The AFP
reports that a US food taster first tested the food being served to President Barack Obama during dinner Sunday at
La Fontaine de Mars, a French restaurant. This was probably a delightful experience for the taster. The article quotes a waiter who says having a taster bothered the chefs initially, but because the taster was nice and polite things went smoothly.
"They have someone who tastes the dishes," said waiter Gabriel de Carvalho from the "La Fontaine de Mars" restaurant where Obama and his family turned up for dinner on Saturday night.
"It wasn't very pleasant for the cooks at first, but the person was very nice and was relaxed, so it all went well," he said on the Itele news channel.
US Magazine says President Obama ordered the lamb at the Paris restaurant.
"We couldn't see him, but apparently he ordered the lamb," a patron who tried to get a glimpse of the first couple from outside the bistro, tells Usmagazine.com. "[Officials] literally turned the city upside down -- with traffic stopped all over -- so he could have a 'quiet dinner with his family.'"
The AFP says the US Secret Service consistently refuses to confirm that US presidents travel with a food taster. There have been stories of other U.S. presidents traveling with food tasters. The Secret Service
reportedly put food tasters in Buckingham Palace kitchens when President Bush visited Britain in 2003.
