While in most things President Obama remains loyal to Chicago — he follows the Chicago Bulls, Bears, White Sox and Blackhawks, but notably, not the Cubs — he did recently confess his affinity for a New York City phenomenon, the now-closed H&H Bagels, particularly their poppy seed bagels.
In an interview with the Forward Magazine, he expressed his regret over the 2011 closure of the beloved bakery, which kept him carbo-loaded throughout his years as a student at Columbia.
Here's the clip from Forward Magazine. White House Staffer Ben Rhodes interjects during the talk with journalist Jane Eisner.
Q: Thank you. One last question. One of my daughters wants to know, what’s your favorite bagel flavor?
THE PRESIDENT: I was always a big poppy seed guy.
Q: Poppy seed.
THE PRESIDENT: So the poppy seed bagels at H&H Bagels — which somebody told me they closed —
BEN RHODES: They closed.
Q: It’s closed, yes.
THE PRESIDENT: Which is shocking.
MR. RHODES: My school was a block from H&H bagels.
THE PRESIDENT: I mean, I would walk down from —
MR. RHODES: Columbia.
THE PRESIDENT: — Columbia just to get H&H bagels on Saturdays or on the weekends.
Q: And what do you like on a poppy seed?
THE PRESIDENT: Just a schmear.
Q: Just a schmear.
THE PRESIDENT: Lox and capers okay, but generally just your basic schmear.
To see more about Obama's eating habits, check out this in-depth look at meals Obama has eaten publicly throughout his time in office.
