Chef Sam Kass, the Chicago native who became the executive director of first lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative and the Obama administration’s senior policy adviser on nutrition, is leaving Washington and moving to New York City.
Kass, who helped the first lady plant an organic fruit, vegetable and herb garden on the South Lawn of the White House and brewed up a few beers, including a White House Honey Ale and White House Honey Porter, referred all questions about his post-D.C. life to the White House press office.
The move means Kass will no longer head the Let’s Move initiative (a successor will be named in the new year), but “will remain engaged with the initiative and the continuing effort to advance childhood nutrition,” the White House announced. It’s a move that was probably inevitable. According to Politico, insiders have speculated that Kass would leave his post since his August marriage to MSNBC host Alex Wagner, who lives in New York.
Little of this surprised chef Paul Kahan, who has known Kass since the young chef worked at Kahan’s Avec restaurant. The two chefs connected this past week at a fundraiser at the Chicago Cultural Center for Pilot Light, a chef-driven effort that uses food to teach Chicago school kids about everyday subjects. Kass was the event’s guest of honor.
After the fundraiser, Kass and Kahan recalled a conversation they had at a farmers market years ago. “He said at that time — this is when he was working at Avec — that he really had clear career goals that he wanted to achieve with food,” Kahan said. “I think he’s established the programs and the other things he set out to do and he’s on to his next challenge.
“He’s been wired to do something great all along, and I’m sure he’ll go on to do something great.”
In fact, in 2009 when Kass headed off to the White House as the Obamas’ personal chef, Kahan told the Tribune, “his goal has always been to improve the world from a food standpoint. He’s one of those people who want to do more than sling some hash and collect some accolades.”
Kass’ Chicago roots run deep. He’s a graduate of the University of Chicago and was a private chef to the Obamas before his D.C. move. He was a regular at Green City Market, a sustainable farmers market in Lincoln Park, and founded a home-cooking service called Inevitable Table that focused on local ingredients. He was also one of the primary movers behind a lecture-and-free-soup series at Hull House called “Rethinking Soup,” which dealt with sociopolitical food issues.
“From constructing our Kitchen Garden to brewing our own Honey Brown Ale, Sam has left an indelible mark on the White House,” President Barack Obama said in a statement. “And with the work he has done to inspire families and children across this country to lead healthier lives, Sam has made a real difference for our next generation.”
Michelle Obama said in the statement that Kass has been an integral part of Let’s Move from the start. “Sam leaves an extraordinary legacy of progress,” she said, “including healthier food options in grocery store aisles, more nutritious school lunches, and new efforts that have improved how healthy food is marketed to our kids.”
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