If you live in Washington, or watch "Meet the Press," you know by now that President-elect Obama ate at Ben's Chili Bowl on Saturday with DC Mayor Adrian Fenty. It might seem like a silly thing to get giddy about, but it's been eight years since we've had a president who showed any interest in what Washington has to offer. And I love Ben's. A volunteer group I work with, Hands on Housing, has sometimes gone to Ben's for lunch when we've worked on houses nearby. Though it's generally a counter-service place, they'd seat the 8 or 10 of us paint- or dirt- or plaster-splattered people in the back room and provide table service. Everyone was amazingly nice. If I worked at a hot stove cooking half-smokes and chili and serving a continuous line of hungry people, I don't think I'd stay so cheerful.
Here's a video. Everybody's happy (except Velveeta's PR people).
Ben's Chili Bowl
1213 U Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 667-0909
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