Above: Marcus Samuelsson to prepare White House State
Dinner.
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Published: Thursday, November 19, 2009
New York (Tadias) – The White House has selected Chef Marcus Samuelsson to prepare the State Dinner honoring Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on November 24, Politico.com reports.
According to the News hub, prior to his selection, Samuelsson had confirmed that he had been contacted by the White House regarding the potential selection. “I know there has been interest, and I would love to do it,” he said. “If I got it, I would be very proud.”
A formal announcement by the White House is expected on November 24th.
Samuelsson was the youngest-ever chef to receive a three-star restaurant review from the New York Times in 1995. His television shows “Inner Chef” (Discovery Home Channel) and Urban Cuisine (BET J/Centric) aired in 2005 and 2008 respectively. He has been dubbed one of “The Great Chefs of America” by The Culinary Institute of America.
Marcus’ personal story of his adoption by Swedish parents, his passion for cooking and his eventual move to New York to become one of the top chefs in the world is as colorful as his fusion recipes renowned for their flavor, originality, and multicultural emphasis. “I’m a Swede, I’m also an Ethiopian, and a New Yorker,” Marcus told Tadias in a past interview. And in a note to readers of his latest book New American Table, he writes: “I was born in Ethiopia and raised in Sweden, but there’s a reason why I have chosen America as the place I want to live. With the New American Table, I celebrate both the regional American cooking that I’ve grown to know and love, and the diverse ethnic-driven cuisine I’ve found in this country. As I share my experience as an American immigrant, I pay tribute to all of the immigrant groups who have come here and shared their foods and traditions to create an exciting, thrilling, and wholly original cuisine.”
Photos from Marcus Samuelsson’s book launch in New York
Marcus, we are so proud of you, way to go!
Congratulations Marcus!!
I love the way how Michelle & Barack Obama are so cool. They are promoting, highlighting and educating the rest of the world about the diversity, talent and beauty of the American people from all corners of the world! What a difference a year makes, what a change, and what a time! Congrats again! This is big.
This story puts a nice smile on my face. It is true when they say, “Good news is uplifting and bad news is depressing.” Congratulations Marcus. I am very proud of you. You are a citizen of the world and an ambassador for Ethiopia (where you were born), Sweden (where you grew up), and America (your new home and love). You are an Ambassador for all three peoples. So be sure to do a good job at the dinner!
I have one questions out of curiosity, if any of you know the answer? How does the U.S. decide who gets a State Dinner? I remember George Bush gave his first State Dinners to the President of Mexico. And now Obama is giving it to the Prime Minister of India. One of the most memorable State dinners given by President Kennedy was for Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia? Just wondering how it is decided?
Congratulations again Marcus!!!
Definitely an Ethiopian-American for Change Award Winner.
Congra. We love you and respect you. I hope your presence may prompt President Obama to talk about the ongoing repression in Ethiopia. Hope you might be Ethiopia’s Nehemiah or Aster.
May God Bless you and your family.
As an Ethiopian, you make us all proud of you and ourselves.
Well done Marcus, you are successful because you work very hard and it is from your continuous effort. I’m proud of you. Congratulations and God bless you!
Solomon Nigussie
Sheraton Addis
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
We love you Marcos, if you get any chance please mention to pres. Obama that Ethiopia needs a regime change ASAP.
As a mother-in-law of a precious Ethopian daughter, I am also moved by the appointment of an Ethiopian Chef for the White House dinner. Love what Obama is accomplishing for the world.
Congrats Marcus, proud of you.
Hello Tadias,
I am very proud of this magazine for promoting young men and women. The main issue is
not the talents it is the exposure. I know there are great people from Africa who deserve media exposure, but they had never got chances to get onto public media. Keep doing it and you have been doning a teremondous job.
I am unquesionably admire the gentlman who is going to cook for the first family.
Sabata Dubbii
You did it Marcus. I’m proud of you and your work as an Ethiopian brother.
Tell the president unless he brings democracy to Ethiopia you will not come to cook for him next time.
Selam Tenaytelegn (Hello)
I am really proud of you that you prepared the state Dinner for the White House.
You should have added some kind of our best traditional food like (Doro…. & Shiro).
Keep it up
Dude, he could not have added Ethiopian food because it was an American State Dinner. If the guest was an Ethiopian leader like the video below when President Kennedy hosted a State Dinner for Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, then it would make sense.