National Food Museum announces Online Exhibition: The Presidential Palate

[Washington, DC]—Do you know why President Reagan ate jellybeans? Do you know that President Eisenhower loved to cook so much that he installed a grill on the roof of the White House? Have you ever seen one of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s speeches? We had two President Harrisons—which one’s favorite food was Squirrel Burgoo while his grandson, also a president, loved Fig Pudding? 

If you answered “no” to any (or even “yes” to all) of those questions, you should rush to your laptop or smartphone and visit the National Food Museum’s newest online exhibition, The Presidential Palate: A Culinary History of the American Presidency at nationalfoodmuseum.org/the-presidential-palate. That exhibition examines the history of the U.S. presidency through the lens of food: what presidents ate, how and by whom food was prepared, and the food and agricultural policies they pursued on behalf of the American people.  

“The fascinating exhibition is the National Food Museum’s contribution to our nation’s semiquincentennial celebration,” said the Museum’s Founder, Michael F. Jacobson, PhD. “We realized that a culinary history of the presidency across our nation’s two-and-a-half centuries would be fun and informative for learners of all ages. The exhibition really humanizes all those presidents with whom most people are only dimly aware and provides a fresh, flavorful look at leadership, one president, and one plate, at a time.”

The Presidential Palate also offers a free cookbook of all the presidents’ favorite recipes, from William Henry Harrison’s Squirrel Burgoo to Dwight Eisenhower’s Two-Day Vegetable Soup. The Museum suggests that visitors give some of those recipes a try and even host a potluck presidential dinner with their friends.  

Visit nationalfoodmuseum.org/the-presidential-palate to explore the exhibit. 

Media images for use are available below.

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ABOUT THE NATIONAL FOOD MUSEUM 

Founded in 2022, The National Food Museum (NFM) is a 501-c-3 nonprofit organization dedicated to public education about food, health, culture, and sustainability. NFM invites visitors to explore the many dimensions of food—its history, cultural significance, health impacts, and environmental consequences—through interactive exhibits and innovative programming. Designed to be both engaging and enlightening, NFM encourages people to see food in a new light, make informed dietary choices, and participate in solving global challenges related to nutrition and sustainability. NFM’s vision is a world where food and how it is grown contribute to healthy people, a sustainable planet, and a more vibrant culture.