In Videos: Barack Obama Doesn't Know What a Half-Smoke Is
"He hasn't earned it!" —Bill Cosby, on Barack Obama's eat-free pass at Ben's Chili Bowl
Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington, D.C.—ever heard of it? It's famous for its half-smokes, a D.C.-area regional specialty.
As you may remember, Ben's updated its "Who Eats Free at Ben's Chili Bowl" list to include the Obama family. Prior to that, the sole name on that list was Bill Cosby.
Well, ol' Cosby was on Meet the Press this morning, along with D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty and Representative Maxine Waters (D-Cal.). The show's host, David Gregory, showed the men a clip of Obama at Ben's yesterday, asking "What's a half-smoke?"
This set Cosby and Fenty on a jag, good-naturedly ribbing each other—and Barack Obama—about Ben's and half-smokes, with Cosby at one point saying that Obama hasn't earned the right to be on that list—Michelle Obama and her mother, sure, but not the president-elect. The video and transcript of relevant material appears after the jump. The good stuff starts at 45:35 in.
(Do you not know what a half-smoke is? We answer that question here.)
Barack Obama Doesn't Know What a Half-Smoke Is [at 45:35 in]
'What's a Half-Smoke': The Transcript
Mr. Gregory: I, I want--just yesterday, here at the famous Ben's Chili Bowl--ever heard of it?
Mr. Cosby: Oh, boy.
Mayor Fenty: Yeah.
Mr. Gregory: Who was there, but our mayor with the president-elect. Now, they go inside. Hold on, hold on.
Mr. Cosby: I'm out of here.
Mr. Gregory: No, no, no, no. Bill Cosby...
Mr. Cosby: No, man.
Mr. Gregory: ...listen to what happens inside. The president-elect goes inside and asks this question:
Mr. Gregory: What is a half-smoke? He goes to Ben's Chili Bowl and asks, "What's a half-smoke?" Can you believe that?
Mr. Cosby: I'm taking my vote back.
Mr. Gregory: Well, there's something else you should know.
Mr. Cosby: Well--uh-oh.
Mr. Gregory: There's something else you should know.
Mr. Cosby: You starting stuff, man.
Mr. Gregory: Yeah. Now, wait a second...
Mayor Fenty: This is why...
Mr. Cosby: You don't look like this kind of person.
Mr. Gregory: In Ben's Chili Bowl it says "Who eats for free at Ben's? Bill Cosby and no one else." But during the 2008 race they've changed it: "Who eats for free at Ben's? Bill Cosby and the Obama family." You're not alone.
Mayor Fenty: David, you know, he said backstage that Obama hadn't earned it.
Mr. Cosby: Not only, not only that, Mr. Loose Lips, I am saying also that the only--there are two people, Michelle and his mother-in-law. I don't mind them. But he has not earned it. Got to come a long way, Jack, before you can have...
Mayor Fenty: See, the president's not big enough.
Mr. Cosby: But, but the mayor brought him to try to boost his name and put it on the thing.
Mr. Gregory: Yeah. Unbelievable.
Mr. Cosby: And his name, he's a...
Mayor Fenty: Cosby's upset because I had the first half-smoke at the new baseball stadium, the first Ben's Chili Bowl.
Mr. Cosby: And you raised, you raised the half-smoke and said "I beat Bill Cosby." That's what you said.
Maybe he should have used his BlackBerry to Google "half-smoke" before asking.
Related
What's a Half-Smoke? Serious Eats Answers
The New Nationals Dog: Washington D.C.'s Half Smoke
Obama Family Makes the 'Eat Free' List at Ben's Chili Bowl
A Burger in the Nation's Capital: Ben's Chili Bowl
Ben's Chili Bowl Celebrates 50 Years
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18 Comments:
All this does is make me really really want to go to Ben's Chili Bowl.
RegrettableFoodie at 7:57PM on 01/11/09
at least he isn't trying "to put food on his family"
simon at 9:32PM on 01/11/09
Ben's Chili Bowl is truly one of the great restaurants of our time. And that's not hyperbole. Food so good you'll weep with salty, beefy tears of happiness, and the nicest, friendliest staff on earth. Go into Ben's, get a half-smoke or a chili burger, join in the ever-present banter, leave contented with a full, happy belly and probably three new friends. Places that serve simple, good food lovingly prepared in a pleasant atmosphere are far too rare.
NotAmerican at 2:50AM on 01/12/09
Gotta love that light hearted coverage of obama on nbc. Who the hell cares about a free bowl of chili? It's something that should be covered here not on meet the press.
davey at 7:43AM on 01/12/09
So-
What is a half-smoke?
CJ McD at 9:55AM on 01/12/09
I care about free chili. mmm.
worldcupfever at 9:56AM on 01/12/09
@CJ McD: What's a Half-Smoke? Serious Eats Answers
Adam Kuban at 10:14AM on 01/12/09
Why didn't he google it on his blackberry? :D
ag3208 at 3:07PM on 01/12/09
@ag3208: That's what I said! (See above: "Maybe he should have used his BlackBerry to Google "half-smoke" before asking.")
Adam Kuban at 3:45PM on 01/12/09
that sure looks delicious.. i learn something new on here everyday
MrChow at 4:07PM on 01/12/09
Personally, I'm glad he asked.
Isn't that kind of his job anyway? I mean asking questions and getting answers for THE PEOPLE....
I wouldn't have known that something called a 'half-smoke' existed, if it weren't for his curiosity and his desire to get an answer from a PERSON, not a piece of technology.
sandmansd at 6:55PM on 01/12/09
@sandmansd: Touché. Well said. I sit corrected.
Adam Kuban at 7:01PM on 01/12/09
When I first worked in DC, I noticed the "half-smoke" on the menu. I asked my co-workers what it was and got the classic explanation - a semi-spicy sausage thing. I ordered one...and thought...big deal, a glorified hot dog.
Im sure it's better with chili on it. As for Ben's, sure, all the hiptards in DC go there now that the area has been "Disneyfied" in comparison to what it used to be, when I and a friend would be walking back to my car from a dumpy recording studio in that hood and get hassled by "yoots" that thought a couple of girls carrying guitars were an easy target.
But it's a nicer area now, and this is a nicer city, and Ben's is prospering, and that's a good thing. But don't act like you just discovered it.
chanterelle at 11:37AM on 01/19/09
Nobody outside of DC knows what the heck a "half-smoke" is. I never heard of it until this was posted. Now Anthony Bourdain is finding out what it is too! Every city has their specialties that no one outside knows about or gets it.
sweetdiesel at 10:29PM on 01/19/09
If I'm not mistaken Obama paid anyway for his meal anyway.
missjess at 12:12PM on 01/21/09
I can vouch for the greatness of the half-smoke.
It was on our top-priority list of "must eat there" restaurants when we visited DC three years ago, after having read about it all over the blogosphere. Great atmosphere.
Food Monstar at 3:49PM on 01/22/09
Look, I understand. I want to have a half-smoke as bad as the next guy. I respect and love Ben's and the half-smoke. Beyond the food the place has a history more important to D.C. than most people know. It was the only business in the area allowed to stay open during the riots following the assasination of Dr. King. People searched for answers, truth and a hold on the moment following one of the most jarring moments in American History. BUT - I live in Ohio and I hate to have to tell you guys, most people outside of Washington don't know what a half smoke is. We're poor, deprived, scurvy knaves who are missing out on the delicious half beef, half pork smoke-a-licious-ness.
meascanbe at 10:32PM on 01/22/09
OK, OK. You all say nobody outside D.C. knows what a half-smoke is. Fine. I only knew about it because I read food blogs obsessively and had read about it there—and on Serious Eats.
But still, it's not like the presidency represents the first time Obama has been to D.C. He worked there as a senator. I guess the fact that he didn't know what a half-smoke was after having worked there for 3 years is testament to the notion that these guys don't really leave Capitol Hill all that much.
Adam Kuban at 8:27AM on 01/23/09