Obama Asks WWLE? (What Would Lincoln Eat?)

Thank God that Doris Kearns Goodwin didn't write a profile of Montezuma's cabinet. Otherwise they'd be eating human flesh at Barack Obama's inauguration!

In case you don't follow, the president-elect has shown what you might call a bit of an obsession with Abraham Lincoln, the subject of Goodwin's book Team of Rivals. First he started filling his cabinet with former political opponents-- just like Lincoln. Then he announced he'd be taking the oath of office using Lincoln's Bible.

And now he plans to start his presidency with the same meal that Honest Abe ate in 1861...

The Inaugural Luncheon is a century-old tradition, bringing together government leaders for a formal meal inside the Capitol... The menu and atmosphere change depending on the inauguration's theme. This year, it's all related to former President Abraham Lincoln, whose words, "A New Birth of Freedom," inspired the 2009 inauguration theme.

This means that Obama, Joe Biden, and the 200-member Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies will spend their first meal together wolfing down the following specialties, which are posted on what we assume was the same website Lincoln used to announce his inaugural menu...

* First Course: Seafood Stew, paired with a Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc.

* Second Course: A Brace of American Birds (pheasant and duck), served with Sour Cherry Chutney and Molasses Sweet Potatoes, paired with an Anderson Valley Pinot Noir.

* Third Course: Apple Cinnamon Sponge Cake and Sweet Cream Glacé, paired with a California champagne.

All excellent selections. Any purveyor of fine food will tell you how difficult it is to find a decent brace on the menu these days! And with wine at every course, we can only expect Obama to be the first president since Lincoln to show up loaded to his own inaugural parade.

While Obama's Lincoln theme no doubt posed challenges for the Capitol chefs, it could have been worse if John McCain had won in November. Based on comments he made down the homestretch, we expect the Arizona Senator would have requested a Herbert Hoover-themed inaugural, and everyone knows apples are competely out of season in January.