Can You Smell What The Brotman's Cookin'?

By Erin in Food on Feb 18, 2005 2:09AM

Two weeks ago, CNN ran a story that after almost 11 years as White House Chef Walter Scheib is hanging up his apron and "pursuing other opportunities."

Since Chicagoist has somehow been overlooked when it comes to invites for state dinners, we've never sampled, nor heard much about, Scheib's mad skills in the kitchen. We're going to assume he's fantastic; after all, how many chefs stay in one kitchen for that long of time unless they own the joint? Chicagoist does, however, wonder how hard it was to sate the palates of the two Presidents he's cooked for, considering one was a junk-food fiend and the other reportedly favors peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

So now the White House needs a chef. They apparently have someone who is looking to offer her culinary skills, someone from our fair city.

Trib columnist Barbara Brotman writes in today's online column that while she's "been known to serve leftovers after they've been in the refrigerator a little longer than the Centers for Disease Control might advise," she's up for the challenge.

Which is good. Because according to a delightful nugget Brotman shares in her column, First Lady Laura Bush is one tough customer. Chicagoist thinks Brotman should arm herself with pizza, paczki, and polish sausage before leaving Chicago for DC.

Surely Mrs. Bush can appreciate the fine food our city has to offer.