Profile: Julie Francis for White House Chef

By JULIETTE ROSSANT Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Julie Francis is the chef-owner of Aioli Bistro. Her mentors include: Deborah Madison, founding chef of Greens Restaurant in San Francisco, Mark Miller of Coyote Cafe, Matt Yohalem of Il Piatto, and Louis Moskow of 315 Restaurant & Wine Bar. What is Julie's first food memory? "Grilled lamb chops, Grandmother's cucumber/onion salad, and Uncle Nelson's tomatoes in the summer." What are her favorite dishes? "Sauteed garlic shrimp with chiles, cilantro black bean cake and chayote slaw, lump crabcake with Asian slaw, curry vinaigrette and saffron aioli, seared scallops with Puy lentils, fennel ginger sauce and herb salad." What is her mission as White House Executive Chef? "As White House chef I would serve as much local and seasonal food as possible and try and raise awareness of quality and safety of food( geneticlly modified foods) as well as the importance of well balanced eating; reducing the amount of meat in our diet." Why is it important that a woman be choosen as the next chef? "I think a woman chef in the White House would hopefully bring new influences and sensibilities to the food being served, and increase the public's awareness of women chefs." What would Julie serve for a quiet dinner in the White House? "A quiet night menu might be grilled organic beef hangar steak with Maytag blue cheese, fresh shell bean ragout, and red wine shallot sauce." What would she serve for a state dinner? "A state dinner would include the best local and regional products available, i.e., salad of local arugula with fennel, olives, blood oranges, and Capriole Old Kentucky Tomme." Previous Profiles for White House Woman Chef: Profile: Mary Sue Milliken & Susan Feniger for White House Chef Profile: Traci Des Jardins for White House Chef Profile: Anita Lo for White House Chef Profile: Sara Moulton for White House Chef Profile: Nora Pouillon for White House Chef Profile: Scooter Kanfer for White House Chef Profile: Cat Cora for White House Chef Profile: Diane Forley for White House Chef Previous articles: Dallas-Ft. Worth Notes Chef Louise's White House Nomination Roland Mesnier's Dessert University Congratulations: James Beard Awards Nominees Ojai Valley News: Diane Forley for White House Chef Denver Supports Jennifer Jasinski for White House Chef James Beard Awards: Dearth of Top Women Chefs? Today Show Emulates Iron Chef America Wireless Flash: White House Woman Chef Fortune Smiles on superchefblog's White House Chef Poll Cat Cora Wins on Iron Chef America Anita Lo Defeats Mario Batali on Iron Chef America Atlantic Monthly: White House Chefs Cat Cora, Anita Lo: Sexing Up Iron Chef America Joe Guzzardi: If Not Governor, White House Chef Reminder 1: Vote for White House Woman Chef Vote For White House Woman Chef Superchefblog: Catalyst for White House Woman Chef? --> back to superchefblog