House sommelier dishes about the delicate politics of selecting wine for state dinners.

More Than Mooseburgers

Sarah Palin may have popularized the mooseburger, but what else do Alaskans do with moose meat?

Cooking Show Crisis

Thailand's Prime Minister, Samak Sundaravej, is facing demands for his resignation after appearing on "Tasting and Complaining," a Thai television cooking show.

Obama, McCain, and Bayless

The Wall Street Journal explores the dining habits of the presidential candidates. Sen. Obama is a fan of Rick Bayless' Topolobampo in Chicago.

Cookie Candidates: Obama's Shortbread vs. McCain's Oatmeal

In the past four presidential elections, readers of Family Circle magazine have successfully predicted who would be the next first lady by favoring her cookie recipe in the magazine's competition. Who will win? Michelle Obama's shortbread cookies or Cindy McCain's oatmeal-butterscotch cookies?

Obama Eats

Senator Barack Obama likes pistachios, but don't serve him salt and vinegar potato chips (more likes and dislikes here).

Cheesy Diplomacy

The production of a secret "Caucasian cheese" represents reconciliation between rivals Turkey and Armenia.

Big Food vs. Biofuels

CNN reports that big food companies, including Kraft Foods Inc., Kellogg Co., Tyson Foods Inc., and the Coca-Cola Co., are lobbying Congress against subsidies for ethanol which have driven up the price of corn, an essential ingredient for so many of their food products.

Food and War

Reports on eating from a soldier stationed in Kuwait and refugee camps around the world.

Cindy McCain: Deceptively Delicious?

Did Cindy McCain steal recipes from the Food Network's Giada DeLaurentis and Rachael Ray?

The Hot Dog Vote

It's official. Hot doggery Gray's Papaya has endorsed Senator Barack Obama for President.

How Hillary Eats

Mimi Sheraton analyzes the candidate's tastebuds.

Doughnut Democracy

Senator Hillary Clinton leads all of the candidates for president in spending on baked goods, mostly at Dunkin' Donuts.

A Pint of Obama, Please

Kenyans are celebrating Barack Obama's primary victories by drinking "Senator" beer, which has now been dubbed "Obama."

The Sushi Debate

The presidential candidates weigh in on New York's sushi scandal.

Capitol Hill Goes Gourmet

Under House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's leadership, Capitol Hill cafeterias have undergone a green, gourmet revolution: Jell-O has been replaced with raspberry kiwi tarts, meatloaf has been replaced with mahi mahi, and disposable utensils have made way for cutlery made from corn starch and compostable straws.

Vegas Culinary Union Leaning to Obama

The Culinary Workers Union in Las Vegas is expected to endorse Senator Barack Obama today. Boasting some 60,000 members, the powerful union is the largest in Nevada. Updated: The Culinary Workers Union has officially endorsed Obama.

Undecided? Vote By Vintage

A wine lover's guide to the presidential primaries.

High Calorie Campaigning

Navigating Sloppy Joes and corn dogs on the campaign trail.

Oliver for Obama

Chef Jamie Oliver prefers Obama over Clinton. He also prefers Elizabeth David over Julia Child. And, "Ramsay or Nigella? Ramsay. Wait...to shag? Or to do what?"

Top Chinese Food Official Executed

Following a series of recent crises over the safety of its food exports, China has executed its former food and drug regulator, putting him to death for taking bribes and approving fake drugs.

Corn Conundrum

The New York State Senate has passed a bill to make sweet corn the official state vegetable. The only problem is that corn is technically a grain.

Foie Gras Banned in Chicago

Politics: The Chicago City Council votes to make Chicago the first city in the nation to outlaw the sale of foie gras.

Official Wine

Politics: A California state legislator has introduced a bill that would make Zinfandel California's official state wine.

First Woman White House Chef

Politics: Cristeta Comerford becomes the first woman to be named White House executive chef.

Nominee: Hold the Fries

Politics: As a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts ruled to uphold the arrest, detention, and handcuffing of a 12 year old girl for eating a french fry in a D.C. Metro station (Hedgepeth v. WMATA).

Bill Clinton, Vegetarian?

Politics: Is former president Bill Clinton going vegetarian? "The thought of Bill Clinton spurning meat is like the thought of him spurning blow jobs. Simply not possible."

Get Out the Vote

Politics: Bronx officials have launched a marketing campaign to increase the borough's representation in the Zagat dining guides. The get out the vote effort includes a direct link from the Bronx Borough President's office to Zagat's online restaurant survey.

Inaugural Fare

Politics: The inaugural luncehon menu and recipes.

Election Day Cake

Politics: Election Day Cake -- history and a recipe.

Foie Gras Terminator

Politics: Schwarzenegger "terminates" foie gras in California.

Cheese and The White House

Politics: In The New Yorker, cheese and the race for the White House.

GOPizza

Politics: Pizza blog Slice launches GOPizza, "Your Grand Old Guide to Gotham's Greatest Pies."

Presidential Keg Stands

Politics: "'You wouldn't want to fall and chip your teeth on the keg or something, and I could just picture "college-era" Bush seeing a hot girl across the room and dropping everything he was doing to go talk to her,' the Kappa Alpha brother said." Frat boys evaluate presidential candidates based on who could better assist a "keg stand."

Pizza Definition

On the whole, the pizza must be soft, elastic, and easily foldable in half to form a "libretto." Italian lawmakers seek official definition of pizza.

Tony Blair's Crumpets

They are like knighted muffins. Hans Blix on Tony Blair's crumpets.

Back to the Frituur

Fries are not only a product but about a procedure. They are something that you are introduced to by your parents. When you are allowed to go along and pick up the fries for the first time, you are a man. Reclaiming Belgian fries from the French.