There has been a lot floating around on the internet about the Obama’s big date night in New York City this past weekend.  Even at the White House press briefing today somebody asked about how much the entire affair cost.

I can’t help but wish that people would lay off of the cost question, as I am sure that Barack and Michele Obama would have no trouble hopping on a bus to NYC and doing it up normal style if they could.  They fact is that they can’t.  Their position requires all the hoopla and expensive travel.  We need a safe president, and we also need a president that has a clear head and is allowed to enjoy himself once in awhile.

On the note of the date though, one thing that made me super happy was that the Obama’s dined at Blue Hill, a locavore friendly restaurant.  All the food at Blue Hill comes from a local biodynamic farm and local greenmarkets.  Of all the restaurants they could have chosen it is really awesome that our first couple went for a local foods one!  

Even though some people seem to think that it was boring choice (which to me is kind of dangerous thing to say), I think it is actually a pretty bold choice.  The fact is that the Obamas knew that wherever they went would get written about, and they made a choice that local foods are what would be written about.

And in many ways that is worth the cost of the date alone.

*photo by biskuit (cc)