DC's Equinox Restaurant Celebrates Inauguration With Special Obama-MLK Sunday Brunch Menu

Chef Todd Gray's restaurant is an Obama favorite...
Equinox restaurant's Executive Chef/owner Todd Gray has created a stunning Sunday brunch menu to celebrate President Obama's second inaugural, designed to honor both the Eater in Chief and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  The three-course menu is inspired by the two leaders, and also uses some of their own recipes.

Equinox holds a special place in the GastrObamica: In 2009, the President-elect treated the First-Lady-to-be to a 46th birthday dinner at the restaurant: It was their very first DC Date Night.  Mrs. Obama visited again in March of 2011, escorting Mrs. Margarita Zavala, then First Lady of Mexico, to a special luncheon.

Seats are still available for this Sunday, Jan. 20, when President Obama will take his oath of office at the White House, Equinox co-owner Ellen Kassoff told Obama Foodorama.  The brunch is from 11:00 AM--2:00 PM, and is a bargain at $35.00 per person.  Main courses include a very artisan version of the Obama Family Chili recipe, as well as "Barack’s Angus Beef Burger with Applewood Bacon, Carr Valley Blue Cheese and Sesame Bun, with Skipjack Frites" and "MLK’s Fried Chicken Paillard with Salt Cured Pickles, New Potatoes and Slow Cooked Greens."

The theme of the Inaugural is "Faith in America's Future," and Gray has dubbed his menu "Faith in America's Food;" he uses primarily organic and local ingredients.  A husband-wife team, Gray and Kassoff  are both involved in Mrs. Obama's Let's Move! campaign as healthy lunch advocates.  In 2010, Gray spoke at the White House kickoff event for the Chefs Move to Schools initiative, and has been a guest chef at the mansion, too.  (Above, Mrs. Obama listens as Gray speaks at the White House)

Gray is often asked which historic personalities he'd like to dine with, said Kassoff:  "His answer is always the same:  Barack Obama and Martin Luther King, Jr."  President Obama's second swearing-in on Monday, Jan. 21, MLK Day, will be done on King's "traveling" Bible and the Lincoln Bible.

Equinox is located at 818 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20006.  Phone: 202-331-8118.   The website.

Inaugural Brunch Menu

The Favorite Foods of Barack Obama and MLK

First Course

Obama Family Chili with Smoked Tillamook, Prime Va Beef and Crispy Onions

or

Sautéed Rappahannock Oysters with Hawaiian Pineapple

and Brown Caper Butter

or

Mixed Blue Ridge Field Greens with Shaved Duck Ham, Tart Quince and Toasted Cornbread

or

Arugula and Frisee Salad with Wild Mushroom Crespelle, Hazelnut Crumble and White Balsamic

or

Citrus Cured Arctic Char with Rombo Radish, Mizzuna Leaves and Lobster Vinaigrette

or

Maple-Red Wine Pork Sausage on Cheddar Grits with Creole Mustard Jus and Kale Chips

Second Course

MLK’s Fried Chicken Paillard with Salt Cured Pickles, New Potatoes and Slow Cooked Greens

or

Barack’s Angus Beef Burger with Applewood Bacon, Carr Valley Blue Cheese and Sesame Bun, Skipjack Frites

or

Tortelloni of Braised Collard Greens in Smoked Onion Broth with Black Eyed Peas and Shaved 5 Year Gouda

or

Crispy Skin West Coast Salmon with Midnight Lentils, Heirloom Carrots and Blue Crab-Tarragon Butter

or

Presidential Eggs Benedict with Maui Style Pork Shoulder, Barely Creamed Spinach and Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Dessert Course

Georgian Pecan Pie with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and Makers Mark Caramel

Pineapple Hopia with Coconut Sorbet, Black Pepper Tuille

and Passion Fruit Coulis

or

Cinnamon Profiterolles with Ice Cream Trio and

 Warm Gianduja Chocolate Sauce

or

Peanut Butter Chocolate Bar with Salted Shortbread

and Pomegranate Sorbet

or

Assortment of House Marshmallows, Almond Rocheres

and Pistachio Financier Cakes

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CLICK HERE FOR LINKS TO ALL INAUGURATION POSTS.

*The menu and recipes for the President's Inaugural Luncheon ARE HERE.

*Photo of Gray courtesy of Equinox; photo compilation courtesy of Al Gore inventing the internets.