Waffles and Mochi
Simi (age 5) making South Asian Mango Lasse popsicles.
In the eight years that Michelle Obama graced the White House as First Lady, her mission was to encourage kids to eat healthier. In 2009, the first lady and students from DC’s Bancroft Elementary School broke ground for the first White House Kitchen Garden since Eleanor Roosevelt championed Victory Gardens during the Second World War. The event landed Mrs. Obama’s initiative on the front page of both The Washington Post and The New York Times and made international news.
Her effort to teach children better eating habits by helping them understand where food comes from was not a new idea, but it struck a chord with food-conscious Americans concerned about the spiking growth rate in obesity and juvenile diabetes. While at the White House, Mrs. Obama’s eat healthier efforts was part of her “Let’s Move” initiative. She also promoted a global approach to empowering young people and founded the Girls Opportunity Alliance to promote education.
In late September 2009 at the opening of the new Farmers Market by the White House, Michelle Obama spoke of the White House Kitchen Garden as “one of the greatest things I’ve done in my life so far.” She noted that whenever she traveled abroad, “the garden is the first thing that prime ministers, kings and queens ask about.” Queen Elizabeth in fact added a vegetable garden at Buckingham Palace during the Obama’s years in the White House.
At the Pittsburgh Summit 2009, G-20 spouses received a porcelain tea set and vase filled with honey harvested from the White House beehive. The kitchen garden provided food for the White House as well a Washington, DC social services agency called Miriam’s Kitchen. Most importantly, it helped to change the way Americans think about food, cooking and agriculture.
During the Obama’s presidency, Kit and I were in D.C. on one of two weekends each year when the White House gardens are open to the public. I literally lucked into a line of people near the back of the White House waiting to get inside the grounds. A tall park ranger told me to join the line and before long, I was through security and wandered the pathway around the garden and over to the First Lady’s kitchen garden.
In the four years since the Obamas left the White House, I shudder to think what has become of that lovely vegetable and herb garden planted by local school children. But the garden under the care of former First Lady Obama and its broad mission to encourage kids across America to eat healthier planted a seed that has been germinating and is about to flower once again.
Michelle Obama, Waffles and Mochi.
Next week, Michelle Obama is launching a kid cooking show called “Waffles + Mochi.” In addition to executive producing the 10-part Netflix series that debuts March 16, she will play the role of the owner of a “whimsical supermarket” that employs two puppets named Waffles and Mochi. One has ears shaped like waffles, and the other is a small pink orb shaped like a Japanese rice cake. They are best friends and aspiring chefs.
Mrs. Obama recently wrote in a tweet “I’m excited for families and children everywhere to join us on our adventure as we discover, cook, and eat delicious food from all over the world.”
Netflix described the series as “the culinary adventure of a lifetime,” in which the characters hop aboard a magical shopping cart to seek out ingredients globally. “Whether they’re picking potatoes in the Andes of Peru, sampling spices in Italy, or making miso in Japan, these curious explorers uncover the wonder of food and discover every meal is a chance to make new friends.”
Netflix also says the show will feature “renowned chefs, home chefs, kids and celebrities” helping out Waffles and Mochi. I am thrilled about this Netflix series and have been working with a local group to find ways to get young people involved in the kitchen. A local website/food blog called The Common Ingredient has just added a new feature called Youth Cook! Through this food initiative, we hope to empower and celebrate children, youth, and young adults and their favorite recipes. Visit The Common Ingredient.
The Speake family making corn tamales.
In each of the submissions from young people, there is a short food story, along with a recipe and a picture of the dish. And like the recipes submitted by adults, the dishes each have a comfort story that emerges. Visitors to the website are encouraged to make some of the dishes, taste them, and share them with friends and family. They are also encouraged to make a donation through the website to aid three selected organizations in their efforts to combat food insecurity in our community. And since the site now welcomes contributors from across Missouri and the US, contributions can be made to organizations in their own community.
Mark your calendar for the March 16 debut of Waffles + Mochi and Michelle Obama’s new Netflix series. Watch the Netflix trailer and I think you will see that it is an exciting invitation for kids and grown-ups to cook together in the kitchen and in doing so, connect to cultures around the world. And before then, check out the Youth Cook! recipes on the Common Ingredient website. Make some air fryer ravioli or delicious mango lassi popsicles or sesame Tahini cookies from recipes submitted by some of our young chefs.
Thank you, Michelle Obama. Now, let’s all get cooking!