What American Presidents Served at US State Dinners

Since the first official state dinner was held in 1874, American presidents have hosted kings, queens, and heads of state from around the world at grand, elegant affairs. They've also brought together rulers and comparable government leaders for less-than-stunning meals.
Presidential state dinner meals have ranged from plain and simple fare to gourmet entrees, often influenced by social and economic factors as much as who was in the executive office. State dinner dishes have included favorite presidential foods such as Harry S. Truman's beloved watermelon pickles, as well as personal creations like Mamie Eisenhower's gelatin mint desserts. What was served at state dinners often reflected the preferences of honored guests or sent a political message to diners about how Americans liked to eat, drink, and be merry.
#statedinner #foodhistory #weirdhistory

[@JessicaIsOkay]

"You do not serve bbq ribs at a banquet to ladies in white gloves" He must've never been to the southern United States.

[@martinjenkins6467]

He had a point, I love t bone Steak and eat it down to the Bone. But at a restaurant I order Sirloin or fillet mignon because You can't be seen picking up a Bone.

[@karenburrows9184]

Not even ladies in the south would be able to eat ribs at a formal meal or a state dinner where gloves are required. I defy anyone to try it. You just don't serve BBQ at a formal meal, unless it's desossee (deboned). Chicken is another story.

[@melissacooper8724]

The chef has a valid point. BBQ is more for a casual dinner party.

[@nautifella]

I imagine attending *_any_* formal sorority ball in the south would provide numerous examples that not only that it *_can_* be done, but also done with regularity. And done with nary a wayward spot to betray the act. I like G.R.I.T.S. _(Girls Raised In the South)_

[@fathercay]

Honestly, the simplicity of the BBQ LBJ hosted sounds like it would hit the spot very nicely. Nothing beats a bit of southern hospitality and soul food.

[@ArtjomKoslow]

He also did this with Ludwig Erhard, the Inventor of German Rhine Capitalism who was known for having a Taste for Meat and good Stuff in General. I think Erhard was all-in on the BBQ.

[@Gr8Methos]

When the cornerstone of the U.S Capitol was laId, George Washington celebrated with a BBQ

[@margkropf5541]

LBJ was a slave driver whomslept 2 hours a night and conducted business at the urinals.

[@Bkings7]

@@margkropf5541 yeah and he was awesome for it

[@resentfuldragon]

I wish more presidents were less extravagant and more understandable like LBJ and Roosevelt. Too many overdosed on so many courses of extravagant meals and ridiculousness portions. Many of our more recent presidents (90s onwards) have been particularly big on eating and small on actual help for the american people. We have engaged in far too much war and spending and far too little building in this nation as of recent years.

[@alfredfreedomjones5105]

I love how we go from Eisenhower who likes grilling his own food and eating crackers to Kennedy who likes steak in black truffle sauce with fancy french names. Complete opposites but I’d love to try both

[@susanbowman2731]

Like Eisenhower, Prince Philip liked to man the grill. It would have been interesting if they ever had a cookout together. In regards to JFK, I think the fancy cuisine mainly came from Jackie. JFK was a more beer and pretzels while watching football kind of guy.

[@kellicoffman8440]

That was Jackie and her French influence my kind of gal

[@timf2279]

I would have hung out with Ike anytime. Grill some steaks and talk war stories.

[@simokoistinen276]

@@susanbowman2731 I can picture a scene where JFK is laying on the couch eating pretzels, drinking beer and watching football and Jackie is on the background sitting by table and looking thru recipes and making a list. And once a while Jackie calls John and John responds like " I think this dish would make a nice impression to (some leader) "Whatever you want, hun" "and also after cocktails we could serve also (some French)""Sure, hun"

[@rogerlynch5279]

@@simokoistinen276 Even though John F. Kennedy came from a well reputed upper crust family his personal taste in food was not that refined. Those exquisite State Affaire Meaös had been the result of his wifs influence on him at least as far you cqn trust the biographies about him.

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

Any sophisticated dinner becomes memorable when Detective Frank Drebin is around

[@jakewise5575]

Shut up kirby

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

@@jakewise5575 Only when my mouth is full

[@foxmccloud7055]

I seriously doubt that Frank Drebin is going to be invited to anymore Presidential State Dinners.

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

@@foxmccloud7055 He will be missed

[@thewhitewolf58]

I actually wonder if irl the ruch run on the polite passive agressive nature they do in fiction.

[@CidtheVicious3]

Actually Roosevelt hated the food he was served, my great great grandmother was the housekeeper for them and actually wrote a book about her time in the white house and also wrote a cookbook of meals she served them. Her name was henrietta Nesbitt but the family called her Dodo lol. My grandfather played on the white house lawn as a baby

[@dougfowler1368]

Backstairs at the White House or something like that, right? I remember the movie based on that book, it was really wonderful! I don't recall ever seeing the book itself but it would probably be fun to read decades later now.

[@erikarabie]

Well aren't you such an elitist

[@gkcfan6120]

Mary Arnold Nelsen, I was just about to post on Henrietta Nesbitt and her connections with the Roosevelts! I’m a historian, and I’ve been interested in Nesbitt’s career since I discussed it with some friends in grad school. If you don’t mind my asking, please, what do you think of the work of Prof. Blanche Wiesen Cook, who argued that Eleanor Roosevelt used food her husband didn’t enjoy as part of a passive-aggressive war of attrition between the two of them? There were rumors that FDR also used to have meals secretly smuggled into the White House from some of the best restaurants in Washington D.C., but he kept this a secret from his wife. Do you know if there’s any truth to this? I hope you won’t think this an impertinent question, but I know that the portrayal of Henrietta Nesbitt in Doris Kearns Goodwin’s No Ordinary Time is controversial, and I’m curious to hear your thoughts on this if you’re willing to share, please. Thank you!

[@thestrangegreenman]

I knew FDR loved meat and hated the Home Economics food Elenore requested, but wow, this story is way cooler. Thank you for sharing!

[@gkcfan6120]

@@thestrangegreenman In her introduction to one of her books, Prof. Cook said she got tons of angry responses from people (both professional historians and laypeople) who hated the portrait she painted of the Roosevelts' marriage, where Eleanor used food as a weapon. Allen Drury, the Pulitzer-winning novelist who drew upon real-life events in his political satires, included a vignette in one book where the president is disgusted that he's the most powerful man in the world, but the White House kitchen sends him the wrong kind of sandwich and expects him to eat it.

[@lilitharam44]

I would like to have seen what the Presidents of the Gilded Era fed their guests. Judging by Taft's size alone, I think he would have put forth a pretty impressive spread!

[@andresinsurriaga1082]

I have a book that's entitled 'The 1887 White House Cookbook.' They have some menus in there. The amounts of food they ate in the late 19th to early 20 th century are outrageous. There are things on the breakfast menu such as pork chops and fish dishes that would fill me up for the whole day. Lunches and dinners were also huge.

[@lilitharam44]

@@andresinsurriaga1082 That book was an amazing find!

[@andresinsurriaga1082]

@@lilitharam44 I just looked and saw that you can order them online. There are other interesting things in there such as how to make soap, and home remedies and so forth.

[@stephenandersen4625]

Taft was part of the progressive era that the excesses of the gilded era created. 1904 was the highest in the US that Eugen Debs and Socialist Party of America ever scored in the polls. by 1908 the major parties were in a race to see who could adopt the most progressive policies, The hefty Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison, and William McKinley would be your gilded era presidents of choices.

[@functionatthejunction]

@@andresinsurriaga1082 It seems like a lot food today because the media has been conditioning us to live off less and less. Slaves are more effective that way.

[@dougfowler1368]

I remember a story of how President McKinley at a formal dinner noticed that his wife Ida was suffering from an epileptic seizure and calmly put something over her face to keep her from being seen and ridiculed. Apparently she had seizures somewhat often from what I remember and he was a very caring husband in keeping her from having them noticed. I don't know if that was an official state dinner, but the story of how he cared for her like that is a wonderful one given the time period. I don't know if it's enough for a full video but definitely could be part of something like presidential relationships with their spouses. But if you can find enough about the McKinleys maybe it would make a full video.

[@vilstef6988]

I've heard most every evening, McKinley read the Bible to his wife.

[@karenburrows9184]

Any souce I have read about this 'incident' has labelled it as a myth. It would have been horribly insulting to her. Mind you, there is plenty of documentation verifying that he was very cruel to her in other ways - you need to read her biography from the L of C.

[@jackalenterprisesofohio]

If you want to read about William Mckinley I would suggest reading _"the Life of William Mckinley and story of his Assination an authentic and memorial edition containing every incident of the Immortal Statesman orator solider and patriot"_ Written in 1901, the same year he died.

[@DoloresJNurss]

Grandma told me that, during the Great Depression, the newspapers got hold of the menu for one of Hoover's state dinners and people felt so much outrage that many joined the communist party right then and there. Keep in mind that starvation had become a common cause of death; Grandma herself nearly starved to death. She said that Roosevelt was the only thing that kept the country from a Communist revolution--and she said this as a Republican, herself. So yes, serving hotdogs to royalty mattered.

[@dabda8510]

Yup. FDR himself said something like that too.

[@lyre6820]

Alright now I hate FDR

[@baraxor]

The hot dogs were served at Hyde Park as part of a picnic, so while unusual it would not have been bizarre. The White House has had to walk a narrow path between serving food so basic that it insults the guests, and that which detractors would say is a waste of the taxpayer's dollar and implies monarchial ambitions on the part of the President. As far back as 1840, William Henry Harrison beat Martin Van Buren in part by appealing to populism...Harrison's supporters claimed that "Tippicanoe and Tyler Too" drank honest American cider in mugs while Van Buren indulged in French wines in crystal goblets.

[@susanbowman2731]

That reminds me of my own grandmother. She was a staunch Republican, and always voted for Republicans except for the 4 elections when she voted for FDR. My mom and I would tease her about that.

[@susanbowman2731]

@@baraxor One thing it appears many people aren't aware of is that only state dinners are paid with federal money. Otherwise the president pays for his and his family's own food.

[@trevorslinkard31]

I’d like to see a video of some of the meals at the state dinners that the presidents attended throughout the world

[@giraffesinc.2193]

That would be really interesting!

[@ruinedcraft4830]

I'm hungry! kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5XSi4Crp7CEgKM

[@mnbrzy]

This is a great idea!

[@Liriq]

In year X, president X, when hosted by prime minister X, ate a watermelon.

[@eatfastnoodle]

Nixon in China: - Hors d’Oeuvre - Spongy Bamboo Shoots and Egg White Consommé - Shark’s Fin in Three Shreds - Fried and Stewed Prawns - Mushrooms and Mustard Green - Steamed Chicken with Coconut - Almond Junket - Pastries - Fruit Nixon in Soviet Union: Caviar. Butter
Coulibiac with mushrooms 
Seafood assortment: crab, oysters, balyk (salted and dried meat from the back of the sturgeon), Atlantic salmon, salmon, prawns
 Woodland game birds (grouse, partridge, pheasant, grouse, quail)
 Fresh cucumbers and tomatoes. Lightly pickled cucumbers 
Borscht with pampushka (garlic-topped bread roll). Sturgeon solyanka soup 
Starry sturgeon with champignon mushrooms
 Russian-style meat and potato stew cooked and served in pots
 Strawberry mousse
 Coffee, tea, fruit, biscuits

[@simokoistinen276]

What makes 9:39 even funnier as a Finnish person is that in Finnish the names of monarchs were translated until 2002 so names like Edward, Charles and Elisabeth were translated to Edvard, Kaarle and Elisabet. However, George was translated to Yrjö which later became a synonym for puking because pronounciation of Yrjö is so similar to sound the vomiting person makes :D

[@jacklarkin1383]

I got to say the simpler meals sound a heck of a lot better then the fancy stuff.

[@comettamer]

Agreed, although I wouldn't mind trying some of the fancier stuff

[@JohnSmith-nj9qo]

It makes me respect the president a lot more when they do that too. It doesn't seem right that they get to steal my tax dollars so they can eat gourmet foods while millions of Americans can't afford food.

[@Gusherii]

@@comettamer l

[@Stalkergames916]

Even rich people want a Big Mac or a grilled cheese i think harry Truman and Eisenhower liked their mom ands wife’s cooking

[@gaywizard2000]

Well, yes, for you maybe but you use then instead of than for one!

[@PV96]

The comments about W not liking elaborate foods is interesting. I remember reading that when he visited England he brought 5 chefs with him. The Queen was amused said something like, “doesn’t he think we have Chefs”!!

[@dobson.]

If I was going to England I would bring 5 chefs too

[@karenburrows9184]

@@dobson. You've obviously never eaten in England. They have some extremely good food. Beef Wellington, quail, partridge in pastry, whole roast pork (and lamb); to say nothing of the regular fare. Properly roasted vegs, steak and kidney pie, English pancakes with fruit and whipped cream, toad in the hole, fish and chips, bangers and mash, I could go on and on. You should try some of these.

[@Yusuf-ok5rk]

@@karenburrows9184 imagine top 10 food in your cuisine including chips and pancakes. lol.

[@chenstormstout9456]

Dubya’s favorite food is cheeseburger pizza. That about sums it up.

[@jackalenterprisesofohio]

@@karenburrows9184 ohh like the fabled Toast sandwich?

[@ashylarrymp]

That Naked Gun scene is hilarious. I need to watch those movies again.

[@Midlife_Manical_Mayhem]

why did you skip the clintons? they have a long list of state dinners.

[@pakde8002]

And poor old Gerald Ford.

[@rha5120]

im from Hawaii and i applaud you for your pronunciation of king kalākaua 👏🏼

[@tremorsfan]

I've heard it said that guests at the Roosevelt state dinners would eat before they came because of the quality of the food.

[@monkeygraborange]

The Roosevelt cook was notoriously bad, yet they never replaced her.

[@LeoRollinsIII]

Love the channel. Keep them coming. 😁

[@msjsq1966]

So much fun!! Thank you, I love this channel!!!!

[@stvnm5282]

DEM0NCRATS

[@georgiahogue8588]

Me too.

[@vertigq5126]

This was great, thanks for continuing to put out awesome content that always makes me hungry 😂

[@ChadwickTheChad]

Lol, the french chef couldn't figure out how to make bbq.

[@ceceruns13]

“We’ll maybe you don’t frenchie” 😂😂😂😂

[@Boretheory]

As an Italian i LOVE IT

[@lancemaltby895]

Great content, as always, but I must point out the "sweetmeats" shown at 1:30 are most definitely not sweetmeats. Those are cold cuts.

[@andresinsurriaga1082]

Yes, my understanding of 'sweetmeats' is brains. Isn't that it?

[@lancemaltby895]

@@andresinsurriaga1082 I don't remember brains being included under the phrase sweetmeats. They are the organs, such as the pancreas, liver, kidneys, etc. They have always been prized by carnivores and omnivores for their high nutrient content.

[@sirvilhelm2360]

@@lancemaltby895 Well, the brain is an organ. So it could be assumed it would be a sweetmeat.

[@heidiw8406]

@@andresinsurriaga1082 I just watched a video and sweetmeats in England used to be boars testicles.

[@andresinsurriaga1082]

@@heidiw8406 Never tried them.

[@Cinnie.Stories]

That meal with the ribs and beans and beer sounds mighty fine to me. Probably why I won't be dining at the Whitehouse anytime soon 😂

[@chromicapop4595]

Wouldn't something filling make sense if your hosting a state dinner with a state leader😂fr if I was hosting I would serve several types of herbal tea with food

[@screamingseal4805]

@@chromicapop4595 it doesn’t make sense if you consider there is like 7 courses and the guest have likely already gone to one or 2 dinners that night

[@morganschiller2288]

Same here!

[@ranaevalentine9876]

Yeah, that's totally why, because of your preferences and not because nobody knows who the fuck you are. Arrogant much?

[@randomuser3481]

I love me a good rack of ribs

[@cpcva724]

You left out the notorious Mrs. Nesbitt. Her cooking during FDRs rein was considered wretched.

[@diegogranados2029]

Love the channel GIVE ME MORE TIMELINE VIDEOS! NO BREAKS! ❤️

[@beeswillinherittheearth5084]

Truman, those watermelon pickles are actually delicious

[@gloriamontgomery6900]

You’re so right. My mom makes them-they had this sweet yet buttery taste . Unique

[@chrismitchell4186]

This is awesome...Thank You

[@sarahburggraf907]

Im litteraly making a box of off brand Mac and cheese i got from the food pantry while listening to this 😂

[@1Skorpia]

Add cut up hot dog serve on a lettuce leaf with cherry tomatoes and call it cuisine

[@sarahburggraf907]

@@1Skorpia 🤔💡😂

[@Palidor19]

I just ate a plate of cheese and crackers

[@yoyoglock4]

I would just like to attend a State Dinner at least once and really wouldn't care who the POTUS was. I just think it would be a really cool experience.

[@brianc3761]

No one cares.

[@brandonking795]

@@brianc3761 I care

[@timf2279]

Maybe one day you will be a big donor or get in that circle.

[@dspsblyuth]

Why would you want to have dinner with the scum of the earth?

[@Mutiny960]

@@brianc3761 About YOU. But why are you telling us what a sad life you have? We don't care lmao.

[@ridureyu]

Playing Sonic the Hedgehog wouldn’t be a bad idea for a diplomatic event.

[@morganschiller2288]

I know right!

[@motownmark1215]

Being from Michigan I noticed you skipped Gerald Ford I'm sure stuffed wolverine was not on the menu but buckeye's was

[@pakde8002]

And Clinton!

[@morganschiller2288]

There may be one stuffed Wolverine on the menu. For your one president. Meanwhile Ohio boasts seven. Buckeyes are delicious

[@skippythealien9627]

Fun fact: Gerald Ford was the only man never to have been directly elected by the people to become president. He obviously wasn't the only VP to become president, but technically every VP was directly elected by the people, whereas Ford had to be appointed b/c Nixon's O.G. VP ended up going to jail rofl

[@DavidHuffTexas]

Grew up in Austin, TX...so I'd pick a barbecue out at the Johnson ranch as my "state dinner"

[@wildlyunrulyadventures3942]

Very very interesting! Thank you for putting this together. It was hugely entertaining.

[@mrchrislatino]

Doesn't make sense to serve to serve French food to the French President or Mexican food to the Mexican President. LBJ had the right idea, you're here and this is what we eat.

[@timf2279]

I agree with that. I'm sure our version of Mexican wasn't that great anyway.

[@flicka25]

You make my day a little brighter!

[@ukdnbmarsh]

Frank Drebin - timeless comedy.

[@marianilsson8785]

Can I be Frank?

[@JamesSCrockett1]

Not to be too off topic but was that Angela Lansbury you know murder she wrote sitting at h w’s table?

[@kallen868]

Yes...it was!

[@chaselegoman]

When I heard you say Nixon had more sophisticated tastes than Johnson, all I could think about was his favorite meal: Cottage Cheese and Ketchup.

[@joantrotter3005]

NO 😳 ketchup ruins everything! Gag.

[@jamesguidash9296]

He also ate dog biscuits.

[@barbarachieppo9603]

I like tomato in my cottage cheese👍✌

[@natebeach]

Cottage cheese & ketchup? I don't believe that.

[@CloneJFK]

@@natebeach Believe it. He sometimes had a glass of milk to go with it.

[@Suz_408]

Just found your channel. Looking forward to more.

[@muskratrepairservices7701]

Had a friend in college who worked at a restaurant in Maine, where the Bushes liked to dine. He said W never ordered any entrees, he would always just get a bunch of appetizers. Don’t know why that tickled me, but I thought that was a riot. It felt like what a kid would want to do if given free range, which made sense cause his mom is about as warm and cuddly as a pipe bomb.

[@skippythealien9627]

lmfao this is hilarious...honestly seems like something President Bush would do haha

[@Oliver-hh6hy]

🤨The expression is free rein, not "free range".

[@skippythealien9627]

@@Oliver-hh6hy free range honestly works as an eggcorn. plus...i think we all knew what OP meant

[@marge9563]

I do that sometimes.. order appetizers for dinner - bigger variety

[@judeinLA.]

Leslie Nielsen absolutely rocked that sceen with the Rock Lobster🦞 Uh uh uh uh uh!

[@pawcio2345]

At 11:02 Thats Donald Tusk not Aleksander Kwasniewski :)

[@arimandel5472]

I watch these videos on double speed, and it makes the little snide remarks that much funnier.

[@doody244]

It’s a great video I just wish you had the Fords. I know their tenure was short but Betty is one of my favorite First Ladies. She threw fabulous shindigs including one for Queen Elizabeth in 1976, the bicentennial 🇬🇧🇺🇸. Her first was for King Hussein of Jordan 🇯🇴. She had only been First Lady for one week.

[@lorettalynn2610]

I like how some of the presidents have simple tastes

[@sandraengelbrecht5784]

It was very interesting, to see that 3 of our Presidents, listed squirrel, as favorite food! Ewe!

[@nukacolanut9274]

It seems that a lot of historical figures had simple tastes. Thomas Jefferson liked Mac n cheese, Abraham Lincoln loved bacon. Even Walt Disney, although he wasn’t a president, loved grilled cheese sandwiches and chili.

[@timf2279]

G W Bush was a snacker.

[@Mutiny960]

@@nukacolanut9274 Disney also loved braised children. Not well known, but it was his favorite meal and reason he created his Theme Parks. They were made as hunting reserves. "Don't get lost Billy, 'ol Walt will come and eat ya!"

[@emilkoch4098]

The O’bama’s allowing kids to create and recommend their own custom healthy recipes for the White House chef’s is one of the coolest things I’ve ever heard!!! Awesome.

[@eltronics]

All choices looked good, and hopefully tasted good. Hamburgers and hot dogs are fine for the family, but for a State dinner....wow

[@auntvesuvi3872]

Thanks for this! 🦅 #WeirdHistory #StateDinner #FoodHistory

[@tombruner9634]

It is not clear when indoor plumbing was first installed in the White House, but it is known that Thomas Jefferson had a cistern installed in the attic to supply something resembling modern bathrooms. So I'd be interested in the weird history of White House plumbing. Edit: To answer the final question, although I did not like LBJ as a president (I wasn't quite draft age while he was in office, but still...), I think I would have been most comfortable sharing a meal with him and Lady Bird.

[@pamsullivan3274]

Any video containing clips of Frank Drebin in action gets an automatic thumbs-up from me!!!

[@zach7193]

I like this. This was something. Fascinating.

[@vaughnslavin9784]

How fun. Thank you!

[@jefferyepstein9210]

How can you skip Bill Clinton? His food choices were the best!!!

[@NeAyumu]

Well, what were his food choices? I'm interested.

[@jefferyepstein9210]

@@NeAyumu Everything bad for you. Souther cooking and fast foods!!!

[@h.smitty105]

@@NeAyumu babies

[@coconutoil1614]

@@NeAyumu young post-graped boys and infants 💀💀💀

[@mikkoj1977]

Cigar breaks made re entry..

[@kevandre]

Damn skipping Clinton entirely, cold

[@edwardhurdle5013]

Yeah...I was going to mention the same thing. What happened with Bill Clinton state dinners 🍽 🤔

[@yankeecarolyn376]

Deserves it

[@makeupmania3815]

Just thought it may be worth mentioning that the photo signed as of president Bush and polish president Me Kwasniewski, is not actually include Mr Kwasniewski, but the former EU President, Donald Tusk I think.. I love your videos btw! Educational and entertaining- perfect combo 👍🏻 thank you :)

[@chadvogel3594]

All those meals sounded good!

[@sueblankenship9441]

A good ol fashioned Texas BBQ with LBJ. You can't get more Murican than that.

[@malafunkshun8086]

Did not know that the first Presidential State Dinner was for King David Kalakaua! Interesting! Aloha 😊🤙🏼👏🏼

[@nicholausbuthmann1421]

From what my Mom evidently read. The King ( Elizabeth's Dad ) deeply enjoyed those Hot Dogs, FDR & Eleanor's Informalities, as well as, Picnics in general......I personally liked the sound of Harry S., Ike's & Jackie's Tastes too !

[@pballfan]

I used to be a high-end catering chef. I cooked for the titan families who run this country (think Rockefeller, Kraft, Heinz, etc). Much of our menu templates were very similar to the president's dinner starting from Nixon. They really don't stray too far from the original...

[@sauceboss9443]

How long did it take you to get to that position? What sort of training did you take?

[@sauceboss9443]

@Lowly-Peasant his dad might have enjoyed pizza with the worst of them.

[@anotheryoutubeaccount5259]

@@lowly-peasant9079 what

[@citypopFM]

@FuckGoogle toocorrupttoeverreasonwith,see Probably true, honestly. It's often the way things work.

[@Mutiny960]

@@sauceboss9443 I'll give you the secret. No training besides Culinary School. Just get lucky and work for the right catering company. Which one? Who knows. That's the 'lucky' aspect for ya :). No company is going to give away that they regularly serve the most powerful families in the nation. Too much risk for someone with a grudge coming in and trying to poison somebody. The people chopping onions and slicing tomatoes for them are no more skilled than anyone else coming out of Culinary School. Unless you want to be in charge, you really don't need much beyond basic skills and the ability to follow a recipe.

[@royboiiiluo6178]

I’ll eat with President Grant! I’m a simple man, military food always make sure you are properly fed

[@lerneanlion]

Now, I cannot help but wondering how the Manchu-Han Imperial Feast that lasted for three days will looked like now.

[@sandraengelbrecht5784]

Me too!

[@bamallama]

We eat a sweet potato casserole on every thanksgiving. It’s actually really delicious.

[@jeffduncan9140]

Yes it is. It also doesn't last very long...in the dish, that is.

[@jeffkadlec8264]

When I think of HW Bush & state dinners, I think first of the fact that he hated Broccoli!!!

[@natebeach]

Me too!!!!

[@bfg5291]

The marshmallow sweet potato casserole is still a big thing in south Alabama for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.

[@Boretheory]

I don’t want to offend anyone but mixing marshmallow and potato sounds disgusting. Then I could be wrong but i just can’t see it tasting good

[@davidwriv]

@@Boretheory it's sweet potato not normal potato

[@callumjoyce1712]

Teddy Roosevelt is the man with which I'd share a meal, without a doubt!

[@nigelis2345]

He probably hunted and killed the meal with his bare hands.

[@nukacolanut9274]

Same. From what I understand, Teddy was a big fan of steak and fried chicken. A true man of taste 😋

[@alfredfant5280]

BEAUTIFUL PRESENTATION

[@bizzaroZa]

Hi. I couldn't find where to message directly. Please could you do a video on what life was like for a Boer soldier during the Boer war in South Africa

[@barbstocktons9338]

what did President Clinton serve

[@steveschmidt5156]

Monica.

[@littlemaridee]

I love the institution of the presidency. I'll always watch videos about the white house, air force one, and weird quirks about former presidents. Keep em coming.

[@jgrillo638]

I'm no fan of FDR, but I will say he did lead by example here. He knew that most Americans were struggling and kept the meals to what the majority of Americans would be able to afford. My great grandparents recalled getting horse meat from the butcher during the great depression. God rest them.

[@DEFxRECON]

Nothing tickles the ears like Weird History Guy speaking French

[@btetschner]

Could you make a video about: 1.) All Hallows Eve (the traditional celebration). 2.) Mischief Day (October 30, also known as Devil's day).

[@robert6533]

During Grant's segment, the phrase "sweetmeats" is accompanied by what looks like a deli platter of cold cuts, but it should be mentioned that the phrase "sweetmeats" is synonymous with "sweets," as in cookies and light pastries.

[@andrewcooper7256]

Sweet meats is things like nuts, dried fruit, and candied peel. Sweet bread is organ meats.

[@robert6533]

@@andrewcooper7256 The dictionary definition of a sweetmeat is "any sweet food or delicacy prepared with sugar or honey, as a cake, confection, preserve, etc." That includes pastries. And yes, the term "sweetbread" refers to the meat of visceral organs. Either way, "sweetmeat" is not meat.

[@szulmack]

Just a small jab but when showing the last Bushes dinner with Kwaśniewski, you showed a picture of Bush shaking hands with Donald Tusk then prime minister of Poland, not Kwaśniewski

[@philly83]

Love the clips from naked gun 2 1/2

[@randyragsdale23]

The simpler meals sound a hell of a lot better than the sophisticated meals.

[@ManofMystery89]

Totally agree, especially the BBQ that LBJ did for his state dinners. I'll take good old American BBQ over fancy stuff anyday!

[@skippythealien9627]

there's a time and a place for both. very few things beat American BBQ, but I like to try fancy foods if I'm ever able to afford them (which is, admittedly, rare lol)

[@kellicoffman8440]

Also the idea of hot dogs for the king and queen was to serve food you would have at a picnic as the idea was an American 🇺🇸 picnic

[@lindathompson3982]

Yes.

[@timf2279]

Yes, it's a great true story. The Queen liked them and said. "They are so American." She was very witty and had a great sense of humor.

[@joeytrimble1558]

damn i wanna go to LBJ's dinner lmfao

[@chumbawaumbacumpa]

Wouldn’t have been much different from a klan bbq.

[@razohuh]

Even better

[@201hastings]

@@chumbawaumbacumpa dang, you’ve been to a klan bbq? How was it?

[@chumbawaumbacumpa]

@@201hastings Heck no, I haven’t been to one, I’m not a democrat. I’ve listened to firsthand accounts and have done some research however. They’re pretty much a giant group of goobers who get together for monthly bbqs and bs with each other, still racist p.o.s. people though, don’t get me wrong.

[@johnnymoondog9474]

Just watch out for Jumbo

[@RickClark58]

I would rather have barbecued ribs and baked potatoes then some of that crap they fed people.

[@pakde8002]

Options are like assholes and some stink more than others. Probably from all the meat and potatoes.

[@Niterider73]

Really loving these weird history food videos. This was a pretty good video, I'm surprised that Clinton wasn't involved

[@garymarcera7452]

I noticed that too, Bill Clinton's presidency and the state meals served during his administration.

[@Niterider73]

@biohazardpr 🤣

[@aprilgosa5779]

@biohazardpr Dude

[@baronvg]

@biohazardpr hehehehehehe

[@jessdelong464]

I agree, they did Nixon… so why was Clinton skipped?

[@paulromsky9527]

If I were president, a 50 course meal (3 to 5 on a plate), very tiny portions representing the best from each state. Then you can select your favorites for the next visit.

[@jrebecca0195]

This video made me hungry! 😋

[@btetschner]

Ulysses S. Grant Dinner - Looks excellent Herbert Hoover Dinner - Unusual, but intriguing FDR Dinner - Just dumb, who is going to think someone at the White House is strapped for cash? Harry Truman Dinner- The ham and fried potatoes is am interesting combo. Eisenhower Dinner - Turtle soup...never seen it before....the rest sounds very good (other than the saltines, they may as well have eaten cardboard) JFK Dinner - THAT IS A KEEPER, amazing! (WINNER) Lyndon B. Johnson Dinner- Food sounds casual, but that chef is right it is not appropriate for the occasion. Richard Nixon Dinner - THAT IS A KEEPER TOO! Wow. Jimmy Carter Dinner - Looks good. The hazelnut mousse is the big winner! Ronald Regan Dinner- Pita bread sounds good. George H.W. Bush Dinner - That raspberry cake looked good. George W. Bush - That banana-coconut pudding looks good, and ginger-almond ice cream looks interesting. Barack Obama - Aquavit Cocktail looks intriguing, the rest may as well be called political food. Donald Trump - Goatcheese Gateau with tomato jam sounds very promising. I think the JFK Dinner sounds the most memorable and truly sophisticated. Thank you for the video.

[@zeynabbbb]

Ngl alot of these foods actually sound delicious.

[@chromicapop4595]

They had us in the first round with the cheese sticks ngl"😂

[@wiktorrrrr]

#WeirdHistory on 11:02 this is not Aleksander Kwasniwski but Prime Minister Donald Tusk 2007-2014

[@antonism9479]

*Tusk

[@kimberlydianehagen4512]

😁 What a terrific historical video! I laughed so hard at some of the items. The one that made me wonder was Queen Elizabeth II being served some pretty exotic food. From what I understand, she was pretty strict on what she would eat. But she looked very happy. Not necessarily for the food, but I would have loved to have been at the event with Princess Diana and John Travolta with the Reagan household. That thing about the Chef who refused to fix BBQ and stuff absolutely slayed me -- probably the best for all involved.

[@annedenman3312]

Good point about QE II, it is well known that the royals don't eat seafood so I am ify on whether she ate Lobster or not.

[@nukacolanut9274]

I think it’s funny that the Queen was strict with what she ate. It came to light a couple years ago that she really liked to have cheeseburgers and fries for dinner sometimes with a sundae or milkshake for dessert.

[@matthijslenaerts9423]

@@annedenman3312 They do, just not regularly abroad. Which is quite a common thing in diplomatic circles depending on the country you're in. Shellfish is hard to control for quality sometimes, and becomes harder the larger the quantities discussed, like at a state dinner. If you're serving mussels for 200 people, the chances that a couple of them are no good are high. But if you're at a 3-star restaurant, you can normally assume there's been a quality check for example.

[@Robert-xp4ii]

If I were President, I'd regularly anger the Secret Service by having Papa John's delivered.

[@chiefkeef74]

I hope you tip cus drivers only make half their wage when on delivery.

[@jackwalker9492]

I was in the Infantry for 27 years. If there is more than one color in my chow, I am quite happy. For everything else; there's Tabasco sauce and hunger.

[@heatherknits124]

Thank you for your sacrifice and service, sir. I’m terribly sorry about the monochromic color scheme of your rations, but I’m grateful you’re willing to eat whatever you have to keep up with the task at hand.

[@jackwalker9492]

@@heatherknits124 LOL! Thank you for the kind words. It made me better and you people are worth it! I hVe gotten to the point where I do not burn a salad. You take care and how nice of you to say such kind things to a perfect stranger. You are worth it and YOUR Army loves you

[@JD-fx9ly]

Me but with sriracha, being broke for the longest time sriracha and ramen was a go to.

[@jackwalker9492]

@@JD-fx9ly LOL! My first fancy food was Ramen. But I would throw stuff in, like green onion tops and an egg wtih some meat. Sttill love it!

[@Pwn3dbyth3n00b]

There was one president that served McDonalds. What a nutjob

[@italianlifestyle7911]

Living 'la dolce vita'... the American way!🤴

[@user-us6ce7me8k]

♥♥

[@lvlinda6]

Definitely LBJ. his taste in food is definitely right up my taste buds alley. Nothing beats a good old fashion BBQ. 🤤

[@donaldjtrumpet2774]

I’d rather go to a Lyndon b Johnson barbecue in TEXAS with a lotta bbq ribs and beer and probably some country music too but that’s just cuz I’m a Mexican 🇲🇽

[@jamesmoss3424]

Frankin D. Roosevelt served hot dogs 🌭 at the state dinner 🍽 how unique. 😀👍

[@feresmourali5783]

More videos like this one on your sister channel please and I'm still hoping for a video about Emma Goldman here!

[@tsarfox3462]

I honestly expected Grant's state dinner to be whiskey. Shots for appetizers, whiskey soup for the main course (it's just whiskey in a bowl), and for desert coffee with whiskey in it, hold the coffee.

[@edwincortes8423]

My state dinner would be peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a glass of milk.

[@AstarionWifey]

No cookies? 😢😢😢

[@edwincortes8423]

@@AstarionWifey yes. Chocolate chip 🍪

[@warrenhoffman2006]

Smooth or crunchy?

[@megan4096]

Love how they toned it down in times of trouble. 😂

[@christinaescajeda7195]

Yummy! I love pita bread Ive ever not had many of these foods

[@elcroteau3]

Watching this while eating a hand full of goldfish crackers for dinner 🤣

[@randomviking8676]

Oooooh! Thank you for reminding me I have goldfish crackers!! 😃