The Favorite Foods of Every President: Treats To Tickle the Tastebuds of the Commander-in-Chief - Commonplace Fun Facts (2025)

Changing Administrations and Changing White House Menu

As this article goes to press, the loyal staff of the White House has performed its magic and transformed the home/office of Joe Biden to one that is suited for Donald Trump. They not only change out the furniture and pictures but they have to revamp the menu to suit the tastes of the incoming chief executive.

Those who are responsible for preparing the president’s meals have to know what he likes and dislikes. Each president’s taste buds are as different from each other as their political views.

As we embark on a culinary journey through the annals of American history, exploring the favorite foods of each U.S. president, let’s first test your knowledge. Try this quiz to see how well you know the presidential palates.

Favorite Foods of Every President Quiz

1. George Washington: Hoecakes

The father of our country had a penchant for starting his day with hoecakes—simple cornmeal pancakes. These modest morsels were often enjoyed with honey or butter, proving that even the most illustrious leaders appreciate the basics.

2. John Adams: New England Boiled Dinner

Adams, a true New Englander, favored the traditional boiled dinner—a hearty mix of meat (often corned beef or pork) and root vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and turnips. It’s the kind of meal that sticks to your ribs, much like Adams’ steadfast principles.

3. Thomas Jefferson: French Vanilla Ice Cream

Jefferson, ever the Francophile, developed a taste for French vanilla ice cream during his time abroad. He even penned his own recipe, bringing a touch of European elegance to Monticello’s dessert table.

4. James Madison: Virginia Ham

Hailing from the Old Dominion, Madison enjoyed the state’s renowned smoked ham. Cured and aged to perfection, Virginia ham is a salty delicacy that would make any patriot’s mouth water.

5. James Monroe: Spoonbread

Monroe had a soft spot for spoonbread, a Southern dish that’s a cross between cornbread and pudding. Light, airy, and best served with a pat of butter, it’s comfort food that speaks to the soul.

6. John Quincy Adams: Fresh Fruit

Adams was a fruit fanatic, particularly fond of fresh apples. He even planted fruit trees around his Massachusetts home, ensuring a steady supply of nature’s candy.

7. Andrew Jackson: Tenderloin with Jezebel Sauce

Old Hickory may have been a man of the people, but he favored a pretty fancy-sounding dish. Tenderloin with Jezebel sauce was on the menu for his White House guests. What, exactly, that sauce consisted of is a bit of a mystery, since there’s no recipe for it that shows up before the 1950s.

8. Martin Van Buren: Boar’s Head

When Van Buren visited England with the legendary author Washington Irving, he was treated to “an old-fashioned English Christmas,” featuring a boar’s head crowned with holly. He brought the curious dish back home with him, and it became a staple in his Christmas meals.

9. William Henry Harrison: Squirrel Stew

Before his brief tenure as president, Harrison developed a taste for squirrel stew—a frontier dish made by simmering squirrel meat with vegetables and seasonings. It’s a meal that harkens back to simpler, albeit gamier, times.

10. John Tyler: Tyler Pudding (Chess Pie)

Tyler had a sweet tooth for chess pie — so much so that it acquired a new name: Tyler Pudding.

11. James K. Polk: Ham and Corn Bread

Polk was a down-to-earth, simple man, and his diet reflected it. Give him a plate of ham and corn bread and you might actually manage to see a smile from that otherwise stern face.

12. Zachary Taylor: Calas Tous Chauds

Taylor had a fondness for calas tous chauds, a Creole dish of deep-fried rice fritters dusted with powdered sugar. These sweet treats were a popular street food in New Orleans, reflecting Taylor’s Southern roots.

13. Millard Fillmore: Resurrection Pie

Fillmore liked resurrection pie. That’s a pretty fancy sounding name that disguised the fact that it was just a way to get rid of leftovers, thus “resurrecting” the food and giving it another chance. His favorite form of the meal consisted of steak and liver.

14. Franklin Pierce: Fannie Daddies

Pierce, a New England native, loved fannie daddies. The name probably offended folks during the Victorian Era, but they’re really nothing more than clam fritters. Crispy on the outside and tender within, these morsels are best enjoyed with a squeeze of lemon and a view of the Atlantic.

15. James Buchanan: Sauerkraut

Buchanan may have been from a Scots-Irish background, but he had a taste for what he described as an “honest German dish.” He once admitted to a friend that although a lot of people despise sauerkraut, he delighted in the classical dish.

16. Abraham Lincoln: Corn Cakes

The Great Emancipator was first exposed to corn cakes — fried cakes made of cornmeal — when he was courting the woman who would become Mary Todd Lincoln. He said he could eat them as fast as two women could make them.

17. Andrew Johnson: Hoppin’ John

Johnson favored Hoppin’ John, a Southern dish made of black-eyed peas, peppers, tomatoes, and rice. Traditionally eaten on New Year’s Day for good luck, it’s a meal that didn’t bring a lot of luck to Johnson’s failed presidency.

18. Ulysses S. Grant: Rice Pudding

The Civil War hero and 18th president had a sweet spot for rice pudding. Creamy, comforting, and often spiced with cinnamon or nutmeg, it’s a dessert as timeless as Grant’s legacy.

19. Rutherford B. Hayes: Corn

Hayes liked his corn. How do we know this? He mentioned his fondness for the vegetable no fewer than 18 different times in his diary.

20. James Garfield: Squirrel Soup

Like William Henry Harrison before him, Garfield enjoyed squirrel soup, a frontier delicacy made by simmering squirrel meat with vegetables. It’s not for the faint of heart—or the faint of appetite. The fact that it was the favorite of two presidents who died in office is, we hope, merely a coincidence.

21. Chester A. Arthur: Turtle Steak

His predecessor had to be quick to get the squirrels for his soup, but Arthur could move at a more deliberate pace. He loved nothing more than a good turtle steak, accompanied by a bit of macaroni.

22 and 24. Grover Cleveland: Corned Beef and Cabbage

Grover Cleveland, the first president to serve two non-consecutive terms, wasn’t just unique for his numerical oddity (22nd and 24th president, for those keeping score). His tastes leaned toward hearty, home-style meals over fancy dishes. As the story goes, Cleveland once ditched the gourmet fare served at a state dinner in favor of the corned beef and cabbage prepared for the servants’ hall. He declared it “the best dinner I had eaten in months,” proving that sometimes, simple comfort food reigns supreme.

23. Benjamin Harrison: Fig Pudding

Benjamin Harrison, the first president to put a Christmas tree in the White House, was a man who fully embraced the festive spirit—down to his dessert preferences. Harrison loved fig pudding, a traditional treat that feels as Christmassy as it gets. His White House chef, François Rysavy, confirmed Harrison’s fondness for this rich, spiced dish, solidifying his connection to the line “Oh, bring us some figgy pudding” in the classic carol.

25. William McKinley: Red Flannel Hash

William McKinley’s favorite dish, red flannel hash, sounds like something you might find in a lumberjack’s lunchbox. Despite its odd name, the dish is a mix of potatoes and beets, giving it its reddish hue. Born in Ohio, McKinley likely grew up on this rustic meal, proving that even presidents can appreciate dishes that evoke a taste of home.

26. Theodore Roosevelt: Fried Chicken with White Gravy

Teddy Roosevelt’s appetite for adventure extended to his plate. He loved fried chicken, particularly when it was served with white gravy—a nod to his Southern roots via his mother. Roosevelt reportedly could devour an entire chicken in one sitting, further cementing his reputation as a larger-than-life figure, both in spirit and stomach.

27. William Howard Taft: Steak

William Howard Taft, the heaviest president in history, was not one to shy away from a hearty meal. Taft famously started his mornings with a 12-ounce steak. Later, he downsized to a 6-ounce portion on doctor’s orders, but as his housekeeper wryly noted, the president’s weight didn’t budge much. Still, steak remained a staple of his diet—proof that he lived large in every sense of the word.

28. Woodrow Wilson: Virginia Country Ham

As a native Virginian, Woodrow Wilson had a fondness for the state’s signature country ham. This salty, cured delicacy was one of the few indulgences allowed by his doctor when Wilson’s health began to decline. Paired with a biscuit, this Southern classic brought comfort to the last president born in the Old Dominion.

29. Warren G. Harding: Knockwurst with Sauerkraut

Warren G. Harding presided during Prohibition, but his private poker nights were anything but dry. At these gatherings, Harding served knockwurst with sauerkraut—a robust, tangy dish that paired perfectly with the covert cocktails flowing under the radar. It’s the kind of meal you’d expect at a speakeasy rather than the White House.

30. Calvin Coolidge: Jelly Roll

Silent Cal might not have been much for words, but his love of sweets spoke volumes. One of his favorites was a jelly roll filled with strawberry jam or currant jelly and topped with lemon icing. This simple, sweet treat complemented Coolidge’s understated personality.

31. Herbert Hoover: Caramel Tomatoes

Caramel tomatoes might sound unusual today, but sweet-and-savory combos were all the rage in Herbert Hoover’s time. This dish featured tomatoes roasted with caramelized sugar, creating a unique contrast of flavors that delighted the Hoovers. It’s a culinary throwback that might just intrigue adventurous foodies today.

32. Franklin D. Roosevelt: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

FDR endured some of the worst White House meals, thanks to his housekeeper, Henrietta Nesbitt, whose culinary skills were so bad they may have prompted the president to seek a fourth term just to get rid of her. One dish even she couldn’t ruin, though, was grilled cheese. This simple comfort food became a staple for the 32nd president, offering him a reprieve from Nesbitt’s otherwise infamous kitchen experiments.

33. Harry S. Truman: Cornbread with Sorghum

Harry Truman preferred the humble meals of his Missouri upbringing over the pomp of formal dining. Cornbread drizzled with sorghum—a molasses-like syrup—was a favorite, capturing the flavors of his roots and his no-frills approach to life.

34. Dwight D. Eisenhower: Beef Stew

Ike’s military background influenced his culinary preferences—he liked meals that were hearty, straightforward, and efficient. His favorite was a beef stew with a tomato-based broth and a dash of cayenne. Eisenhower even shared the recipe with voters during his campaign, proving that good food can win hearts (and maybe elections).

35. John F. Kennedy: New England Fish Chowder

A Massachusetts native, JFK embraced his roots through New England fish chowder. This creamy, hearty dish was a staple of coastal cuisine and reflected Kennedy’s understated yet sophisticated palate.

36. Lyndon B. Johnson: Barbecue

As a true Texan, LBJ was a barbecue aficionado. He even brought his own pitmaster, the “Barbecue King,” to the White House to prepare his favorite smoked meats. Ribs, brisket, and sausages were regulars on his plate, paired with all the classic fixings.

37. Richard Nixon: Cottage Cheese

Richard Nixon’s lunch habits might raise some eyebrows—his favorite was cottage cheese topped with either pineapple or ketchup. While the ketchup combination is divisive at best, it’s a reminder that even presidents have quirky tastes.

38. Gerald Ford: Pot Roast with Red Cabbage

Gerald Ford’s culinary preferences mirrored his Midwestern roots. Pot roast served with red cabbage was one of his favorite meals—a hearty and economical choice during an era of economic uncertainty.

39. Jimmy Carter: Cheesy Grits

Carter, a proud Georgian, often enjoyed cheesy grits for breakfast. His daughter, Amy, fondly recalled her father preparing grits with eggs and cheese, calling it “yummy.” It’s a dish as warm and down-to-earth as the man himself.

40. Ronald Reagan: Jelly Beans

Ronald Reagan’s jelly bean habit began as a way to quit smoking and quickly became his signature snack. His favorite flavor was licorice, but for his inauguration, he celebrated with red, white, and blue Jelly Bellies—a patriotic nod to his sweet tooth.

41. George H.W. Bush: Pork Rinds

Bush Sr. was famously not a fan of broccoli, but pork rinds doused in Tabasco sauce were a different story. His love for this crunchy snack even caused a sales boom when the public found out about his penchant for this gas station classic.

42. Bill Clinton: Chicken Enchiladas

Before going vegan, Bill Clinton enjoyed a good chicken enchilada. While he was known for sneaking off to fast food joints, this dish is what he named as his favorite, reflecting his appreciation for flavorful, hearty meals.

43. George W. Bush: Cheeseburger Pizza

George W. Bush took comfort food to the next level with cheeseburger pizza. Combining two beloved dishes, it featured toppings like ground beef, bacon, pickles, and ketchup over a pizza crust—a calorie-packed treat for the Texas cowboy.

44. Barack Obama: Chili

Obama’s culinary claim to fame is his homemade chili recipe, which he’s been perfecting since his college days. The hearty dish became a family favorite and a signature meal during his time in the White House.

45. Donald Trump: McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish

Trump’s preference for fast food, particularly McDonald’s, is well-known. His go-to order? The Filet-O-Fish sandwich, a reliable choice for someone who valued consistency and convenience in his meals.

46. Joe Biden: Ice Cream

Joe Biden’s love of ice cream is as well-documented as his political career. Whether it’s Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream or Häagen-Dazs, Biden’s devotion to this sweet treat is a testament to his approachable and jovial personality.

47. Donald Trump

When Donald Trump returned to the White House as only the second person to be elected to non-consecutive terms, so did the big red button on his desk. No, it’s not to usher in the end of the world — it is to signal the staff to bring him one of the dozen or so Diet Cokes that he loves to drink throughout the day.

There you have it—a full buffet of presidential preferences! From squirrel stew to cheeseburger pizza, these meals paint a vivid (and sometimes surprising) picture of the people who’ve led the nation. Which presidential favorite would you try? Or better yet, which would you run from faster than Nixon dodged Watergate questions? Let us know!