John Adams - New England Boiled Dinner
Although John Adams upped sticks and (partially) moved to Washington D.C. for his presidential run, there's no doubt about the fact that he was a Massachusettsan through and through. He loved his home state more than anything, which is why it may not come as a surprise to learn that his favorite food was New England delicacy. A New England boiled delicacy, to be exact. And who doesn't love a one-pot meal?
Yes, John Adams' favorite food was a New England boiled dinner, primarily consisting of beef or ham with cabbage and other root vegetables. He may have had it with a side of horseradish, too.
James Madison - Virginia Ham
Often called the "Father of the Constitution", James Madison was kind of a big deal. As the fourth president of the United States he had a lot of work on his plate. Unfortunately, it seems as though he didn't have a lot of food on his plate. As the smallest president in history (by both height and weight), it's believed that he spent more time working than eating. However, historians have guessed his favorite food.
As a born and bred Virginian, it's believed that Madison would have loved nothing more than to sit down and eat a chunk of the state's favorite smoked ham. When he had time, of course.
William Henry Harrison - Squirrel Stew
William Henry Harrison will forever be known for a few things - the shortest presidency in U.S. history, being the first president to die while in office, and his love of squirrels. Squirrel stew, to be exact! It's well documented that William Henry Harrison loved squirrel stew so much that he handed bowls of the stuff out to potential voters while he was rallying for his presidency, and it was his favorite food.
While some Americans do still eat squirrels, it's fair to say that it's not as common as it once was. But back in the day, it was considered one of the finest meats you could get your hands on.
George Washington - Hoecakes
While all of the former presidents on this list will go down in history for their time in the Oval Office, George Washington stands out from the crowd - and not just because he didn't actually live or work in the White House. As the country's very first president, he set the standard for the men that followed him. And according to reports, he loved a dinner party as much as the next guy.
While a typical George Washington meal consisted of roast goose, mutton, potatoes, and mince pies, it's been noted that ol' George was particularly fond of hoecakes. If you're not familiar, hoecakes are essentially pancakes made from cornmeal.
Andrew Jackson - Tenderloin With Jezebel Sauce
From a young age, Andrew Jackson knew he had a big future on his horizon. This confidence and talent led him to the White House, where he served as the seventh president of the United States. And while this high life led to a taste for the finer things, he never seemed to forget his roots. Because of this, his favorite food was a mixture of high-society chow and humble ingredients.
While tenderloin is something many people still eat today, Jackson used to pair his meat with a jezebel sauce made with pineapple and apple jelly, horseradish, mustard, and a dash of black pepper.
Thomas Jefferson - French Vanilla Ice Cream
Thomas Jefferson may have been one of the Founding Fathers of America, but what many people don't realize is that he had a real fondness for France. As a child, he became fluent in French, and this led to a job as the 2nd United States Minister to France. He was also a staunch believer in the French Revolution and even owned a second home in the country across the pond.
He was reportedly attracted to the people, the politics, and the food. In fact, his favorite food was French vanilla ice cream, which he apparently made his French chef make on a regular basis.
Barack Obama - Chili
When Barack Obama became the 44th president of the United States in 2009, he also became the first African-American president in history. This sparked a huge movement in the political world and proved to black people across the country that they could have a chance like him. But while you could spend ages discussing the ins and outs of his policies, one thing we need to discuss is Obama's favorite food.
Although Barack could have stayed in the White House to fuel his body, he would regularly make his way to a nearby restaurant for their signature chili half-smoke dish. He was obsessed.
John Quincy Adams - Fruit
John Quincy Adams had an illustrious political career before he became the sixth president of the United States in 1825. Because of that, we really don't blame him for taking a step back and retiring when his time in the White House ended. He probably needed a good ol' lie down! While he moved to live a quieter life in Massachusetts after his time in office, he still kept himself busy in his gardens.
It's been recorded that John Adams spent his retirement days growing all kinds of plants, fruit and veg in his home gardens. Because of this, it's been assumed that his favorite food was fruit.
Martin Van Buren - Boar's Head
Before he became the President of the United States, Martin Van Buren spent a lot of his time traveling - especially while serving as the minister to Great Britain. As a result, he traveled to and from the United Kingdom on a regular basis, learning their ways and eating their food. It was during these trips that he was introduced to the classic British Christmas dish, a boar's head covered in a crown of holly.
While Brits no longer eat such things during the festive period, Martin Van Buren was so taken by the cuisine that he took the idea home with him and it quickly became his favorite food.
James K Polk - Ham and Corn Bread
Arguably one of the least well-known former presidents of the United States, James K Polk still made a big difference as the 11th president of the United States. But while luck and talent landed him in the White House, bad luck ultimately led him to an early death at just 53 years old. So, what happened? Well, when his presidential run came to an end, James and his wife decided to travel around the Southern states. Seems harmless, right?
Unfortunately, the Southern states were being ravaged by cholera during this time. And while he tried to steer clear of the disease by traveling by boat and only eating ham and corn bread, it just wasn't enough.
Zachary Taylor - Calas Tous Chauds
Zachary Taylor became the second president in American history to die in office, and as a self-proclaimed foodie we bet he was pretty annoyed to die from stomach disease. In fact, some conflicting reports even suggest that the large amount of milk and cherries he consumed a few days before his death actually contributed to his passing. But at least his favorite food didn't cause his health to decline so quickly.
It's believed that Zachary's favorite food was calas tous chauds - which you may know by their more popular name, New Orleans Rice Fritters. We wonder whether he preferred them topped with powdered sugar or cinnamon?
Donald Trump - McDonald's
One thing everyone seems to know about Donald Trump - whether they're lovin' him or not - is that he's the biggest fan of McDonald's. He's regularly spoken out about his love for the golden arches and appreciates the efficiency that fast food provides. As if that wasn't enough, he regularly ordered mass amounts of McDonald's for state visits and important White House events. But does he have a favorite McDonald's order?
Of course he does! Although it's a controversial preference, Trump will always pick a Filet-O-Fish over anything else on the menu. And we can only assume that he'll be a hardcore fan for the rest of his life.
Chester A. Arthur - Turtle Steak
Chester A. Arthur was an American president who got the job by default when his predecessor passed away unexpectedly. And while his political dealings have put him in the history books, there's no doubt about the fact that his eating habits should also be mentioned. After all, it's not every day you come across someone who eats a turtle for their evening meal! We don't think we ever have, actually.
Apparently, the turtle was a popular delicacy back in the day, and Arthur particularly loved pairing his turtle with some macaroni! Times have changed now, though, and turtles are now protected from hungry presidents under the Endangered Species Act.
Millard Fillmore - Resurrection Pie
As a rule, only those who were born in the United States can become president. And while Millard Fillmore was born in the U.S., his ancestral roots can be traced back to England. As a result, it's believed that many of the foods he ate growing up were influenced by English cuisine - like his favorite, the resurrection pie. This meat pie was regularly served at his table both before, during, and after his stint in the White House.
If you're not familiar with a resurrection pie, this meat-filled pie is typically filled with liver and steak. However, it was generally used as a way to use up leftovers, so it could have been filled with anything.
James Monroe - Spoonbread
Although many Americans mock the British for their Yorkshire puddings, what they often fail to realize is that there's a popular American alternative that's still extremely popular in the southern states. In fact, it was considered to be former president James Monroe's favorite food. Do you know what it is? It's spoonbread, of course! This savory bread-like recipe is made from cornmeal, eggs, butter, and milk, and so soft it can only be eaten with a spoon.
Some historians have even claimed that spoonbread came out of experiments in James Monroe's kitchen, but others state that spoonbread can be traced back much further to Native American recipes.
Abraham Lincoln - Corn Cakes
Arguably one of the most famous presidents in the history of the United States, most people assume they know a lot about the guy. And while we all know that he led the U.S. through the American Civil War and used his humble beginnings to advocate for change, do you know what food he used to eat? Of course, the almond cake his wife used to bake for him is famous, but it's been noted that his favorite food was actually corn cakes.
Both sweet and savory, corn cakes are still popular today. And Lincoln loved them so much that he once reportedly said, 'I could eat corn cakes as a fast as two women can make them.'
George W. Bush - Cheeseburger Pizza
George W. Bush was the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009, and it's fair to say that he had big shoes to fill after his father held the job before him. But whether you agreed with his politics or not, you can't deny that he had good taste in food. After all, Bush's favorite food of all time was a cheeseburger pizza - but he didn't order it in.
Instead, he asked the White House chef to perfect a recipe for him, and she did just that. She even made sure to add extra pickles, fried onions, beef, and bacon.
Herbert Hoover - Caramel Tomatoes
Timing was a little off for Herbert Hoover when he made his way into the Oval Office. Although he had previously had a successful career as a mining engineer (and was ultimately very rich as a result), he served the country as the 31st president of the United States just as the Great Depression was starting. So, he couldn't be seen to be spending too much money in a time when people had so little.
Even sugar wasn't the easily accessible product it is today, which is why Hoover always loved it when his cook would make him his favorite food: caramel tomatoes. Yes, tomatoes covered in sugar!
Franklin Pierce - Fannie Daddies
The 14th president of the United States was Franklin Pierce. and while he was born and raised in New Hampshire, he had a deep love and devotion to the American South. In fact, his ties to the south made him very unpopular in his home state - but he didn't seem to mind, as long as he had a plate of fannie daddies in front of him. Of course, you probably wouldn't call them that anymore.
To you and I, fannie daddies are clam fritters that have been a fan favorite amongst Southerners for centuries. Apparently, Pierce asked for them wherever he went as he loved them so much.
Rutherford B. Hayes - Corn
Rutherford B. Hayes will forever be known as the 19th president of the United States - and being president allows you certain privileges. And while most people would use that power to turn the Oval Office into a ball pit, add a golf course to the grounds, and fill the kitchen with the most delicious food known to humankind, it seems as though Hayes was a simpler man. He didn't drink alcohol, and his favorite food was corn!
He wasn't fussy when it came to his corn foods, either. Hayes would eat corn in each and every form, from corn fritters to corn chowder and even corn bread and cakes.
James Buchanan - Sauerkraut
James Buchanan was a wordly man who brought his knowledge and experience of the world to the White House - and this could be seen in his favorite food. After all, James' favorite food was sauerkraut, despite him not having any German roots at all! His ancestors could be traced back to both Scotland and Ireland, where sauerkraut is relatively unknown. But there was something about the fermented cabbage that just tickled his pickle.
He called the food a "classical dish" and ate it regularly. But it's been noted that this was just part of a very poor diet, which actually led to many health issues.
John Tyler - Tyler Pudding Pie
Sure, many of the presidents on this list are known for making positive changes to the country we know and love to date - but do any of the others have a pudding pie named after them? We don't think so! After assuming the presidential throne due to the untimely death of his predecessor, John Tyler wasn't the most popular president out there. Many claimed that he didn't deserve the right to rule their country.
So, we don't blame Tyler for drowning his sorrows in a delicious pie made just for him. Today, we still call it the Tyler pudding pie - but some may also know it as a chess pie.
Dwight Eisenhower - Beef Stew
Dwight Eisenhower was so much more than just a president. He was also a former military hero, family man, and impressive cook. Yes, whenever Dwight had the chance, he would make his way into the White House kitchens and whip up a meal for himself. His favorite? His famous beef stew, of course. He didn't just make this beef stew for him and his family to enjoy by themselves, though.
In the run-up to the presidential election, Eisenhower would cook batches of his famous stew for his team to hand out to locals. The idea was to win them over through their stomachs.
Woodrow Wilson - Virginia Country Ham
If you were to look at a map, you'd see that former presidents of the United States were born all over. But over the course of history, a fair few presidents have been born and bred in Virginia - and Woodrow Wilson was one of them. He was extremely proud of his Virginian roots, which is why it might not surprise you to learn that his favorite food of all time was Virginia country ham.
Even when Wilson's health started to decline and he was on strict orders from the doctor, he was still allowed to keep eating his favorite ham to keep his spirits high.
Andrew Johnson - Hoppin' John
Many chefs dream of one day being able to cook for the rich, famous and influential. And while only a teeny-tiny percentage of chefs will be able to cook for presidents, Will Patterson managed to land a job (and keep it) to cook for Presidents Ford, Clinton, and Bush. While in the White House, he learned how to make the favorite dish of former president Andrew Johnson, who served from 1865 to 1869.
His favorite? The Hoppin' John. This is a stew-like dish popular in North Carolina and consists of rice, black-eyed peas, tomatoes, peppers, and other veggies. Some people also add smoked pork.
Ulysses S. Grant - Rice Pudding
Ulysses S. Grant was a military man before becoming the United States president. He served as the commanding general that led the Americans to victory during the American Civil War, and we all know that military men are used to humble food. From rations to container food, they spend years of their lives eating easy-to-cook, filling meals with very few ingredients. Perhaps that's why Ulysess' favorite food was the humble rice pudding.
When Ulysses made his way to the White House, however, it seems as though he asked his chef to upgrade the rice pudding he had loved for years. One guest who tried his rice pudding claimed that it was "worthy to be embalmed in romance or story."
James Garfield - Squirrel Soup
James Garfield was a man who wore many hats - both literally and metaphorically. Over the course of his lifetime, he was a preacher, lawyer, Civil War general, representative of the United States House of Representatives, and the President of the United States. Doing all of that must have been hungry work - but what was his choice of food? Well, it's been noted that James Garfield loved to chow down on a steaming hot bowl of squirrel soup.
It's believed that this was his comfort food and something he ate growing up in Ohio. And while we're sure he loved it, the jury is still out on whether we'd want to try it.
Lyndon B. Johnson - Barbecue
Lyndon B. Johnson was a big personality. The Texas native made himself known in the White House - and rumors suggest that he may have ruffled a few feathers along the way. This was the case when Johnson decided that he didn't want to eat the food that the White House chef, Henry Haller, was cooking for him. Johnson wanted a taste of home, and he wanted to taste the classic barbecue flavors of his home.
To do this, Johnson flew a barbecue chef nicknamed 'The Barbecue King' from Texas to set up shop in the White House kitchens and provide on-demand barbecue food when he needed it.
Grover Cleveland - Corned Beef and Cabbage
Grover Cleveland was able to retire with a successful smirk on his face. After all, he's still the only U.S. president to this day who served two non-consecutive terms in the Oval Office. And while he had access to some of the finest chefs in the world while he sat at the top of the food chain, it seems as though this New York native preferred classic dishes over gourmet creations.
On many occasions, he reportedly asked to swap his perfectly made dinner for the food that was being served in the servants' quarters. His favorite? Corned beef and cabbage, of course.
Benjamin Harrison - Fig Pudding
Christmas at the White House is a prestigious affair. The whole place is decked out in decorations and numerous Christmas trees are given pride of place in the house and on the grounds. But what you might not realize is that we have Benjamin Harrison to thank for that. He was the first president to put his festive foot down and add a Christmas tree to the White House. In fact, he was utterly obsessed with Christmas!
As if that wasn't enough, Harrison also loved fig pudding and made sure they had it on-tap during the festive period - or whenever he got a hankering for it!
William McKinley - Red Flannel Hash
William McKinley will forever be known as the 25th president of the United States - and for having countless schools named after him. But we're going to bet our bottom dollar that most kids wouldn't pick his favorite food from the school cafeteria if they were hungry. That's because William's favorite comfort food was red flannel hash, which is a dish made from a mixture of beets and potatoes (hence the color).
This is reportedly something that McKinley grew up eating, and he wanted to continue the tradition of eating his favorite foods as he got older. We wonder what the White House chef thought of that?
Calvin Coolidge - Jelly Roll
Sure, he might not be the most famous president in history, but Calvin Coolidge still had the honor of sitting in the Oval Office and living in the White House. A major perk of that is having your own private chef, and Ling P. Quan was the man tasked with feeding President Coolidge during his stint. And while his favorite savory dish was veal curry, he would always prefer sweet things.
The sweet-toothed president would regularly ask Quan to whip up a jelly roll - which is a cake filled with fruit jelly and slathered in lemon-flavored ice cream. Sounds delicious!
Joe Biden - Ice Cream
Although Joe Biden's presidency has ended under sad circumstances, there's no doubt about the fact that his time in office has got people talking. And while questions around his age have circled for a while, we're here to talk about his food preferences. So, what's his favorite food? Ice cream! He's particularly partial to the Häagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream, too, and reportedly has the White House freezer stocked with the stuff.
Joe loves this ice cream so much that he even chooses to give it up for Lent because he knows that it's his main temptation. We wonder if he likes any other flavors?
Theodore Roosevelt - Fried Chicken
Presidents... they're just like the rest of us. And while Theodore Roosevelt had a very different life to the rest of us, it seems as though fried chicken is the great equalizer when it comes to presidents and regular Joes. Like many other Americans, Theodore Roosevelt loved nothing more than sitting down with a plate of fried chicken after a long day - and he apparently paired his with mashed potatoes and white gravy.
For Roosevelt, this was a dish that reminded him of home, as his mother used to make the exact same meal for him when he was younger. And it sounds delicious.
William Howard Taft - Steak
William Howard Taft was born for the presidency. Like many former presidents before him, he graduated from Yale University before working his way up the political ladder to become the 27th president of the United States. But did you know that he was also the heaviest president of the United States? Yes, Taft was 332 pounds at his heaviest - and that might have had something to do with his favorite food.
Like many people, his favorite food was steak. But instead of having steak every once in a while, it's been reported that this president couldn't start his day without a 12-ounce steak.
Warren G. Harding - Knockwurst With Sauerkraut
Warren G. Harding was the 29th president of the United States, although he only served from 1921 until 1923 when he passed away before the end of his term. And while he ran the country during the Prohibition era, Harding made no secret of the fact that he was against the alcohol bill - and it's been reported that he would hold secret parties in his home, along with some of his favorite food.
In fact, those who partied with Harding back in the day claimed that he would serve them the same thing time and time again: knockwurst with sauerkraut! For some reason, he just loved it.
Gerald Ford - Pot Roast With Red Cabbage
Gerald Ford was dealt a tough hand when he became president. Sure, he signed up to take on the job, but he probably didn't anticipate to be dealing with such a poor economic standard when he did. As a result, money was tight in the White House, so their meals were changed accordingly - but Ford didn't seem to mind. He was a humble man who preferred the simpler meals.
It's been noted that his favorite food of all time was a pot roast paired with red cabbage, but sometimes they would switch things up and have pork chops instead.
Franklin D. Roosevelt - Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Franklin D. Roosevelt landed the best job of all time when he became the 32nd president of the United States. And it seems as though the American people loved his work, too, as he's the only president in history to have served more than two terms in office. But while he excelled as a leader, it seems as though FDR struggled when it came to the distinction between work relationships and friend relationships.
It's widely noted that his housekeeper, Henrietta Nesbitt, was only hired because she was a friend of his wife's and she wasn't a very good cook. So, FDR regularly chose to eat grilled cheese as he knew she couldn't mess that up.
Jimmy Carter - Cheesy Grits
As Jimmy Carter grew up on a peanut farm, he grew up understanding where food came from and how to make even the most humble of ingredients taste delicious. And while his palate changed as the years went by and he worked his way up the political ladder, it seems as though the 39th president of the United States still preferred these simple, home-cooked meals. He'd even make them for his family.
According to his daughter, Jimmy Carter's specialty dish was his cheesy grits. He would make them for his family for breakfast, and it always went down a treat. And we're not surprised!
Harry S. Truman - Cornbread With Sorghum
Although Harry S. Truman was happy to serve as the vice president under Franklin D. Roosevelt, it's widely regarded that he never really dreamt of becoming president himself. Despite this, he became the 32nd president of the United States and moved into what he called the "Great White Jail." And while the new power and freedom could have gone to his head, Truman preferred to stay humble - even with his food.
Truman would regularly push away the fancy cuisine in the White House and ask for food that reminded him of his roots instead. He particularly loved cornbread covered in sorghum syrup.
Ronald Reagan - Jelly Beans
Did you know that the Constitution states that you have to be 35 years or older to become president? Of course, Ronald Reagan was within this age frame when he became the president of the United States - but just because your age states you're an adult doesn't mean you have to eat like an adult! After all, Ronald Reagan was obsessed with jelly beans and would eat them all day, every day.
This was reportedly a habit he picked up when he quit smoking tobacco, but it became somewhat of his trademark. On his inauguration, he actually ordered 3.5 tons of jelly beans to celebrate.
John F. Kennedy - New England Fish Chowder
John F. Kennedy is known for a few things. Of course, he's known as the 35th president of the United States, but he's also known as the youngest-ever president, a military man, a family man, and the man who was assassinated in one of the most infamous crimes of all time. But one thing you might not know about JFK is that he wasn't really a foodie. In fact, he would reportedly go days without eating.
When he did decide that he wanted to eat, though, he would often reach for his favorite food of all time: New England chowder. This reminded him of his roots.
Bill Clinton - Chicken Enchiladas
During his time in office, Bill Clinton obviously had to deal with a lot of stress. Running one of the most powerful countries in the world isn't an easy business, after all. But he's noted that this stress also affected his eating patterns in the White House, as he would often fuel his body with fast food. His favorite food, however? Chicken enchiladas! The cheesier, the better, according to sources.
But when he started to suffer from chest pains and had to undergo emergency surgery in 2010, Clinton decided to make some changes to his diet. In fact, he quit meat altogether and went vegan.
Richard Nixon - Cottage Cheese
Richard Nixon is generally considered to be one of the most infamous presidents of the United States. Sure, he did some great things, but the Watergate scandal will always hang over his legacy. But aside from his infamous political decisions, it seems as though this man made some infamous foodie decisions too. After all, who willingly chooses to eat cottage cheese on a daily basis? Well, Nixon did just that.
His go-to lunch order was a bowl of cottage cheese with some pineapple slices on top, and it's reported that he would often switch things up by squirting it with tomato ketchup!
George H. W. Bush - Pork Rinds
George H. W. Bush was the kind of man that most people looked up to - and not just because he was the former head of the CIA. He had an aura about him that made people stop and listen, but he also seemed strangely normal for a man who had achieved so much. This meant that everything he did influenced the rest of the world - and that included his food preferences.
When Bush let it slip that his favorite thing to eat was pork rinds topped with Tabasco sauce, grocery stores around the country were suddenly selling out of the tasty snack.