New Haven Chef Off To The White House

New Haven school cafeteria cook Cheryl Barbara is stepping up her culinary game.

Today she heads to the White House but she will be the one being served.

Barbara won an episode on the Food Network  show, “Chopped”  in 2011 and now one of the judges,  Sam Cass, the White House executive chef, has invited Cheryl and the other contestants to be his guests.

“He told us then he would have us all as guests and he is,” said the bubbly 51-year-old high school lunch lady who is passionate about getting good food to the kiddos she cooks for at High School in the Community.  ”I won’t be cooking though, someone will be cooking for me ,” said Barbara who is active in the Taste of the Nation effort to provide food to hungry children.

The long weekend includes tours of the White House and Washington D. C. sites  as well as a formal dinner at the White House.

“I am hoping to meet Michelle Obama,” said  Barbara who is going with her husband and 12-year-old daughter. “I would love to meet her because we have the same passion on good food and children.”

And if the visit and the possibility of meeting the First Lady  weren’t enough excitement, Barbara will be flying for the first time when she leaves this morning.

“I’m territorial and like to stay close to home,” she explained about staying “grounded” for so many years.  “But an opportunity  like this and the honor of being invited was too much,” she said. “I try to teach my kids to step out of their comfort zone and it’s time for me to not just talk the talk but walk the walk too.”

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