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IN WHICH THIS BLOG'S HEAD EXPLODES.
Back in 2001, David Manilow sold a show to Chicago's WTTW station called "Check, Please!" The premise was simple: Each show would feature a couple locals who would review an eatery of their choice, then review the choices of the other amateur critics. But Manilow had a problem: He needed one more reviewer. So he called a young state Senator he knew, some guy named Barack Obama.
The episode was never broadcast. Obama didn't seem "amateur" enough, and he dominated the show. But on the 16th, it'll see the light of day, airing as the 100th episode of "Check, Please!" Until then, we've got some early video of Barack Obama, foodie:
COMMENTS (32)
Jesus Ezra. This is like your dream guy. You can never, ever criticize him.
Posted by: OtherMatt | January 6, 2009 3:56 PM
Incredible. You think he'd guest blog for you?
Posted by: NCProsecutor | January 6, 2009 4:08 PM
oh neat. check please was like the best thing about chicago public television. i wonder what restaurant he picked, and what the other guests thought of it?
Posted by: paul | January 6, 2009 4:16 PM
This has been talked about since 2003, but never released. This had better hit the 'net (now that I no longer live in Chicago... bastards).
Posted by: dbt | January 6, 2009 4:16 PM
I can't believe they reviewed the Dixie Kitchen, of all places. What a wasted opportunity. Not that there are many places to pick, if they wanted to look at Hyde Park.
Posted by: Sean Carroll | January 6, 2009 4:24 PM
Any truth to the rumor that Michelle Obama appears on the show and criticizes the cooking of "whitey"?
Posted by: tomemos | January 6, 2009 4:40 PM
Heh, it reminds me of something Time magazine reprinted in the issue after the election. Apparently way back in 1991 when Obama started at Harvard Law Review or whatever, they ran a one-sentence blurb and headshot of him. He was considering running for office at some point in the future, they observed rather presciently.
Posted by: Cyrus | January 6, 2009 4:45 PM
"I ordered the Southern sampler because I couldn't make up my mind."
Clearly, he's a flip-flopper.
/sarcasm
Posted by: Evan | January 6, 2009 5:00 PM
OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD !!!!1!!
(There is zero sarcasm in this comment.)
Posted by: Christopher McNeil | January 6, 2009 5:35 PM
Well it's true, Dixie Kitchen IS good.
Posted by: Erik | January 6, 2009 5:58 PM
Ho.
Lee.
Shit.
Now I feel like I've really been goofing off since 2001.
Posted by: Anne Uumellmahaye | January 6, 2009 6:28 PM
The Dixie Kitchen in Evanston is quite good. I recommend the Eggs Sardou.
Posted by: Brian | January 7, 2009 12:08 AM
First thing out of his mouth: I ordered the sampler cuz I couldn't make up my mind. Does that strike anyone else as unsurprising?
Posted by: Mike | January 7, 2009 2:42 AM
Ordering the sampler demonstrates his commitment to post-menuship?
Posted by: Quixote | January 7, 2009 7:26 AM
We could use a president who has at least enough planning skillz to save room for dessert. For instance.
Posted by: magdalen | January 7, 2009 12:13 PM
Not that there are many places to pick, if they wanted to look at Hyde Park.
What are you smoking? Hyde Park has a number of good (and a couple excellent) restaurants.
Excellent: Le Petit Folie, Ribs & Bibs
Good: Cedars of Lebanon, Dixie Kitchen, Calypso, Snail, Noodles Etc., that Korean place on 53rd, Florien, Piccolo Mondo
Posted by: Joe | January 7, 2009 2:14 PM
so in addition to being a politician, professor, writer, athlete, sex magnet, and vessel for the collective hopes and dreams of humankind, obama is also an awesome food critic.
it's really not fair how some people have it all, is it?
Posted by: raft | January 7, 2009 2:24 PM
Joe: Noodles Etc? Gag me.
Sean: No wonder U of C didn't give you tenure. (too soon?)
By the way, apparently the U of C owns Harper Court (where Dixie Kitchen and its sister Calypso Cafe are) and it's kicking out all the tenants soon! My two favorite Hyde Park restaurants...
see this for example.
I wonder if there's a way for Obama to intervene to save Dixie Kitchen and Calypso? Maybe have them designated a national monument? According to the New Yorker Calypso is Obama's favorite in HP.
Posted by: Alex F | January 8, 2009 2:09 AM
Any truth to the rumor that Michelle Obama appears on the show and criticizes the cooking of "whitey"?
No, no, no. She said she liked the "whitefish with brown sauce," but somehow that was garbled into "Why is whitey always keeping us down?"
Not only that, she then went on to criticize the seafood bisque for tasting too "conch-y" and said she hated that the soup was served with "all those damn crackers."
Posted by: Zorro for the Common Good | January 9, 2009 12:01 AM
This warms my heart! I loved "Check, please" and found many great restaurants that way, and I love BOTH Dixie Kitchen locations. We always try to hit one of them even if we're just passing through Chicago. There was almost something similar in Kalamazoo, but it folded last spring and half the town is hoping it reopens. Maybe he can take lessons at Dixie! Oh, and Obama rocks no matter what he's doing!
Posted by: Missing Chicago | January 9, 2009 1:52 PM
That's charisma.
Posted by: M | February 11, 2009 6:53 PM
Check please was like the best thing about chicago public television. i wonder what restaurant he picked, and what the other guests thought of it?
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دردشة
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A ha ,I agree with you.It's just going to be awful, terrible, and absolutely dreadful to possibly have a Supreme Court justice who isn't going to decide in favor of the powerful all the time.Nobody ever mentions this when they use this case as a parable of liberal excesses, but when the city threw out the results of that test and didn't promote anyone, what did they do next? The case was in litigation for years, they could hardly abolish their whole org chart while it was pending. Did they have a new test, and if so, who passed it?
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