Wednesday: First Lady Will Unveil 2011 White House Holiday Decorations

Military families invited for first viewing, holiday crafts...
On Wednesday, Nov. 30th, as she unveils the decorations for her third holiday season in the White House, First Lady Michelle Obama will welcome military families, including Gold Star and Blue Star parents, spouses and children, for the first viewing. At 1:30 PM, Mrs. Obama will deliver remarks in the East Room, and then she will host the children in the State Dining Room for a special holiday craft and treat session.

Executive Chef Cris Comerford and Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses will demonstrate how to make edible holiday treats and decorations. White House Florist Laura Dowling will demonstrate holiday crafts. (Above: Mrs. Obama and Yosses making gingerbread cookies with kids during the 2010 holiday preview)

Yosses' annual Gingerbread replica of the White House will also be unveiled on Wednesday. Last year's white chocolate-covered extravaganza weighed 400 pounds, while the 2009 edition came in at 390 pounds. Both were created with honey from the White House Beehive, and featured marzipan miniatures of First Dog Bo, and the First Lady's Kitchen Garden. (Above: The 2009 White House Gingerbread House)

Two White House Christmas Trees will honor military families this year. Last Friday, Mrs. Obama was presented with the Official White House Christmas Tree, and the 19-foot-tall Balsam Fir, grown in Wisconsin, will be placed in the Blue Room, and decorated with a theme honoring Blue Star families. A special Gold Star Christmas tree decorated by Gold Star families will be displayed at the visitor’s entrance on the East Wing Landing. As many as 100,000 visitors will view the White House holiday decorations in the next month, according to an aide.

In 2009, Mrs. Obama's first holiday theme was "Reflect, Rejoice, Renew." In 2010, the theme was "Simple Gifts." Both themes were inspired in part by the First Lady's Kitchen Garden, and made liberal use of fruit and dried vegetables, woven among the more traditional greens.

*Top photo by Lawrence Jackson/White House; second by Eddie Gehman Kohan/ObamaFoodorama.com

read more "Wednesday: First Lady Will Unveil 2011 White House Holiday Decorations"

2011 Obama White House Thanksgiving Menu

First Family's feast includes turkey, ham, oyster & cornbread stuffing, five sides, and six kinds of pie...
President Obama and the First Family are celebrating Thanksgiving in the White House with a traditional menu starring turkey and six different kinds of pie, including Pumpkin Pie and Banana Cream Pie.  The Obamas will share their Thanksgiving with unidentified “friends, family and staff,” according to the White House.  The feast will be created with bounty from First Lady Obama's Kitchen Garden, according to assistant chef Sam Kass. Honey from the White House Beehive will also be used for the dishes. (Above: At Wednesday's Turkey Pardoning Ceremony, Malia pets Liberty as the President and Sasha look on)

"Like millions of Americans, Michelle, Malia, Sasha and I will spend the day eating great food, watching a little football, and reflecting on how truly lucky we truly are," President Obama said today.

In addition to turkey, the Thanksgiving table will be laden with ham, two kinds of stuffing, five side dishes including macaroni and cheese and green bean casserole, and dinner rolls. The show-stopping pies also include Apple, Cherry, Huckleberry, Sweet Potato, and Pumpkin. The President is a fanatic for pie, and Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses has said that Banana Cream Pie is his favorite.  Yosses' Apple Pie recipe is here.

2011 Obama Family White House Thanksgiving Menu

Turkey
Ham

Cornbread Stuffing
Oyster Stuffing

Side Dishes
Greens
Sweet Potatoes
Mashed Potatoes
Green Bean Casserole
Macaroni and Cheese

Dinner Rolls

Dessert
Apple Pie
Pumpkin Pie
Sweet Potato Pie
Banana Cream Pie
Cherry Pie
Huckleberry Pie

Like many Americans, the First Family enjoys the same Thanksgiving menu each year, and the 2011 menu is identical to the the 2010 menu the White House issued, as well as to the 2009 menu, minus the words "honey baked" in front of "ham."

In an annual Thanksgiving tradition, President Obama made calls to US military service members this morning, at around 9:00 AM ET from the Oval Office. The President's weekly address also thanked the troops, and today Mrs. Obama sent out an e-mail asking Americans to join the Joining Forces/USO "Thanks From Everywhere" campaign. (Above: The President made his calls to troops from the Oval Office)

On Wednesday morning, President Obama granted a Thanksgiving pardon to turkey Liberty and his alternate Peace during the annual White House ceremony. In the afternoon, the First Family packed holiday grocery bags at a local food bank.

President Obama's Thanksgiving address:



*Top photo by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama; second by Pete Souza/White House. National Turkey Federation Chairman Ricard Huisinga is in the Pardon Ceremony in the photo at top.

read more "2011 Obama White House Thanksgiving Menu"

New White House Recipe From Chef Bill Yosses: Roasted Apples with Blue Cheese

The Obamas have an obsession with apples, and this recipe is worth obsessing over...
All evidence points to the fact that President Obama and First Lady Obama have an obsession with apples. Rather than flowers, the President keeps a bowl of apples front and center in the Oval Office on his coffee table, and similar bowls are all over the East and West Wings. An apple is part of the graphic logo for Mrs. Obama's Lets Move! campaign. Apples are frequently used for decorating, most recently for the State Dinner for South Korea, where hundreds of apples loaded the floral centerpieces and garlands (these were then recycled into this amazing apple decoration) There are just three fruit trees on the 18-acre grounds, and two are apple trees.* Last year's National Turkey, pardoned for Thanksgiving by the President, was named "Apple." His stunt double was named "Cider."

In 2009, President Obama nicknamed Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses (l) "The Crust Master," thanks to his delirious pie crusts that are made with both butter and lard. But Yosses could just as easily be called "The Apple Master," because he shares the apple obsession. Yosses has just issued his fifth White House recipe starring apples.

Yosses' White House Apple Pie is such a showstopper it was served as the dessert for the "quintessentially American" State Dinner in honor of China's President Hu Jintao. There's also White House Holiday Apple Cake, and the kid-friendly White House Baked Apples, which does double duty as dessert or breakfast. Yosses also has a different recipe for Baked Apples, which uses that "controversial" White House Halloween treat, dried fruit. Yosses' newest recipe, Roasted Apples with Blue Cheese, also uses dried fruit. It's both savory and sweet, and is made with artisanal honey, dried pears, and Maytag Blue Cheese for a perfectly seasonal dessert. It's a snap to create.

White House Roasted Apples with Blue Cheese

*Preheat oven to 475F

Ingredients
2 large Gala Apples cut into half vertically

Two Tbls Lemon Juice

3 Tbls Olive Oil

1 Cup Water

1/2 Cup Artisanal Honey

4 dried Pears cut into dice

1 chunk Maytag Blue Cheese, enough for four Tbsp

Method
1. Cut and core Apples, grease a baking pan with olive oil and lemon juice, and place Apples flesh side down.

2. Bake for 45 minutes to 60 minutes until tender, but not collapsed.

3. Remove and allow to cool.

4. Place cut side up on a baking sheet.

5. Dice dried Pears and place in a saucepan with 1 cup water and 1/2 cup honey.

6. Simmer for 10 minutes and then strain liquid out.

7. Scoop Pears into center of each Apple.

8. Place one tablespoon of Maytag Blue Cheese on top of each Apple, over Pears, and place in 425F oven for 8 minutes until cheese melts.

9. Remove from oven, serve warm.

*Makes four servings

*White House fruit trees: There are just three fruit trees on the 18-acre White House campus, and two are apple trees. There's a decorative Crab Apple tree by Mrs. Obama's Kitchen Garden, and a Red Delicious apple tree in the Children's Garden. It's still young, and not yet fruiting, according to White House Chief Horticulturalist Jim Adams. The tree replaces an old tree that was downed in a winter storm in 2010. But it is doing well, Adams recently told Obama Foodorama.

The third fruit tree is also by Mrs. Obama's Kitchen Garden: It's a fig tree, descended from a Marseilles fig grown by President Thomas Jefferson at Monticello, and donated to the White House in 2009 for Mrs. Obama's garden, where there are two special beds in honor of Jefferson. The fig tree fruited for the first time this Fall.

*Top photo by Pete Souza/White House; Yosses photo by Eddie Gehman Kohan/ ObamaFoodorama.com

read more "New White House Recipe From Chef Bill Yosses: Roasted Apples with Blue Cheese"

Recipe: White House Halloween Cookies

Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses' White House Sweet Dough Butter Cookies...
President Obama joked to Jay Leno earlier this week that the White House will get egged on Halloween if more candy isn't included in the treat bags, but the goodies this year for Saturday's early Presidential trick-or-treating contain exactly the same items as in 2010 and 2009, the White House announced. Yes, there's candy: Each cellophane treat bag includes a box of White House M&Ms, a scoop of dried fruit, and a White House Sweet Dough Butter Cookie made by Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses and his team. A couple thousand local kids are expected to troop across the pumpkin- and cobweb-laden North Lawn for a stop under the North Portico, where they'll be greeted by the President and First Lady. (Above: A tray of the cookies during prep)

Each cookie is a mini White House dipped in orange-colored icing. The treats are packed in clear cellophane bags covered with stars and tied with a purple ribbon. The White House released the recipe for the cookies, and a "recipe" for the dried fruit. Each batch of cookies contains--and here's where things get really scary--a pound of sugar and two pounds of butter. The horror! The recipe is very easy, but the dough must be refrigerated over night before it can be used. Check the sidebar for more White House recipes. (Above: The Presidential M&Ms that are in each treat bag)

White House Sweet Dough Butter Cookies

*Dough must be chilled overnight.

*Preheat the oven to 350F.

Ingredients
1 lb Sugar
2 lbs Butter
3 lbs All Purpose Flour
3 Eggs
1 tsp Vanilla
1 tsp Salt

Method
1. Mix the butter and sugar till soft and well beaten.

2. Then add eggs, vanilla, salt and half the flour. Beat on slow speed till mixed, then add the rest of the flour and mix until incorporated.

3. Push flat onto a cookie sheet and refrigerate overnight.

4. The next day, roll dough out to one quarter inch thick, and cut out cookie shapes with cookie cutter.

5. Bake at 350F for 14 minutes and then allow to cool.

Decorate as desired. Number of cookie servings varies depending on size of cookies cut.

White House Dried Fruit Mix

Mix dried apples, apricots, pears, blueberries, pineapple, papaya, pear, cherries and banana chips together, and serve.

In this video about 2011 Halloween preparations, Assistant Pastry Chef Susie Yosses shows off the cookies and treat bags getting put together in the pastry shop:


Related: CLICK HERE for a post about the 2009 Obama Halloween Celebration; CLICK HERE for a post about the 2010 Obama Halloween Celebration.

read more "Recipe: White House Halloween Cookies"

Download This Mini White House Cookbook

Five easy, family friendly recipes, from the White House to Your House...
First Lady Michelle Obama threw a big South Lawn party on Monday to celebrate the success of the HealthierUS School Challenge. All 1,000 guests were given a lovely little book containing five recipes created by the White House chefs. It is now available to the public in digital format, which is a first for the Let's Move! campaign and the White House. Included are recipes for Cauliflower Mac and Cheese; Broccoli Soup; Grilled Chicken Salad with greens; Warm Baked Apples with Dried Cherries, Raisins, and Blueberries; and Fruit and Oat Snack Bars. DOWNLOAD the book here [PDF]. (Above: The cover of the mini cookbook)

Each recipe is family friendly, low-fat and healthy, of course. Check the sidebar of this blog for all the previously released White House recipes.

White House Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses and Assistant Pastry Chef Susie Morrison demonstrated the Fruit and Oat Snack bars during Mrs. Obama's party on Monday, to much enthusiasm from the crowd.

"It was a wonderful day," Yosses said.

Mrs. Obama's party decorations were pretty special, too. Check them out here.

read more "Download This Mini White House Cookbook"

White House Chefs Celebrate School Lunch

First Lady's party guests meet her favorite staff members at Let's Move! reception...
During First Lady Obama's special Let's Move! party on the South Lawn on Monday celebrating the HealthierUS School Challenge, the White House Kitchen was out in force to celebrate with about 1,000 school officials. White House Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses and Pastry Assistant Susie Morrison were in a good mood after demonstrating how to make tasty, healthy snacks; even wine steward Daniel Shanks was celebrating on the South Lawn. (Above, Yosses, center, channels President Nixon; flanked by Morrison and Shanks)

At an outdoor prep table, Yosses and Morrison showed the guests how to make Healthy Fruit and Oat Snack Bars, a longtime White House favorite.

"It was a wonderful day," Yosses said.

Mrs. Obama's Let's Move! team, including Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass, and campaign Executive Director Dr. Judy Palfrey, and members of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition mingled with the guests. Council members inclded co-chair and Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Dominique Dawes and Cornell McClellan, the President and Mrs. Obama's personal trainer. They spoke to guests about the PALA Challenge. The guests were given tours of the Kitchen Garden, still cordoned off from this weekend's Fall Garden Tours. (Above: Kass and McClellan chat during the festivities)

*Obama Foodorama photos

read more "White House Chefs Celebrate School Lunch"

A Presidential Thank You For The Chefs

President Obama and First Lady Obama summoned their Top Toques to the East Room on Thursday night to introduce them to the more than 200 guests invited to the State Dinner in honor of President Lee Myung-bak of the Republic of Korea.

The guests paused after dessert to give Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford and Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses a round of applause for the four-course extravaganza. (Above: Yosses is at right. Vice President Joe Biden smiles at left)

The Fall Harvest menu commingled flourishes from traditional Korean cuisine with American favorites; the main course was a Texas Wagyu Beef rib-eye, with an Orange-Ginger Fondue, accompanied by Sauteed Kale and Roasted Kabocha Squash. Click here to read more about the menu, and watch a video filmed in the kitchen during prep. The post has links to all other State Dinner posts.

*Pete Souza photo

read more "A Presidential Thank You For The Chefs"

The Obamas' State Dinner Menu In Honor Of President Lee Myung-bak, The Republic of Korea

A Fall Harvest celebration featuring bounty from the White House Kitchen Garden, Texas Wagyu Beef, and mystery wines...
President Obama and First Lady Obama will honor the Republic of Korea's President Lee Myung-bak and First Lady Kim Yoon-ok with a Fall Harvest State Dinner this evening. The four-course menu was "conceived by" Mrs. Obama and Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford, according to the White House. It "highlights the best of local produce combined with Korean flavors and traditions." The star of the show is Texas Wagyu Beef rib-eye steak with an Orange-Ginger Fondue as the entree, accompanied by Sauteed Kale and Roasted Kabocha Squash. Dessert is "Chocolate Malt Devils Food Layers," because chocolate is "a universal taste," according to Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses. The guest list of more than 2oo is here.

"The inspiration for the Republic of Korea State Dinner is American Hospitality. At State Dinners, we extend our hand in friendship and convey a generosity of spirit designed to welcome guests," noted the White House. The East Room, where the 8:35 PM dinner will take place, is a riot of autumn colors, featuring floral arrangements anchored by hundreds of apples in a nod to the First Lady's Let's Move! campaign. Shadows of fall leaves and apples are projected on the walls and ceilings, too. The graphic logo for Mrs. Obama's signature initiative features an apple. (Above: The Presidential couples during the arrival for dinner under the North Portico)

The dishes spotlight American regional foods and local sourcing, in particular the Fall Harvest bounty from Mrs. Obama's Kitchen Garden, plucked with student helpers on Oct. 5. "Vegetables from that harvest are highlighted in this evening’s dinner and perennial herbs from the garden are used throughout the meal," the White House noted.

"The main dish features Wagyu beef from a Texas ranch, fresh kale from a DC-area source and squash from the White House Kitchen Garden," the White House said in menu guidance issued to reporters. On the White House website, it's noted that "fresh turnip greens from a DC-area source" accompany the entree. Turnip greens aren't listed anywhere on the menu, however.

Texas Wagyu Beef is highly marbled and very tender, and the herds are descended from Asian cattle breeds. Comerford rubbed the rib-eye cuts with garlic and locally sourced scallions, in more homage to Korea. The beef is "lathered with butter," Comerford said in a video (below) released about the State Dinner preparations.

The scallions are "a wondrous Korean ingredient," Comerford said.

The first course, Butternut Squash Bisque, also includes squash grown in the Kitchen Garden, and the second course, Early Fall Harvest Salad, uses red and green lettuces grown there. The soup "represents the best in local, seasonal fare: the dish is light yet robust and features the scents of fall," said the White House.

In homage to the guests of honor, there are flourishes from the Korean culinary tradition--Daikon sheets and "Masago Rice Pearl Crispies" and a Rice Wine Vinaigrette for the salad--and Yosses' delirious chocolate finish uses "a blend of" Korean and American pears.

Dinner will be served on the gold-rimmed, cream-colored Clinton State China created for the 200th anniversary of the White House. It is the only State China that features depictions of historic Washington buildings in the center of the plate, rather than the Presidential seal.

"An American wine will be paired with each course," the White House said, but did not release the names of the wines.

State Dinner Menu

in Honor of
President Lee Myung-bak

First Course
Butternut Squash Bisque,
Honey Poached Cranberries, Virginia Cured Ham
Pumpkin Seed Praline, Crème Fraiche

Second Course
Early Fall Harvest Salad on Daikon Sheets
Masago Rice Pearl Crispies
Rice Wine Vinaigrette

Main Course
Texas Wagyu Beef, Orange-Ginger Fondue
Sauteed Kale, Roasted Kabocha Squash

Dessert
Chocolate Malt Devils Food Layers
With Pear and Almond Brittle

Above: The Head Table, where the two Presidential couples will be seated.

No shout-out for American wine producers...Again
While the White House is spotlighting local/regional foods and Mrs. Obama's Kitchen Garden by announcing sourcing for ingredients, for the third high-profile dinner in a row, the names of the wines that will be poured are being kept top secret. Why?

When queried by Obama Foodorama about why it now seems to be a policy for the White House to not reveal the names of the wines that are poured at important dinners, Mrs. Obama's Press Secretary, Hannah August, had no explanation for why this might be the case. The names of the wines poured for State Dinner #4, in honor of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and the Return State Dinner in honor of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, were also not revealed to press. The vineyard owners who had their wines selected for that dinner, held in London, later sent copies of the dinner menu to Obama Foodorama, so the wines appear with the menu in this archive.

Tonight's wines for the State Dinner are definitely American, August said. Using only American wines at the White House has been a tradition since the Johnson era.

Decor duties outsourced...
All the details on the decor are here. Round tables for ten surround the rectangular Head Table for twenty where the Presidential Couple will be seated in the center, facing outward towards the East Room. Each table takes a single color for its dominant theme. Tonight's State Dinner is the fifth of the Administration, and the third this year. It is the second managed by Social Secretary Jeremy Bernard. Decor duties were outsourced to Rafanelli Events, as was the case for the first State Dinner Bernard oversaw, in honor of German Chancellor Merkel. The firm does "exclusive, high profile" events around the US, including former First Daughter Chelsea Clinton's "wedding of the decade." (Above: A long view of the East Room, before the dinner)

This afternoon, the White House released a video of Chef Comerford discussing the menu, and giving a tour of the kitchen during the prep for the State Dinner:



The post-dinner reception...
During a 10:00 PM post-dinner reception in the State Dining Room, classical musicians (and sisters) The Ahn Trio, and vocalist Janelle Monáe will perform separately. Monáe, based in Kansas City, Kansas, has been nominated for Grammy awards multiple times. All four performers will dine at the Sate Dinner before entertaining in the State Dining Room.

Updated & related: A post about the Presidential Dinner Toasts is here. A report on the guest arrivals, with video, is here. The brief, soggy arrival ceremony under the North Portico is here. Details on Mrs. Obama's gown are here. The Presidents' joint news conference is here. The morning Arrival Ceremony is here. This afternoon, Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Kim made a special visit to a Virginia high school. On the eve of the State Visit, on Wednesday, President Obama took President Lee out for a traditional Korean dinner at Woo Lae Oak restaurant in suburban Virginia.

Related: The menu for the State Dinner in honor of Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel in June of 2011 IS HERE. The menu for the State Dinner in honor of China's President Hu Jintao in January of 2011 IS HERE. The menu for the State Dinner in honor of Mexico's President Felipe Calderón in May of 2010 IS HERE. The menu for the State Dinner in honor of India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in November of 2009 IS HERE. The menu for the President and First Lady's Return State Dinner in Honor of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Winfield House in London in May of 2011 IS HERE. (Above: A closeup of one of the centerpieces, featuring apples)

*Photos by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama; long shot by Alex Berliner for Obama Foodorama

read more "The Obamas' State Dinner Menu In Honor Of President Lee Myung-bak, The Republic of Korea"

Video: Chef Comerford Previews The State Dinner

A spotlight on locally sourced vegetables in a menu "conceived by" First Lady & Top Toque...
In a video filmed today in the very busy White House kitchen, Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford talks about tonight's menu for the State Dinner in honor of President Lee Myung-bak of the Republic of Korea. The menu was "conceived by" First Lady Michelle Obama and Comerford, according to the White House. Click here for a full post about the menu. (Above: Comerford holds green and red lettuces from the Kitchen Garden, used in the second-course salad).

Comerford discusses local and regional sourcing for the ingredients--produce from Mrs. Obama's Kitchen Garden, Wagyu rib-eye steaks from an unnamed Texas cattle ranch--and gives a behind-the-scenes look at how she pulls together a lavish diplomatic event for more than 200 guests.


Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses is also in the video, and he talks about his decadent dessert, "Chocolate Malt Devils Food Layers." Click here for a post about the place settings and East Room decor. The full guest list is here and a video of guest arrivals is here.

State Dinner Menu

In Honor Of
President Lee Myung-bak

First Course

Butternut Squash Bisque,

Honey Poached Cranberries, Virginia Cured Ham

Pumpkin Seed Praline, Crème Fraiche

Second Course

Early Fall Harvest Salad on Daikon Sheets

Masago Rice Pearl Crispies

Rice Wine Vinaigrette

Main Course

Texas Wagyu Beef, Orange-Ginger Fondue

Sauteed Kale, Roasted Kabocha Squash

Dessert

Chocolate Malt Devils Food Layers

With Pear and Almond Brittle

read more "Video: Chef Comerford Previews The State Dinner"

First Lady, First Dog, Pastry Chef...

South Lawn meet n' greet...
The White House just released the new photo, above, of First Lady Michelle Obama greeting children on the South Lawn with First Dog Bo, on Sept 14th. Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses is seated at the picnic table, but his presence is not noted in the caption that accompanies the photo on the White House Flickr. Nor is it noted why the kids, who come from DC's Harriet Tubman Elementary School, are visiting the White House.

The other adult in the photo is unidentified, too. The White House chefs have adopted Tubman as part of Mrs. Obama's Chefs Move to Schools initiative, however. Tubman kids joined Mrs. Obama and Yosses on Wednesday for the Fall Harvest of the Kitchen Garden.

It seems to be Homage to Bo moment on the White House Flickr. The photo of Bo, above, is also a new release. "Bo, the Obama family dog, lounges in the West Garden Room of the White House, Sept. 15, 2011," reads the caption on the WH Flickr.

*Top photo by Samantha Appleton/White House; second by Chuck Kennedy/White House

read more "First Lady, First Dog, Pastry Chef..."

Bill Yosses Headlines Kickoff Event For Third Annual DC Farm To School Week

The Executive Pastry Chef is the White House ambassador for Oct. 3 celebration of locally sourced school meals and farm-to-table education...
October is the first-ever National Farm to School Month, designated by a Resolution passed by the US House of Representatives in November of 2010. In Washington, DC, Oct. 3-7 is DC Farm to School Week, and Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses will join the kick-off celebration on Monday, acting as emcee for a Top Chef-style competition that will be held at 2:00 PM in the gymnasium shared by Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter High School and Savoy Elementary School in Southeast Washington. Yosses was on hand for last year's DC Farm to School Week celebration, when Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass served as emcee, wowing a crowd of about 200. (Above: Yosses in the Kitchen Garden)

The week of activities includes a focus on locally sourced school meals and farm education, and is sponsored by the D.C. Farm to School Network, now part of the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture. At Monday's celebration, Yosses will provide the live commentary as four local chefs engage in a timed battle to create seasonal salads using a pantry of ingredients plucked from DC school gardens and provided by Whole Foods Markets. Student-led tours of the school vegetable garden will follow. This is the third year of events.

Chefs Move to Schools: White House chefs and Tubman Elementary School
Yosses, Kass, and White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford all have plenty of experience bringing the farm-to-table experience to students: For First Lady Obama's Chefs Move to Schools initiative, the three Top Toques have adopted Harriet Tubman Elementary School in DC. They have cooked with the students at the school, as well as hosted them at the White House. (Above: The First Lady looks on as Yosses shows a jar of White House Honey to kids during a cooking demonstration on the South Lawn)

Among other activities, Tubman students helped the First Lady harvest her Kitchen Garden in Fall of 2010 and plant it for Spring 2011. They also served as junior guest chefs for the President and Mrs. Obama's 2011 Governors' Dinner, joining the White House chefs to help prepare the meal. Thousands of school kids have now visited the White House for chef-led tours of Mrs. Obama's garden and healthy cooking demonstrations--including at the annual Easter Egg Roll. The chefs have also traveled around the US spreading the Let's Move! message.

*Photos by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama

read more "Bill Yosses Headlines Kickoff Event For Third Annual DC Farm To School Week"