He’s the final word political tastemaker!
The longtime head chef of the Government Mansion in Albany is dishing about what the highly effective politicians eat in personal — starting from a unusual breakfast soup to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Tom Santimaw — who served because the venerable establishment’s government chef from New York Govs. Eliot Spitzer to Kathy Hochul’s administration — stated he usually needed to remind the lawmakers to eat proper in high-stress moments.
“I used to make [Hochul] peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the helicopter,” Santimaw advised The Submit.
“If there was a pure catastrophe, who is considering a connoisseur dinner? Typically it’s a must to prod them to eat to get their diet,” he stated.
Wanting again, former Gov. David Paterson takes the cake for strangest meal choice, he stated.
“Soup of the day. That’s what he had for breakfast,” Santimaw stated — including that Paterson’s favourite was a Caribbean-style black bean soup.
Santimaw just lately left the distinguished job to work at Albany’s iconic Conflict Room Tavern, which sits throughout from the state capitol, steps from the governor’s mansion.
The time-worn tavern — as soon as dubbed the “Planet Hollywood of State Politics”— is a scorching spot for lobbyists, senators, meeting members and different political movers and shakers.
The restaurant just lately acquired approval to place lasagna made with the recipe of Matilda Cuomo — mother of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and spouse of late Gov. Mario Cuomo — on the menu, stated proprietor Todd Shapiro.
However don’t anticipate Cuomo to order his mom’s consolation meals.
“He was a really wholesome eater. Not lots of purple meat. Egg whites within the morning, salads. Very gentle fare for dinner. Typically only a crudité,” Santimaw stated in an interview Wednesday.
Santimaw will now use his inside information of gubernatorial tastes to encourage a brand new revamped menu on the eatery, Shapiro stated.
“We’re an apolitical menu. There are Republicans and Democrats on the menu,” he stated.
The aim is to “make these folks really feel like dwelling once they’re coming in,” Shapiro added.
The tavern already serves Roosevelt Fried Rooster Poutine, Kennedy Household Lobster Rolls, FDR Grilled Cheese and Eric Adams Vegan Tacos — which the mayor has ordered, the restaurant proprietor stated.
“Every part comes from what they love, we’re genuine,” Shapiro stated.
Hochul gave the restaurant a recipe for hen wings whereas State Lawyer Common Letitia James requested sushi, he stated.
“You couldn’t get anymore buffalo than Kathy Hochul coming from the Buffalo Payments mafia,” Shapiro quipped.
However the petite governor normally solely eats just a few of the wings.
“She would supply some strategies, however she was very into small parts,” Santimaw stated of the Hochul’s consuming habits.
James additionally prefers to eat gentle — so he added sushi to the menu, Shapiro stated.
“She stated ‘Albany might at all times use a great sushi place.’ So I discovered a five-star grasp sushi chef who was educated in Japan. It was the most effective recommendation,” Shapiro stated.
Now that Santimaw has joined the culinary group, Albany diners can anticipate new meals reminiscent of a Porterhouse Pitaki Steak and Senator Gillibrand’s Petite Filet, which the politician is understood to order when she dines there, Shapiro stated.