Political insider details Barack Obama’s unique eating habits – as he dines at a ritzy Sydney restaurant with wife Michelle
- Mr Obama and wife Michelle are visiting Australia on speaking tour
Ex-US President Barack Obama has been praised by a senior former Australian politician for his diet discipline – as Mr Obama and wife Michelle share a ritzy lunch in Sydney.
Bob Carr, the country’s former foreign minister, said on Tuesday that Mr Obama, who is in Australia on an $AUD350-per-head (USD$230) speaking tour, is extremely careful with sugar and fat.
Mr Carr said that a meal during a G20 meeting in St Petersburg, Russia in 2013, he ‘noticed out of the corner of my eye as this working banquet went on, (Mr Obama) carefully separated on his plate anything that would have had sugar or fat in it.
‘And I thought this guy must have had a protein shake earlier in the day to take the edge off his hunger.’
Mr Carr, who is also a former premier of the state of New South Wales, continued: ‘I thought … this guy has got admirable discipline.
‘He is going to leave office with the same waist size he had when he entered.’
Former US President Barack Obama (left) has been praised by a senior former Australian politician not only for his political talent, but for the ‘admirable discipline’ of his eating habits
Mr Obama’s wife Michelle (pictured centre) was spotted looking less than impressed following a ritzy beachside meal in Sydney on Monday
The former First Couple were photographed outside fine-dining restaurant Bathers’ Pavilion in Balmoral on the city’s north shore, after arriving in the city on Sunday night by private jet.
Probably famished from their long flight, the couple enjoyed a seafood lunch at the waterside venue, where sprawling floor-to-ceiling windows offer a stunning view of Sydney Harbor.
While being a historic, heritage listed site hailed for its hospitality, the restaurant is not exactly cheap – with a plate of smashed avocado costing $22, and mains like grilled prawns and fish pie setting you back around $45.
Upon leaving, Mrs Obama appeared somewhat unsatisfied – perhaps still tired from the long haul flight.
Video snapped outside the eatery – where a six-course degustation menu including pink snapper sashimi and handmade fettucine costs $300 – show the couple greeting dozens who descended in hopes of catching a glimpse of the pair.
Despite not making a public appearance with his wife in more than five months, Barack, 61, looked ever the statesman, waving at a crowd clearly overcome with Obamamania.
Michelle also greeted revelers following a recent spate of interviewers promoting her new book and podcast in which she revealed previously difficulties of the pair’s marriage during Obama’s time in office.
A witness said the couple had dined in an intimate, beachside room at the Pavilion, electing to not enjoy its famed view with the curtains closed to the outside world.
Since forfeiting their rights to Air Force One, the pair has been known to frequently fly private, despite both stating that no challenge currently poses a greater threat to the world than climate change.
Former Foreign Minister Bob Carr (pictured with his wife Helena) revealed that Mr Obama, who is visiting Australia with his wife Michelle, is extremely careful with sugar and fat
Mr Carr also commended Mr Obama for his political acumen.
‘He was governed by the principles, as he put it, of “no more stupid stuff” and that meant nothing as adventurous as occupying Afghanistan or invading Iraq, which had happened under his predecessor, George W Bush.
‘That made it easy to deal with him because he was coolheaded and not impetuous about foreign policy,’ Mr Carr said.