Restaurant Nora : Michelle Obama's favourite restaurant

Today was Michelle Obama's 46th birthday and as a gift her hubby, President Obama to you and me, took her out for a surprise dinner at her favourite DC restaurant, Restaurant Nora.

Being Nosey we've had a look at well.

The restaurant describes itself as

...America's first certified organic restaurant. This means that 95% or more of everything that you eat at the restaurant has been produced by certified organic growers and farmers all who share in Nora's commitment to sustainable agriculture....

Sounds very "green", is it the sort of place where you guaranteed healthy but not necessarily tasty food? Well what do the crtics say?

The Washington Post

The homey space is decorated with quilts and has a formal, but familiar feel. A bit over-traditional for hipsters, it's parent- and grandparent-friendly.

You'll pay for the quality. The tasting menu is $75 and $65 for vegetarians. A la carte entrees cost around $30.

Reviews from actual diners on the traveller review forum TripAdvisor was somewhat mixed but still good enough to rank 22nd of the 1000+ DC restaurant ranked.

The reviews ranged from

We had a nice bottle of pinot noir that he recommended. We loved the beef carpaccio that we had for a starter and we both loved our salads (his: spinach & arugula; mine: caesar). Ditto for our mains (his: beef; mine: veal curry). I never order veal due to the mistreatment of the animals - however, these are happy calves! It was quite a treat - many different flavors on one plate. We also ordered dessert (his: chocolate chocolate mousse cake with raspberry sauce and vanilla ice ream; mine: the best apple pie I have ever had with rum raisin ice cream). It was an extraordinary meal. We lingered and did not feel rushed. Our check for all of this was $200 - a little pricey but comparable to other restaurants of this quality and style. I highly recommend Nora!

(Clearly appealing to the more "concious" diner)

to the somewhat unimpressed

I understand their focus on serving organic food, but they go a little overboard. Is it really necessary that the menu state that their waiters are dressed in shirts made of 100% certified organic cotton?

Bottom line: go here only if you're not price-sensitive. For my money, I'll go elsewhere to get the same quality of food at a much lower price.

Well if you fancy finding out what it like to dine like the First Family you can head over to Restarant Nora at 2132 Florida Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008


View Larger Map

Michelle Obama is the flavour of the Month...

...in publishing circles.

Vogue the iconic fashion Magazine had her on their cover for this March's edition. Oprah Winfrey's Magazine Oprah has also muscled in on the action with the latest edition which goes on sale March 17 also featuring Mrs Obama



Even the New Yorker which in the run up to the election featured the infamous cartoon of an AK-47 totting Michelle fist bumping with a taliban-esque garbed Barack has succumbed to the 'Michelle Obama as a fashion icon craze' currently sweeping the nation with its latest cover




However not everyone seems to be getting it right. Glamour Magazine's take on the this trend is a shoot featuring Alicia Keys and two child models as as Michelle, Sasha and Malia as part of their American icons series. We love Alicia Keys but we aren't feeling this faux-family Obama.

Portuguese Water dog for Sasha and Malia

We all know politicians can be slippery with their promises, but Barack Obama made one promise he'd do almost anything not to break and he hasn't. Yep, the puppy for Presidential daughters Sasha and Malia is on its way.

In an interview with the People Magazine Michelle Obama has revealed that they have finally settled on a choice for the girls. It is to be a Portuguese Water Dog.



It must be a Democratic Party favourite as Party Grandee Senator Ted Kennedy also owns two of these poodle look alikes. The Obama's are going to adopt one from an animal shelter and it is will move into the White House in April.

Michelle does Vogue, now Barack does Vanity Fair

It looks like the US First Couple (Barack and Michelle) might be moonlighting as magazine cover models. Next month two of the biggest style magazine are both featuring one half of the First Couple on their March Covers.

We reported on Michelle appearing on next month's cover of Vogue, now Barack Obama would have appeared to have decided 'what Michelle can do, I can do as well' as he is featured on the cover of the March edition of Vanity Fair. Like Michelle's Vogue cover the President's pictures were taken by the legendary celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz.



March's cover is the second time Barack Obama has appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair having done so previously in July 2007 in a strikingly similar pose.



It will be interesting to see who does the better numbers Vogue or Vanity Fair :-)

Michelle Obama featured on Vogue cover

There is no hiding for Michelle Obama, she isn't just the American First Lady but is increasingly the First Lady of Fashion. What she wears, what designers she patronises has generated seemingly endless column inches, so it is no surprise to see that she has made the cover of the March edition of Vogue, the iconic fashion magazine.



The photographs taken by celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz (remember this, yes that's her work) and Michelle appears in an array of dresses by Jason Wu, J C Crew and D.C. Narciso Rodriguez.

And if you love your First Lady's you'll love this edition as you get three for the price of one with Queen Rania of Jordan and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy of France making appearances.

Vogue has a long tradition of photo spreads of American First Lady's but this is only the second time they've made the front cover, the only other time being Hilary Clinton in 1998.

Get a taster of the article at style.com

Sasha and Malia face "celebrity" ban

For the Obama daughter's Sasha and Malia, the last few days have been a whirlwind of fun, fame and celebrities and boy what a load of celebrities.They mingled with Beyonce at one of the inauguration concerts and were surprised in the White House by their favourite bands the Jonas Brothers.

All good things however must come to an end and Mum Michelle has decided like all Mum's do that maybe they are having too much of a good thing and for now has decided that they are to be no more celebrities in her daughter's lives for the time being.

US Weekly reports that ban has come into place to keep the girls grounded as they settle in the new home and hew school - Sidwell Friends School.

Probably a good thing because we all know Barack has a tough job with the economy and Iraq and all, but it can't be underestimated how challenging a job it will be for Michelle to chaperon these two girls through four (or even eight) years of insane publicity that is sure to follow and ensure they come out at the other end sane and balanced individuals.

Did Mariah Carey storm out of Obama inauguration?

Wow there are Divas and then there are DIVAS!. According to stateside reports it is claimed that Mariah Carey stormed out of Obama's inauguration ceremony allegedly upset that she wasn't seated close to the new First Couple.

A spy said, "Mariah was in the VIP area, where every celebrity, like Jon Bon Jovi, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys and Bruce Springsteen, was seated. But somehow she thought she'd be up with the Obama family. When she realized she wasn't, she bailed."

Hmmmh....The Audacity of Divas, eh!