On Obama's orders, White House chef to prepare pork chops

President Obama is no doubt enjoying lots of delicious sea food in Martha's Vineyard -- lobster, scallops, that sort of thing. But when he's back in Washington, he'll be chowing down a favorite new meal prepared by the White House chef: gourmet-style Iowa pork chops!

Specifically: "cinnamon brined grilled Iowa pork chops." 

That's what Obama ordered during his recent visit to Iowa while staying in Davenport at the Hotel Blackhawk.  He loved the meaty chops so much that his staff requested the recipe from the hotel's chief, so that the chops could be added to the official West Wing menu.

That's according to an amusing article by veteran newspaper columnist Bill Wundram in the Quad-City Times about how Obama pigged out on the heavenly chops that were 2-inches thick. Wundram tried the chops himself -- all to experience the pleasure of eating like a king.

Interestingly, Obama initially ordered a New York strip steak, but then changed his mind. Or as Wundram relates:

"He had taken a couple of bites of the steak - medium-well - when he spotted an aide licking his chops over pork chops. The president sneaked a bite of the chops and is said to have spoken out:

"I want an order of those."

So how was the $25 plate of two chops?

According to Wundram:

"Just like the order for the president, my chops came on a square white plate. It was more than an order. It was a mountain of food, with those rib bones protruding alongside a 4-inch slab of Iowa cornbread casserole.

"There was enough food on that plate to feed a family of four. The chops were nuzzled in a bacon braised warm cabbage slaw with caramelized onions. This was a breakthrough from the way I usually get my pork chops, from a kitchen stove frying pan.

"I was raving hungry and ready to eat. I couldn't wait to dig into those chops.

"Trust me: They were smackin' good!"

Let's hope that diet scold Michelle doesn't see how that chops are prepared: "marinated 24 hours in a brine of cinnamon, salt and sugar before being grilled and finished off in the oven."

Wundram said he left the table "stuffed to the gills. By mid-afternoon, my lips felt salty, an aftertaste of the best pork chops in town."

Wundram failed to mention what became of that New York strip steak Obama took a bite out of -- but then discarded upon spotting a White House aide devouring pork chops.

Perhaps the New York strip ended up in a doggy bag for "Bo," the Obama family's Portuguese Water Dog.

It's good to be the king.