Obama Center Opens Tafari’s Kitchen on June 19 to Honor Chef Who Died at 45
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 9
Obama Center Opens Tafari’s Kitchen on June 19 to Honor Chef Who Died at 45
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 9
Summary
June 19 will bring the debut of Tafari’s Kitchen at the Obama Presidential Center, a comfort-food restaurant created to honor Tafari Campbell, the Obama family’s personal chef who died in 2023.
Campbell, 45, drowned while paddleboarding near the Obamas’ Martha’s Vineyard home in July 2023; the Obama Foundation said the restaurant recognizes a beloved family friend and former White House culinary team member.
Chicago chef Cliff Rome and Bon Appétit Management will lead the menu, which draws on Obama family stories and recipes, including Michelle Obama’s family dish “Mrs. Robinson’s Red Rice.”
The South Side Chicago center opens after more than a decade of development, with the project also drawing scrutiny over design, price and hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded infrastructure upgrades around the campus.