Obama Visits Ray's Hell-Burger

Pat · May 5, 2009

Via The Hill:
(Not sure why they have it located in Alexandria...)

Mark Knoller has it correct in his tweeting, so I'm not sure where the misinformation orignated.

ETA: He also says: "Lunch play-by-play. Press Pool reports Obama ordered a swiss mushroom burger with chili and cheese cooked medium. Paid cash."

I don't know why I find this level of detail appealing but I do.

The President also bought burgers for some in the press corps (apparently the ones who wanted them).

Apologies for the edits. I didn't want to make new posts for every comment and then managed to make a bunch of typos...

u-bet! · May 5, 2009

Press Pool reports Obama ordered a swiss mushroom burger with chili and cheese cooked medium. Paid cash."

chili? :rolleyes:

Pat · May 5, 2009

chili?

Perhaps it was chiles as in the peppers. I know there used to be jalapenos, at least, but I haven't been there in a while. Chile and chili could easily be conflated.

Pat · May 5, 2009

HA. Knoller now says: "Pool got it wrong: Obama really ordered a basic cheddar cheese burger, medium well with spicy mustard. also order cheesy tater puffs...."

hm212 · May 5, 2009

Made it to national news - Obama has lunch and pays for the entire news corp at Hell Burger.

Left $5 in the tip jar - as reported by MSNBC - 5 Full minutes on national news feed.

dcs · May 5, 2009

The Secret Service must really love this Twitter stuff. :rolleyes:

DonRocks · May 5, 2009

Made it to national news - Obama has lunch and pays for the entire news corp at Hell Burger.
Left $5 in the tip jar - as reported by MSNBC - 5 Full minutes on national news feed.

Click here for the MSNBC article.

Mr. President or Mr. Vice President, would you please weigh in with your opinion of the cheesy tater puffs? If you post just once you can access the dining guide. :rolleyes:

TheMatt · May 5, 2009

Good Lord, what is Ray's going to be like *now*?

And what is Michael going to be like? :rolleyes:

JPW · May 5, 2009

Michael, what were you saying on that other thread about publicity?

sheldman · May 5, 2009

I am thinking, based on all this recent activity, that maybe the President is an obsessive but slightly incompetent or underinformed Mark Slater groupie, desperately trying to find him but not quite up to speed on when/where to go.

Adam23 · May 5, 2009

From a friend... "He needs to stay at the office and eat at his desk and get some work done. Jeb Bush, Eric Cantor and Mitt Romney were at Pietanza on Saturday. Arlington is the new gastro-political hotspot."

monavano · May 5, 2009

Mr. Landrum serves at the pleasure of the President-from DCist:

http://dcist.com/2009/05/obama_and_biden_l...t_rays_hell.php

edited to fix link, thanks Pat.

hungry prof · May 5, 2009

Video here.

Note the president's resigned acceptance of tater tots in the absence of french fries.

mxyzptlk · May 5, 2009

My office mate and I went to Pho 75 for lunch and were caught up in this whole craziness. It was mass chaos outside the entire time they were there. President Obama and entourage were in and out in 30 minutes.

Pat · May 5, 2009

Mr. Landrum serves at the pleasure of the President-from DCist:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30582391/

This is the dcist link:

http://dcist.com/2009/05/obama_and_biden_l...t_rays_hell.php

I sent it to my husband, and he immediately recognized the poster behind the VP in the photo. We've sat at that table :rolleyes: .

Michael Landrum · May 5, 2009

You should have seen the argument between me and the Secret Service guys when they tried to hold a table before the President had ordered and gotten his number.

MelGold · May 5, 2009

Now it's going to be impossible to get a table!

DanCole42 · May 5, 2009

This is the dcist link:
http://dcist.com/2009/05/obama_and_biden_l...t_rays_hell.php

I sent it to my husband, and he immediately recognized the poster behind the VP in the photo. We've sat at that table .

"The last time Obama stopped by a casual lunch spot, there was a line around the building to get into Ben's Chili Bowl for six weeks."

Clearly Michael needs to establish super secret "open hours"... like 3:13AM to 3:23AM, when those of us from before Obama "raised hell" can still get a burger. :rolleyes:

---------------------------------------

And sheldman... LITERALLY loling at your Slater groupie post...

---------------------------------------

From my wife: i hope Spike is cursing and jumping up and down on his hat

Demetrius · May 5, 2009

Congrats to Mr. Landrum for being recognized by our president and vice president as the go to spot for the best burger.

Now my wife will finally believe me that this is the best and agree to go with me.

zoramargolis · May 5, 2009

Ha! I had just PM'd Mark yesterday about how it was too bad he hadn't been able to pull a cork for Michelle and Barack the other night, and that we should start applying some pressure for them to visit "the people's steakhouse" across the river. No wine at Ray's Hell, but it's only a matter of time now. You go, Michael!

susanmab · May 5, 2009

Now it's going to be impossible to get a table!

Indeed!

I can't even be too sore about that though, because it's just so wicked cool. Oh, and now I look good to the friends that I've been trying to cajole to go out for a burger.

DameEdna · May 5, 2009

Landrum passes Secret Service background check? Bad boy? no, pussycat.

ruslev · May 5, 2009

Now it's going to be impossible to get a table!

Thank god he did not go to RTS!

lion · May 5, 2009

Great, now everyone will be going there! Lines out the door! The owner will get a swelled head! :rolleyes:

Congratulations Michael.

Scott Johnston · May 5, 2009

Funny how the P and VP were htere at the same time... I thought they tried to avoid public appearences together.

ppsailor01 · May 5, 2009

He ordered his burger medium well!!!! wtf

Waitman · May 5, 2009

A more amusing take. Plus video.

tentimesodds · May 5, 2009

He ordered his burger medium well!!!! wtf

I would have thought he'd order it with a red, warm center. Shows what I know.

Saw the report on CNN while I stopped in to Jason's Deli in Falls Church. Good-bye, delicious Hell-Burger, we hardly knew ye. See you in a few months when the crowds die down.

Halloween · May 5, 2009

Landrum passes Secret Service background check? Bad boy? no, pussycat.

Right?! No wonder Michael was so pleasant, upbeat, and well-behaved during that crazy Arlington interview. :rolleyes:

dmwine · May 5, 2009

I am thinking, based on all this recent activity, that maybe the President is an obsessive but slightly incompetent or underinformed Mark Slater groupie, desperately trying to find him but not quite up to speed on when/where to go.

He'll know after tomorrow's Food section. :rolleyes:

dmwine · May 5, 2009

He ordered his burger medium well!!!! wtf

From the video in Waitman's link, he said "medium", not medium-well, because he was ordering extras and didn't know how people would want them.

ETA: Oops! Heard a radio clip on the way home - he did indeed order his own medium-well.

Sigh. Nobody's perfect.

Joe H · May 5, 2009

The Drudge Report, near the top of the front page with a photo: http://www.drudgereport.com/

CNN video (with an Appleby's hamburger commercial first!): http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/

USA Today, front page of website: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/index

Brinks Truck: http://www.worldofstock.com/closeups/BIN2054.php

ol_ironstomach · May 5, 2009

From the video in Waitman's link, he said "medium", not medium-well, because he was ordering extras and didn't know how people would want them.

Check the CNN video. He orders his own medium well, and then later appears to order more mediums for the press corps.

silentbob · May 5, 2009

He ordered his burger medium well!!!! wtf

Disappointing, but not a surprise.

His first meal on Air Force One back in January was a burger medium well.

It would've been great if he had ordered Moorenko's today as well.

TheMatt · May 5, 2009

Perhaps he is just dutifully following the USDA recommendation that ground beef be cooked to an internal temperature that, I believe, corresponds to medium well to well-done.

That is how a President should behave, no? :rolleyes:

tcarman · May 5, 2009

Well, of course, we had to do our own obligatory Obama visits Hell Burger story. Real quotes included. Landrum may even recognize his honeyed words this time around...

levjn · May 5, 2009

I'm impressed they could find parking for the whole entourage... without "special treatment"! :rolleyes:

B.A.R. · May 6, 2009

Hopefully Michael will have time to post his recollections of the day. I'd like to know if they really did just "show-up" or was there some advance notice.

u-bet! · May 6, 2009

Hopefully Michael will have time to post his recollections of the day. I'd like to know if they really did just "show-up" or was there some advance notice.

From the sight of the traffic cones blocking off all of the street parking as the motorcade pulled away, I would say there was advance notice.

ulysses · May 6, 2009

michael...years of fine dining training down the tube. Never reach across. Elbow away, not against. I'm guessin' your going to lose a shift for that one.

Halloween · May 6, 2009

So you guys are criticizing the President for ordering his burger medium-well? Well, I take my steak tartare, well, raw; my steak, medium-rare; and, my burgers medium to medium-well. Sue me; bring it on!

mdt · May 6, 2009

Hell-burgers spotted on the CBS Morning Show!

Heather · May 6, 2009

So you guys are criticizing the President for ordering his burger medium-well? Well, I take my steak tartare, well, raw; my steak, medium-rare; and, my burgers medium to medium-well. Sue me; bring it on!

I've tried meduim-rare, medium, and medium-well Hell-burgers, and prefer the medium & medium-well versions. Melting the fat a little more makes them more flavorful. The trick is not to press them so that they lose said fat during cooking, and the grill-masters there know what they are doing.

I'd love to know why The Hill name checks Spike but not Michael in this:

The Hill.

mdt · May 6, 2009

I've tried meduim-rare, medium, and medium-well Hell-burgers, and prefer the medium & medium-well versions. Melting the fat a little more makes them more flavorful. The trick is not to press them so that they lose said fat during cooking, and the grill-masters there know what they are doing.
I'd love to know why The Hill name checks Spike but not Michael in this:

The Hill.

Reality tv star. :rolleyes:

JPW · May 6, 2009

Seriously, Michael, you need a new PR agent. You haven't gotten nearly enough publicity the first three days of this week. :rolleyes:

FunnyJohn · May 6, 2009

Did you get any TARP funds?

Hannah · May 6, 2009

I've tried meduim-rare, medium, and medium-well Hell-burgers, and prefer the medium & medium-well versions. Melting the fat a little more makes them more flavorful. The trick is not to press them so that they lose said fat during cooking, and the grill-masters there know what they are doing.
I'd love to know why The Hill name checks Spike but not Michael in this:

The Hill.

Clearly they're not very bright, because it still says Ray's is in Alexandria.

Michael Landrum · May 6, 2009

Actual true moment, and the most beautiful moment in my life--something that will never make it into the press--when the President sat down to eat, this was what was playing: click Harvest for the World. Can you believe that shit?

Me to the President: "I don't know what's on your I-Pod, but check out our soundtrack. Here we play the Isleys"

President to me: "Right on."

No lie.

Michael Landrum · May 6, 2009

Now, those of you who don't know me might not believe me, but what I set out to do do ten years ago when I first set out to have a business, I had one thing, and one thing only, in mind.

To see my plan come to fruition, and to have a national stage to do so, blows my mind in a way that is incomprehensible even to me.

Now that I have a direct ear to the White House and have finally established a foundation for my plan, I can now reveal just exactly what I have been about for the past ten years: To achieve a Presidential Pardon for Gil Scott-Heron.

Once this is done, I can rest.

Anyone from the national press who links to this site must link to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch? to find out what America is all about.

Or this: http://www.youtube.com/watchv=KH_Ak95CaRc&...feature=related

Or this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4CChz4DjQE

Anna Blume · May 6, 2009

Gotta add the story as reported by the Obama Foodorama's Ag Policy Wonk* (does anyone here know this guy?); note the link to Marler's food safety blog with photos of hamburgers in various states of doneness: click.

*Since the focus is on issues related to my own obsessions, the Hell's Burger story appeared rather late. Greater interest expressed during the day about Sam Kass and the Chicago high school students who won a trip to the White House to cook w the personal chef.

DanCole42 · May 6, 2009

"President Obama joins VP at burger joint for a quick bite" is the top story in Yahoo's "Most Popular News" section.

Frak me.

Tujague · May 6, 2009

He ordered his burger medium well!!!! wtf

I have a dream of a day when we judge a president by the content of his character, not by the color of his hamburger.

ol_ironstomach · May 6, 2009

I have a dream of a day when we judge a president by the content of his character, not by the color of his hamburger.

But would it have been so difficult for him to ask "what do you recommend?" Especially at a joint which grills in a high-char style and offers a doneness level called 'recommended'...

hungry prof · May 6, 2009

Or perhaps Robert Gibbs pleaded with the president to order his burger medium well so Gibbs wouldn't have to spend an entire press conference answering questions about USDA recommendations regarding the doneness of beef. "Does the president question the USDA's recommendations?", "Will the president be asking the USDA to reevaluate its recommendations?", "What other government recommendations does the president contravene?" , "Would the president serve a medium rare hamburger to Sasha and Malia?", etc.

JPW · May 6, 2009

Or perhaps Robert Gibbs pleaded with the president to order his burger medium well so Gibbs wouldn't have to spend an entire press conference answering questions about USDA recommendations regarding the doneness of beef. "Does the president question the USDA's recommendations?", "Will the president be asking the USDA to reevaluate its recommendations?", "What other government recommendations does the president contravene?" , "Would the president serve a medium rare hamburger to Sasha and Malia?", etc.

My thoughts exactly.

zoramargolis · May 6, 2009

Or perhaps Robert Gibbs pleaded with the president to order his burger medium well so Gibbs wouldn't have to spend an entire press conference answering questions about USDA recommendations regarding the doneness of beef. "Does the president question the USDA's recommendations?", "Will the president be asking the USDA to reevaluate its recommendations?", "What other government recommendations does the president contravene?" , "Would the president serve a medium rare hamburger to Sasha and Malia?", etc.

Or maybe he just likes them that way. Nobody's perfect.

DameEdna · May 6, 2009

In ML's address book, we can be pretty sure that "W. House" stands for "White House" can't we?

(maybe Landrum would like to open a place at the Watergate).

Al Dente · May 7, 2009

on The Daily Show!!!

Fox Noise reports...

OBAMA MURDERS COW TO ENJOY PAGAN LUNCH!

squidsdc · May 7, 2009

Video and commentary made it to The Daily Show tonight--but Jon Stewart didn't even mention the restaurant's name. It did get mentioned when they played the video however.

(that was a great line )

Fish · May 7, 2009

on The Daily Show!!!
Fox Noise reports...

OBAMA MURDERS COW TO ENJOY PAGAN LUNCH!

Best TDS line ever!

DanCole42 · May 7, 2009

Video and commentary made it to The Daily Show tonight--but Jon Stewart didn't even mention the restaurant's name. It did get mentioned when they played the video however.
(that was a great line )

Link???

Pat · May 7, 2009

My husband said Letterman had several Hell Burger jokes last night, but I haven't tried to track down the video online yet.

ETA: The jokes start just after 5 minutes into the monologue and run to the end

Daily Show

Al Dente · May 7, 2009

To follow up on the link above, you MUST watch the clip from 1973 where Dan Rather reports on Nixon eating a burrito:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/07/d...r_n_198784.html

I am not a cook...

hungry prof · May 7, 2009

But wait, there's more. From WaPo's "The Sleuth" blog, "Obama Burger Firestorm Still Raging"

Rhone1998 · May 7, 2009

One thing I haven't seen mentioned (maybe I just missed it) was who turned the President on to Ray's in the first place. A hint came this morning in an NPR piece about Biden and his relationship to Obama. The story said Obama suggested Ray's to Biden for their weekly lunch based on the recommendation of one of his staff members. Who the mysterious staffer actually is is anyone's guess...

Al Dente · May 7, 2009

But wait, there's more. From WaPo's "The Sleuth" blog, "Obama Burger Firestorm Still Raging"

Is that douchebag Hannity really making a big deal over Dijon?

DanielK · May 7, 2009

One thing I haven't seen mentioned (maybe I just missed it) was who turned the President on to Ray's in the first place. A hint came this morning in an NPR piece about Biden and his relationship to Obama. The story said Obama suggested Ray's to Biden for their weekly lunch based on the recommendation of one of his staff members. Who the mysterious staffer actually is is anyone's guess...

The staffer was named in one of the online articles I read the other day, but I couldn't tell you which one. My recollection is that it was one of Biden's aides, not Obama's.

alan7147 · May 7, 2009

The staffer was named in one of the online articles I read the other day, but I couldn't tell you which one. My recollection is that it was one of Biden's aides, not Obama's.

It is Phil Schiliro, Obama's LA Director. Former chief of staff to Mighty Mouse.

Waitman · May 7, 2009

Or perhaps Robert Gibbs pleaded with the president to order his burger medium well so Gibbs wouldn't have to spend an entire press conference answering questions about USDA recommendations regarding the doneness of beef. "Does the president question the USDA's recommendations?", "Will the president be asking the USDA to reevaluate its recommendations?", "What other government recommendations does the president contravene?" , "Would the president serve a medium rare hamburger to Sasha and Malia?", etc.

In the responses to the Akers piece, several African-American posters have suggested that it's a black thing -- that they and the vast majority of their black friends eat their beef cooked past pink. In my experience, rural southerners and Midwesterners (like the rural Kansan grandparents who raised him) are also more likely to go for the grey.

............................

Boy, doesn't this post seem prophetic now: "As the undisputed king of free publicity..."

monavano · May 7, 2009

Michael,

I don't know you, yet I'm so verklempt seeing you and Ray's splashed everywhere! What a memory...

DanCole42 · May 8, 2009

Sigh.

I guess it's up to me to ask all the tough, hard-hitting questions all you fluff posters are afraid to:

Did either of them slice their burger in half, as is recommended?

Did either of them finish their entire burgers?

Between Citronelle and Ray's, he's going to have a hard time keeping his Washingtonian-cover body in shape.

TedE · May 8, 2009

The Obama family burger tour continues!

Michelle at Good Stuff

Tujague · May 8, 2009

The Obama family burger tour continues!
Michelle at Good Stuff

Sorry, Michelle, I love you, but 1 Five Guys + 1 Good Stuff ≠ 1 Hell Burger. Not even close.

edenman · May 8, 2009

Michelle counters with visit to Good Stuff.

Heather · May 8, 2009

Can't we all just get along?

The line was out the door and down the street at 12:45. I consoled myself by driving to Vidalia and having the pork grinder instead.

Scott Johnston · May 8, 2009

So did POTUS actually like the HB? Did he finish it? Did Biden take home the leftovers? What about the Cheesy tater tots, where they consumed? Anyone drip on themselves? Finally, the questions I have had for the last couple of days......Did ML wear a clean apron?

Michael Landrum · May 9, 2009

Senf von Auslander Aus! Amerikanischer Senf fur Amerikaner!

In Arbeit Ich Macht Nicht Fries!

u-bet! · May 9, 2009

How about swerving this back on topic...

Obama can be heard asking if they have a "spicy mustard" or a "Dijon mustard", something like that. But aren't those two different things? I don't think of Dijon mustard as "spicy"; I'm thinking he was after something more along the lines of Gulden's, which brands itself as "Spicy Brown Mustard". So... exactly what kind/brand of mustard did the pres get on his burger? If I had been to Hell Burger recently I guess I would know what they offer, but I haven't so I don't.

jparrott · May 9, 2009

I don't think of Dijon mustard as "spicy"

You must never have had a fresh jar of Maille.

u-bet! · May 9, 2009

You must never have had a fresh jar of Maille.

Well, my mom is a big fan of Grey Poupon, so we always had it around the house when I was growing up. I remember taking a long time to learn to appreciate it; to my delicate unrefined childhood plate it had too much of a strong, "alcoholic" taste (not to be confused with my uncle Joe, who was also a strong alcoholic, but that's another story). I have had Maille, but it was a long time ago, and I don't know if it was fresh or not. I don't really remember what it tasted like.

So much for being back on topic - it's turned into the mustard thread. Shit.

ojdavies · June 24, 2010

President Obama followed his meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday by treating him to lunch at Ray’s Hell Burger in Arlington, Va., the pool reports... DEVELOPING...

monavano · June 24, 2010

President Obama followed his meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday by treating him to lunch at Ray’s Hell Burger in Arlington, Va., the pool reports... DEVELOPING...

If he's speaking about Ray's, Medvedev states now in opening, broadcasting from the White House, that he and Obama ate at an "interesting place, perhaps not that healthy, but very American and you can feel the spirit of/in the place".

Not verbatim, but close (via translator).

How cool- The Hamburger Summit.

eatdrinkmore · June 24, 2010

From the Washington Post

When in Rome ... Go to Ray's Hell Burger

President Obama treated Russian president Dmitry Medvedev to a traditional American lunch at the Arlington eatery Thursday before returning to the White House for a joint news conference.

Obama ate a traditional cheeseburger, while Medvedev added jalepenos, mushrooms and onions to his. The pair shared an order of fries, according to the White House. No word on which superpower paid for the meal. (Update, 1:47 p.m.: It was Obama's treat.)

Both sat, scrunched in at the tiny table in shirtsleeves, while the packed-in patrons gawked. There was much cheering when the pair came out.

It may not be the most glamorous location for a visiting head of state, but Obama clearly has a thing for the burger joint.

In May of last year, Obama and vice president Joe Biden stole away for a similar mid-day lunch, prompting a similar amount of restaurant chaos and forever making it even harder to get a table at the Virginia establishment.

Medvedev is in town for one-on-one meetings with Obama before the two head up to Canada for the meeting of the G20 nations.

KMango · June 24, 2010

It's also the lead story on the NY Times website right now.

Link to their version of the story.

From the Washington Post

When in Rome ... Go to Ray's Hell Burger

President Obama treated Russian president Dmitry Medvedev to a traditional American lunch at the Arlington eatery Thursday before returning to the White House for a joint news conference.

Obama ate a traditional cheeseburger, while Medvedev added jalepenos, mushrooms and onions to his. The pair shared an order of fries, according to the White House. No word on which superpower paid for the meal. (Update, 1:47 p.m.: It was Obama's treat.)

Both sat, scrunched in at the tiny table in shirtsleeves, while the packed-in patrons gawked. There was much cheering when the pair came out.

It may not be the most glamorous location for a visiting head of state, but Obama clearly has a thing for the burger joint.

In May of last year, Obama and vice president Joe Biden stole away for a similar mid-day lunch, prompting a similar amount of restaurant chaos and forever making it even harder to get a table at the Virginia establishment.

Medvedev is in town for one-on-one meetings with Obama before the two head up to Canada for the meeting of the G20 nations.

DameEdna · June 24, 2010

ML advertising budget (ever): zero.

Michael Landrum · June 24, 2010

Strangely enough, both President Obama and President Medvedev, through an interpreter, had just one thing to say to me:

"Your wine splits suck."

DonRocks · June 24, 2010

Strangely enough, both President O'Bama and President Medvedev, through an interpreter, had just one thing to say to me:

"Your wine splits suck."

The irony is that I'm reading this whole saga sitting downstairs at Shake Shack, watching a replay of Isner and Mahut, and having an overcooked burger, crinkle-cut fries, and a poorly mixed chocolate malt.

Cheers,

Rocks

Lydia R · June 24, 2010

France 24 has the best photos so far:

Michael Landrum · June 25, 2010

It will not be televised.

dcs · June 25, 2010

It will not be televised.

But it will appear in print as a 5 x 7 photo at the top left of the front page of today's New York Times (New York, Washington, and National Editions).

Obama Visits Ray's Hell-Burger

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