*What I am about to share is my personal account of working at The Corner Kitchen the night President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, their friends, staff and secret service dined with us.  I voted for Barack Obama in the November 2008 Presidential Election and was very honored to be part of this special evening .  I am using my blog to share the story as asked by many relatives, friends and readers.  You certainly have your right to your personal or political beliefs about the Obamas BUT please refrain from mentioning them if you comment on this post, which I would love!  I do not wish to start a political debate; only to share the story as a writer/observer.  Thank you:)  Enjoy!

Let me back up to Thursday night when I received a call from a young man checking on his girlfriend’s reservation he had made for Saturday night for 6 people at 7:30pm.  He revealed to me that he was proposing and asked if they could have the room to themselves (we have two upstairs rooms, The Sisal & Chocolate Rooms).  He then talked to my manager and he reserved the room.  Since I’m a wedding fanatic, I was so excited some lucky girl was going to get engaged in our restaurant.

This particular Saturday night started out pretty normal for myself and the rest of the staff.  My manager and I had already decided that Obama was not going to show up…I anticipated a busy but typical night.  And of course I was way excited about the proposal.   Little did we know…

At 7:15 on the dot, this young man showed up with a friend of his.  I said, “You must be my “groom-to-be”.”  He smiled and said “yes, May I go check out the room?”   He went upstairs, came down and asked to speak to Tracy.  It was at this moment, I noticed a few police cars, and some secret service men on our front porch.  My manager, Tracy soon appeared and with the most stoic expression, informed that I was not to sit any additional reservations upstairs.  At the same moment, a woman came through the door and gave me her name.  She had a reservation she informed me but said , “I would like to eat where the rest of the staff eats.  They should have a reservation as well.”

It was at that heart stopping moment, it hit me.

The President of the United States was coming to The Corner Kitchen to eat dinner!

What followed was a bit of craziness…decisions if the staff would eat upstairs in the other room or downstairs, conversations with secret service, staff and Christina (the lucky server who got to wait on them).  Eventually it was decided The Obamas would eat in the Sisal, some secret service would hang out in the Chocolate Room, the staff photographer and press woman would eat on the porch and the remainder of the staff would eat at the bar.

Soon after that, the President and First Lady entered the restaurant and went upstairs.  On the way, the President wished someone in the Parlor a Happy Birthday.  After they got settled, I was permitted by secret service to go up and give their table menus.  Usually I give out menus, tell people to have a nice meal and come back to my station.  Before I could go, Michelle Obama asked me what was good on the menu, I turned and recommended the following items:  Mahi-Mahi, Corn & Crab Chowder, Lobster Tacos and the Meatloaf (although I told the President it wasn’t as good as my mother’s)  That got a laugh.

I returned to my hostess station to man the phones…and to get to know the secret service folks who rotated in and out of that area.

Meanwhile, my phone rang every second and by the way, we have 3 lines.  I was asked by secret service and my manager to honor the remaining reservations but to tell anyone else who called in that we were booked.  And believe me they called.  I couldn’t keep up!  One of the owners got through after getting a tip from family that was dining with us that evening.  That conversation went something like this:

Me:  Good Evening, thank you for calling The Corner Kitchen, this is Adrienne, how may I help you?

Kevin:  Hello Adrienne, is anything unusual going on down there?

Me:  Yes!  The President is here and I am FREAKING OUT!

Kevin:  Okay, I’m coming down.

The owners and their families soon arrived and we tried to operate as normal as possible.  I was dizzy with excitement and thrilled to be a part of it.

Once the meal was finished, we all waited in anticipation of their descent/exit.  As he came down, shouts of glee were heard, phones out taking pictures; he shook my hand , the hands of the kitchen staff and a few others.  He was gracious, humble and had that million dollar smile!  Michelle had already come down and was greeting some fans in the parlor.  She came over and greeted all of us, put her hand on my shoulder and said, “You are so adorable.”

I have never been so thrilled.

What a great night!