Dining with Presidents: Favorite foods of America's leaders

Apple pie from McDonald's

Former President Trump had a fondness for American cuisine. He always enjoyed fast food and even asked the staff to learn how to cook food "like McDonald's"—fried apple pies and burgers.

However, the burgers made by the White House chefs did not suit his taste, likely because the White House kitchen uses higher quality and healthier ingredients than fast food chains.

Dry overcooked fish

George H.W. Bush was forced to enjoy dry fried fish, as this was how his wife, Barbara, liked it. Roland Mesnier, who worked as a chef in the White House for 25 years, admits that Barbara practically demanded the fish be cooked this way.

Peanut butter and honey sandwiches

George W. Bush, on the other hand, loved peanut butter and honey sandwiches. Walter Scheib, who served as the White House chef, said he always kept the ingredients for the president's favorite snack on hand, as Bush often stopped by for a bite.

Bowl of chocolate mousse

Ronald Reagan's favorite foods included steak and macaroni and cheese. However, his most desired treat, which he could only enjoy when the First Lady was out of town, was a big bowl of chocolate mousse. Nancy Reagan forbade the staff from giving the president chocolate, but chef Roland Mesnier occasionally broke this rule.

Fruitcake

Franklin D. Roosevelt loved fried cheese, omelets, fish chowder, and for dessert, fruitcake. According to White House housekeeper Henrietta Nesbitt, Roosevelt loved foods he could "sink his teeth into."

Pies only on weekends

Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle enjoyed good food. Their senior food policy advisor, Sam Kass, helped Michelle establish a large vegetable garden near the White House and balanced the kitchen initiatives—drastically reducing the number of baked goods and allowing pies only on weekends.

French cuisine

John F. Kennedy's wife hired chef René Verdon, who introduced French flair and flavor to the White House menu. When Jackie moved into the White House, she found the president's kitchen to be "headquarters for dull culinary services." Verdon used vegetables and herbs he grew himself.

Garbanzo bean puree

Lyndon B. Johnson preferred beef on toast, tapioca pudding, and garbanzo bean puree. René Verdon left the White House in 1965 because the Johnsons favored more traditional American cuisine.

Oxtail soup

Dwight D. Eisenhower's favorite dishes resembled a dusty British pub menu—beef, quail, and English rice pudding. However, there was one dish he loved to prepare himself without the help of a chef—oxtail soup.

Turtle soup

Theodore Roosevelt, also known as Teddy, preferred hearty food—pork in dough and fried chicken. However, he only ate one dish—turtle soup.

Coca-cola jelly

Mesnier revealed that a family recipe somehow made it to the White House kitchen during Bill Clinton's administration. The chef said it was a bizarre combination of Coca-Cola jelly with glazed cherries. It was a family favorite. Before Clinton embraced vegetarianism, he loved jalapeno cheeseburgers.

Cheese with ketchup

Swedish chef Henry Haller was hired at the White House in 1966. He served five presidents over 21 years, including Nixon, who inherited his culinary preferences from his grandmother. Nixon loved cottage cheese with ketchup and the famous corned beef hash eggs.

Cheese rings

President Carter's family brought an old secret recipe for cheese rings to the White House. Mesnier described it as, "a mix of Muenster, cheddar, the finest cheese you could find, mixed with onions, capers, and strawberry jam in the middle." The Carters also could not stand peanuts.

Spicy sauces

Hillary Clinton collected sauces, and according to the White House staff, she amassed several dozen, which had to be readily available in the kitchen at all times.

Sources: Food Network, Cheat Sheet, The New York Times.