Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHenry Haller, longest-serving White House executive chef, dies at 97
Henry Haller, longest-serving White House executive chef, dies at 97
Link to tweet
Obituaries
Henry Haller, longest-serving White House executive chef, dies at 97
By Olesia Plokhii
Dec. 18, 2020 at 9:05 p.m. EST
Henry Haller, the longest-serving White House executive chef in the history of the residence, who planned and executed countless extravagant banquets, three wedding receptions and more than 250 state dinners for five presidents, died Nov. 7 at his home in Gaithersburg, Md. He was 97. ... His wife, Carole Haller, confirmed the death and said there was no specific cause.
Mr. Haller was a Swiss-born French chef who joined the White House in 1966 after impressing President Lyndon B. Johnson years earlier with his cooking at New York Citys Sheraton-East Hotel. He remained at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. late into the Reagan administration, mastering the tastes of five first families over a span of 21 years and pulling off impressive culinary feats on short notice.
A consummate professional who was never known to gossip about what he saw or heard at the White House, Mr. Haller catered to the tastes of the first families, whether asked to prepare deluxe continental cuisine or simple home-style American meals. ... Its quite simple, really, he told the Albany Times Union in 2002. You keep your mouth shut. There are no prima donnas at the White House except the president of the United States. .?.?. Some chefs like to tell the guests what to eat. Its not like that at the White House. They tell you what they want to eat and you do it.
For Johnson, that was Texan food and tapioca pudding. For the family of Richard M. Nixon, it was classic French dishes, red snapper and broiled lamb chops. Mr. Haller said the Fords enjoyed roast beef cooked with whole onions as well as red cabbage with pork chops; Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter liked fried chicken, ham, okra and string beans; and Ronald and Nancy Reagan valued variety and beautiful presentation.
{snip}
One of Mr. Hallers most vividly remembered days at the White House was when Nixon resigned on Aug. 9, 1974. That morning, Mr. Haller said, the president walked into the kitchen barefoot and wearing pajamas and asked for corned beef hash and a poached egg. Nixon then shook Mr. Hallers hand and said, Chef, I have dined all over the world, but your food is the best.
{snip}
Henry Haller, longest-serving White House executive chef, dies at 97
By Olesia Plokhii
Dec. 18, 2020 at 9:05 p.m. EST
Henry Haller, the longest-serving White House executive chef in the history of the residence, who planned and executed countless extravagant banquets, three wedding receptions and more than 250 state dinners for five presidents, died Nov. 7 at his home in Gaithersburg, Md. He was 97. ... His wife, Carole Haller, confirmed the death and said there was no specific cause.
Mr. Haller was a Swiss-born French chef who joined the White House in 1966 after impressing President Lyndon B. Johnson years earlier with his cooking at New York Citys Sheraton-East Hotel. He remained at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. late into the Reagan administration, mastering the tastes of five first families over a span of 21 years and pulling off impressive culinary feats on short notice.
A consummate professional who was never known to gossip about what he saw or heard at the White House, Mr. Haller catered to the tastes of the first families, whether asked to prepare deluxe continental cuisine or simple home-style American meals. ... Its quite simple, really, he told the Albany Times Union in 2002. You keep your mouth shut. There are no prima donnas at the White House except the president of the United States. .?.?. Some chefs like to tell the guests what to eat. Its not like that at the White House. They tell you what they want to eat and you do it.
For Johnson, that was Texan food and tapioca pudding. For the family of Richard M. Nixon, it was classic French dishes, red snapper and broiled lamb chops. Mr. Haller said the Fords enjoyed roast beef cooked with whole onions as well as red cabbage with pork chops; Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter liked fried chicken, ham, okra and string beans; and Ronald and Nancy Reagan valued variety and beautiful presentation.
{snip}
One of Mr. Hallers most vividly remembered days at the White House was when Nixon resigned on Aug. 9, 1974. That morning, Mr. Haller said, the president walked into the kitchen barefoot and wearing pajamas and asked for corned beef hash and a poached egg. Nixon then shook Mr. Hallers hand and said, Chef, I have dined all over the world, but your food is the best.
{snip}
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
3 replies, 762 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (11)
ReplyReply to this post
3 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Henry Haller, longest-serving White House executive chef, dies at 97 (Original Post)
mahatmakanejeeves
Dec 2020
OP
Cirque du So-What
(26,004 posts)1. He was spared the indignities
of preparing meals while Greasy Caligula was in office. He probably cringed at hearing that the First Slob likes ketchup on his well-done steaks.
LuvNewcastle
(16,860 posts)2. The chef during this administration has probably had
a lot of idle time. How could he duplicate a Big Mac with those greasy onions under that soggy bun with the plastic cheese, cardboard meat, and nasty 1000 Island dressing in between. That's not to mention all the rest of the delicacies he prefers. I'm sure Trumpy thinks nobody does it better than they do.
niyad
(113,630 posts)3. Requiescat in pace, good soul. You brought joy to so many.