AT THE WHITE HOUSE TABLE

Catfish gets Conway boy in

54 kids, their recipes winners, dine with first lady

Hart Irby, 10, of Conway stands outside the White House after Friday’s lunch with first lady Michelle Obama. He also got a surprise high-five from President Barack Obama.
Hart Irby, 10, of Conway stands outside the White House after Friday’s lunch with first lady Michelle Obama. He also got a surprise high-five from President Barack Obama.

WASHINGTON -- A recipe for steamed catfish and coleslaw sliders earned one young Arkansan a seat at the White House on Friday and a high-five from the president.

Hart Irby, 10, was one of 54 children who attended the White House's Kids' State Dinner hosted by first lady Michelle Obama in the East Room of the White House.

The noontime dinner recognized the winners of the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge, part of the first lady's healthy food initiative. Winners came from all 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia.

More than 1,500 recipes were submitted, Michelle Obama said.

"It was not easy to choose just one winner from each state, so this was a competitive experience," she said. "You're all here because a panel of distinguished judges agreed that your recipes were the very best."

Hart's recipe was titled Arkansas Meets Asia Catfish Sliders. He will be a fifth-grader at Carl Stuart Middle School in Conway next fall.

The steamed catfish comes on a whole wheat bun and is covered with a coleslaw made with carrots, broccoli, cabbage, Granny Smith apples and an Asia-inspired sauce of sesame seeds, lemon and soy sauce and other ingredients.

"It tastes just amazing," Hart said.

Darren Irby wasn't surprised by his son's culinary choices.

"Hart loves catfish and he hates mayonnaise," he said.

Hart also wanted Granny Smith apples in the coleslaw, which his dad said created a sweet and sour flavor.

"It's really, really good. Of course, I'm biased, but it's really, really good," he said.

Hart said he is comfortable in the kitchen and enjoys preparing food.

"It was definitely not my first time. I love cooking. I love cooking everything," he said.

During the event, attendees sampled several of the winning entries, including a black bean burger, a tomato and cucumber salad and a fruit parfait with granola, after hearing from the first lady.

Each course was served on gold-rimmed china featuring the presidential seal.

At one point a young girl ran to where Michelle Obama was eating to ask for a photo. They squished their faces together to take a selfie.

After the meal, the cast of The Lion King musical, which is currently showing in Washington, spread throughout the room in full costume and performed two songs: "The Circle of Life" and "They Live in You."

President Barack Obama popped in as the meal was starting to congratulate the winners moments after making a statement in the White House briefing room about the crash of a Malaysian passenger jet in Ukraine.

The president told the children they inspire him.

"Sometimes people ask me, 'You know, Mr. President, you have this really tough job and there is always stuff happening all around the world, and how do you keep up with all of it and how do you keep your spirits up?,' he said. "And my answer is, because I meet young people every day who I know are energetic and are full of great ideas and are going to be continuing to make this country better."

He told the children that most state dinners, unlike Friday's, aren't cheerful and fun, and most of the time participants are "older and a little stodgier."

Obama also admitted that despite the first lady's healthy food initiative, all members of the first family have weaknesses for not-so-healthy foods at times.

"My big thing, chips and guacamole. Basically, if there is a bowl of good chips and guacamole ... I lose my mind," he said.

On his way out of the room the president high-fived three or four children, including Hart.

"It surprised me," Hart said. "I thought he was up in New York."

But his favorite part of the experience?

"Either eating, or meeting the first lady," he said.

Arkansas Meets Asia Catfish Sliders

For the catfish:

¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons minced ginger

2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

½ pound catfish fillets, quartered

Pepper, to taste

For the Asian slaw:

2 cups of packaged undressed cabbage slaw

½ Granny Smith apple, peeled and cut into thin slices

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon minced ginger

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce

3 tablespoons light olive oil

Zest of 1 lemon

1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Preheat oven to 450°F.

To prepare fish:

In a small bowl, mix the soy sauce, lemon juice, ginger, and sesame oil until well combined. Cut four 12-inch aluminum foil squares and place a fillet in each. Spoon the marinade over each and season with pepper. Fold foil to make a sealed packet and bake for 15 minutes, or until fish is tender and flaky.

For the slaw: In a large bowl, toss the slaw with the apple. In a separate bowl, combine the lemon juice, ginger, honey, vinegar, soy sauce, and olive oil. Add lemon zest and sesame seeds and whisk until well combined. Toss the slaw ingredients with the mixture. Place the catfish fillet in a whole-wheat bun, top with slaw, and enjoy. Makes 4 servings.

Nutrition information: Each serving contains approximately 254 calories, 17g fat, 16g carbohydrates and 12g protein.

A section on 07/19/2014

Upcoming Events