Commander in beef

Michael White

Executive chef and partner, Alto and Convivio
Politics: Undecided. “Anything can happen. Look at John Edwards.”
What he’d make for McCain: “Obviously, for me, it’s pasta. They need energy for the last leg of the race. For McCain, probably a spicy pasta, because he seems like kind of an angry guy. Pasta alla arrabbiata.”
What he’d make for Obama: “Obama spent a lot of time in the Midwest, where I’m from, so I’d make him something for the cold-weather months, something baked, like lasagna. Pasta al forno.”

Sue Torres

Executive chef, Los Dados and Sueños
Politics: “Obama, baby!”
What she’d make for McCain: “A bologna sandwich on white bread...Or I’d take some dog food and make a chili. I’d call it Chihuahua Chili and it would taste good.”
What she’d make for Obama: “I would make him my grandfather’s recipe for seafood callaloo (spinach, onion, garlic, okra, fish, shrimp, scallops, conch, achiote, red chili, thyme, parsley and vinegar), because it’s comfort Caribbean food and Obama seems like a cool cat.”

Ildefonso Hernandez

Short-order cook, Starlight Restaurant & Diner
Politics: Likes Obama. “He’s young, but he has experience.”
What he’d make for Obama: “I’d make him my best: stuffed shrimps with crabmeat, garlic, basil and olive oil.”
What he’d make for McCain: “That’s my favorite dish, so I’d make it for McCain, too. They’re both nice people. I’d like to do my best for them both.”

Craig Samuel

Co-owner, Smoke Joint and Peaches
Politics: “Obama’s my guy.”
What he’d make for McCain: “When I think of McCain, the first thing that comes to mind is his time as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. I’d make him one of my favorite things in the world: banh mi, a Vietnamese sandwich. For dessert, I’d give him a green Jell-O mold and then a shot of Jim Beam.”
What he’d make for Obama: “I’d wrap some pulled pork in bacon, and then follow with a pork dessert; ice cream in a dish rubbed with bacon fat. So he could say, ‘Look, I’m eating pork. Can we kill the Muslim thing now?’ ”

Jacques Pépin

Dean of special programs, the French Culinary Institute
Politics: “I’m an Obama man. In the 50 years I’ve been in this country, our current President is the worst I’ve ever seen.”
What he’d make for McCain: “I would give him some vichyssoise with pureed turnips…to be sure he could eat it. I’m not sure he has many teeth left.”
What he’d make for Obama: “A smorgasbord. But I read that he likes pizza, so I would include an international pizza with slices from Italy, France, Germany, Japan and Russia.”

Erik Blauberg

Consulting chef at B.B. King’s Blues Club & Grill and Blue Note. Blauberg has cooked for three U.S. Presidents.
Politics: “I would have voted for Hillary. But now that she’s out of the picture, I’m voting for McCain.”
What he’d make for McCain: “When I cooked for Bloomberg, he told me, ‘I’m not into gourmet food; I’m into meat and potatoes.’ So I would make [McCain] a porterhouse steak, garlic mashed potatoes and glazed carrots.”
What he’d make for Obama: “I think he would be more on the healthy, creative side. I’d make a warm salad of chicory and radicchio with balsamic. For an entree, I’d do sauteed Dover sole with artichokes, green beans, and tomato.”