Since it’s July 4th this week, I had to go with an All-American recommendation.  I stumbled across “White House Chef: Eleven Years, Two Presidents, One Kitchen” in the library, and really fell in love with it.  Its author, Walter Scheib, cooked for the Clintons and George W. Bush.

There are many appealing recipes, but if you’re a political junkie, you’ll enjoy the cook’s tour (literally!) of the White House.  For example, Chef Scheib tells a lovely story about cooking for Hilary Clinton during a difficult period, and how he decided on the spur of the moment to make fajitas.  After enjoying the robust lunch, Secretary Clinton called him in and said, “Walter – that was wonderful.  You know, sometimes you just need something good!”  Said like a true foodie.

You’ll enjoy hearing Chef Scheib’s stories about teaching the polite and receptive Chelsea Clinton a few basic meals before she went off to college.  I highly recommend making “Chelsea’s Chocolate Chip Cookies.”

Bon appetit!