Republicans and democrats differ on many issues: healthcare, environmental policy, abortion- we won’t go there. However, they may also differ on cheese preference. Or their favorite type of girl scout cookie.

According to a report by Hunch, Americans’ food choices differ widely by political party. Hunch is a website that asks users a series of questions to make a decision; for example, “what should I eat for lunch?” or (shameless self promotion) “what Foodista recipe should I make“?

More than 64,000 people answered the question “Do you tend to support liberal or conservative politicians?” Based on respondents’ answers to other questions, the Hunch team determined:

• French Fries: liberals prefer “bistro-type” fries; conservatives prefer McDonald’s fries
• Cheese: liberals prefer brie; conservatives prefer velveeta or Colby
• Girl Scout Cookies: liberals prefer Samoas; conservatives prefer Trefoils
• Birthday cake: liberals are more likely to bake one from scratch; conservatives are more likely to buy one at the store.
• Lunch: liberals prefer Thai or Indian food; conservatives prefer pizza, PB&J or macaroni and cheese.

And yes, conservatives (like Sarah Palin) are more likely to drink soda.

Do you agree or disagree with these findings?

(image by asecondhandconjecture)

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Haven’t heard of Islam Siddiqui?  You should know him.  The Obama administration preferred if you didn’t, but you should know him.  Why?  Because he may soon have the power to directly influence the food you eat.

President Obama recently nominated Islam Siddiqui to the role of Chief Agricultural Negotiator at the Trade Office.  He will be charged to lead an organization which represents our agricultural interests both here and abroad.  The problem is, Islam Siddiqui is a former pesticide lobbyist for CorpLife.  He is the same guy who openly chided Michelle Obama for not using “crop protection” (a.k.a. toxic pesticides), in the new White House vegetable garden.  CorpLife even set up a letter writing campaign.  He’s also the same guy who undermined the European Union’s attempt to ban hormone-treated beef in 1999 and rejected the mandatory labeling and disclosure of genetically modified animals in Japan, stating, “Mandatory labeling could mislead consumers about the safety of these products”.

What happened to the push by this White House for sustainable agriculture and chemical-free, local foods?  What happened to President Obama’s vow to ban lobbyists from his administration?

Michelle Obama demanded a pesticide-free garden for her family at the White House, so shouldn’t the American people be given a fair shot of having the same for their families?

Photo by deharris

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You can do your part to help save the environment by saying goodbye to cows and hello to kangaroos. Reaching into her bag of tricks, Mother Nature opted to leave out methane, which has shown to be 25% more potent as a green house gas than the carbon dioxide released by cars, in kangaroo farts.  (Did I just say farts)?  Since the Aussies have a stronghold on the kangaroo population, we may be out of luck.

Though, even if kangaroos roamed wild across America, you can bet cattle ranchers would lobby D.C. until the cows came home.

Ah well, they’re too darn cute to eat anyways.

Photo by mrimperial

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I’m a big Donna Brazile fan. So you can imagine my excitement when I heard she would be the guest speaker at a Washington Women Lawyers Awards Dinner that I was attending. Thanks to the swift shipping of Amazon.com, I had two copies of her book Cooking with Grease: Stirring the Pots in America, a memoir of her life in politics, in my hands the next morning, ready for Tracy and I to have signed later that night.

As I introduced myself to Ms. Brazile, I said, “I’m actually not an attorney, I’m a food writer.” Clearly being a food lover herself (each chapter of her book is named after a New Orleans food), she flipped towards the back of the book and showed me her late mother Jean’s recipe for seafood gumbo.

“I’m talking gumbo with Donna Brazile!” I was screaming like a twelve-year-old inside my head.

There’s a lot of chopping and prepping involved in gumbo, so Jean would divvy up the tasks among her nine children. Who needs a Cuisinart when you have nine kids as your prep chefs! I bet they also made for some lickity split clean up too.

This last Saturday we hosted a dinner party and spent the afternoon making Jean’s gumbo. As Ms. Brazile recommends in Step 1 of her cooking instructions, “Pour yourself something cold…You’re about to cook with grease.” Out came the wine and the Dr. John.

Many shrimp, oysters, sausages, glasses of wine, and much stirring-and-browning-of-the-roux later, we dished up the gumbo sat down with our nine guests.

Then we raised our glasses and toasted the stirring up of America’s pot.

Damn, that gumbo was good.

Check The Politico for the complete recipe and instructions for Jean’s Seafood Gumbo.

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In the great startup tradition, we are working out of a funky space that is connected to the the back of an art gallery. Every first Thursday there is an artwalk here in Seattle and folks walk throughout our building, which is mostly filled with artist studios. People looking for art often wander into our workspace…sometimes we tell them we are a performance art installation titled: Internet Startup.

This week they have an interesting example of the power of food to bring people together. The Blank Space Gallery is hosting an event this evening: Red, White, and Pie.

Free slices of pie will be awarded to individuals who show their voter registration card, register to vote, or give a 30 second sound bite as to why they do not intend on voting in the election this November 4th.

Peeking out our door, I see that they have a great collection of political posters and some wonderful pie. Come on down if you are in Seattle!

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