M
MioMyo
Guest
And in doing so the wanna-be imperial princess pelosi prices staffers right
out of lunch. Albeit healthier foods are a plus, however, I suppose for the
princess, esoteric culinary titles along with their higher prices trump
freedom of food choices previously offered.
Than again, it's just possible some lobbyist is filling the wanna-be
imperial princess coffer. Nah, the princess wouldn't be that obvious would
she?
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0108/7888.html
The processed cheese has been replaced with brie. The Jell-O has made way
for raspberry kiwi tarts and mini-lemon blueberry trifles. Meatloaf has
moved over for mahi mahi and buns have been shunted aside in favor of
baguettes.
A revolution is afoot at the deli counters, grills and salad bars of the
U.S. House of Representatives.
Newly ascendant Democrats may have hit roadblocks on Iraq and fiscal issues,
but they have revamped congressional menus, replacing fatty, pre-made foods
with healthier, gourmet alternatives. The once dreary congressional
cafeterias now abound with haute cuisine.
The menu transformation is part of Speaker Nancy Pelosi's "Greening the
Capitol" plan to make the House campus more environmentally friendly and
socially progressive.
But there can be a downside to delicious. Not everyone is happy with the
enhanced offerings. Many congressional employees have complained that as the
food quality has increased, so have the prices.
"It's a big jump from high school cafeteria to fancy-pants gourmet. I just
wish my pay improved," said Caryn Schenewerk, a staffer for Rep. Gabrielle
Giffords (D-Ariz.).
A fruit and cheese side dish with two small wedges of brie and cheddar, six
grapes, two saltines and one strawberry cost $4.95, for example.
House officials explained that the fresher and more varied foods were indeed
more expensive but that they had tried to preserve low-cost alternatives
such as pizza, sandwiches and prepared salads, which remain around the same
price.
Higher prices weren't the only complaints.
Perhaps it was inevitable that any major change orchestrated by the
Democrats, be it legislation or legumes, would draw Republican fire.
One House Republican aide lobbed attacks at the Democrats over e-mail.
"I really don't like Nanny Nancy telling me what I can and cannot eat for
lunch. If I want to eat unhealthy, I should have that choice!" the aide
fumed.
Republican aides have raised questions about why the cafeterias now stock
Stonyfield Farm yogurt, speculating that the move would line the pockets of
the company's CEO, Gary Hirshberg, a significant player in Democratic
politics.
That assertion is nonsense, said Jeff Ventura, a spokesman for the chief
administrative officer, the House official who oversees the cafeterias. He
said the new food vendor, Restaurant Associates, selected the yogurt
producer based on price, quality and consumer satisfaction.
"The idea that the CAO employs a political litmus test on the hundreds of
food items in the cafeterias is nothing short of absurd," Ventura said.
Several calls to Restaurant Associates' spokeswoman Gina Zimmer were not
returned.
Grumbling aside, the menu choices now available present a whole new world of
congressional culinary adventures.
There is pan-roasted Chesapeake rockfish with sweet potato fennel hash and
yellow pepper relish. Pears with Stilton cheese and watercress.
Cumin-scented leg of lamb with almond couscous. There are vegetables with
funny names, like bok choy, arugula and jicama. There are baked goods with
Italian names, like biscotti, focaccia and frittati.
out of lunch. Albeit healthier foods are a plus, however, I suppose for the
princess, esoteric culinary titles along with their higher prices trump
freedom of food choices previously offered.
Than again, it's just possible some lobbyist is filling the wanna-be
imperial princess coffer. Nah, the princess wouldn't be that obvious would
she?
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0108/7888.html
The processed cheese has been replaced with brie. The Jell-O has made way
for raspberry kiwi tarts and mini-lemon blueberry trifles. Meatloaf has
moved over for mahi mahi and buns have been shunted aside in favor of
baguettes.
A revolution is afoot at the deli counters, grills and salad bars of the
U.S. House of Representatives.
Newly ascendant Democrats may have hit roadblocks on Iraq and fiscal issues,
but they have revamped congressional menus, replacing fatty, pre-made foods
with healthier, gourmet alternatives. The once dreary congressional
cafeterias now abound with haute cuisine.
The menu transformation is part of Speaker Nancy Pelosi's "Greening the
Capitol" plan to make the House campus more environmentally friendly and
socially progressive.
But there can be a downside to delicious. Not everyone is happy with the
enhanced offerings. Many congressional employees have complained that as the
food quality has increased, so have the prices.
"It's a big jump from high school cafeteria to fancy-pants gourmet. I just
wish my pay improved," said Caryn Schenewerk, a staffer for Rep. Gabrielle
Giffords (D-Ariz.).
A fruit and cheese side dish with two small wedges of brie and cheddar, six
grapes, two saltines and one strawberry cost $4.95, for example.
House officials explained that the fresher and more varied foods were indeed
more expensive but that they had tried to preserve low-cost alternatives
such as pizza, sandwiches and prepared salads, which remain around the same
price.
Higher prices weren't the only complaints.
Perhaps it was inevitable that any major change orchestrated by the
Democrats, be it legislation or legumes, would draw Republican fire.
One House Republican aide lobbed attacks at the Democrats over e-mail.
"I really don't like Nanny Nancy telling me what I can and cannot eat for
lunch. If I want to eat unhealthy, I should have that choice!" the aide
fumed.
Republican aides have raised questions about why the cafeterias now stock
Stonyfield Farm yogurt, speculating that the move would line the pockets of
the company's CEO, Gary Hirshberg, a significant player in Democratic
politics.
That assertion is nonsense, said Jeff Ventura, a spokesman for the chief
administrative officer, the House official who oversees the cafeterias. He
said the new food vendor, Restaurant Associates, selected the yogurt
producer based on price, quality and consumer satisfaction.
"The idea that the CAO employs a political litmus test on the hundreds of
food items in the cafeterias is nothing short of absurd," Ventura said.
Several calls to Restaurant Associates' spokeswoman Gina Zimmer were not
returned.
Grumbling aside, the menu choices now available present a whole new world of
congressional culinary adventures.
There is pan-roasted Chesapeake rockfish with sweet potato fennel hash and
yellow pepper relish. Pears with Stilton cheese and watercress.
Cumin-scented leg of lamb with almond couscous. There are vegetables with
funny names, like bok choy, arugula and jicama. There are baked goods with
Italian names, like biscotti, focaccia and frittati.
