posted
So the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ( APEC) is meeting here next week. There's been a lot of excitement and hubbub going on for months now, prettying up the island and planning for security. Of course the big news is the announcements of all the road closures , parking restrictions and other security precautions that are going to make living here a complete pain for the next couple of weeks.
Anyway, my branch of the Hawaii Department of Health has been asked to provide food safety oversight for the "Leader's Meetings/Meals" next weekend. We had to submit applications months ago and undergo full Secret Service background checks. We received our official event credentials this morning. (As usual, my photo on my ID tag is embarrassingly bad).
Next weekend, I get to brave the crowds, the security and take all the detours into Koolina to supervise celebrity chefs and their staffs as they prepare meals for Obama and leaders from 20 other Pacific and Asian nations. I don't really expect to meet anyone, except certainly Alan Wong.
I may totally regret volunteering for this gig... but it's pretty much a once in a lifetime opportunity for a lowly civil servant like myself.
Posts: 2069 | Registered: May 2001
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I'd tell you to take pictures, but we're probably (physically) better off sticking to gossip and innuendo.
Posts: 7593 | Registered: Sep 2006
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posted
Sounds like a lot of fun! Sadly, I'll be finishing out this year in Japan, so I'll miss APEC, but I live on Oahu and I'll be returning there in January. I was able to meet President Obama last Christmas at K-Bay when he came and ate dinner with us. It's a once in a lifetime experience, and I'll certainly be using it to impress my children many years from now. He's a genuinely nice person (or a superb actor), and seems to actually enjoy shaking hands and talking to people instead of grimacing and suffering through it like a lot of politicians do.
Best of luck! Even if you don't get to meet anyone famous, the experience is more than worth the effort.
Posts: 2222 | Registered: Dec 2008
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posted
Awesome! Hopefully you will get to meet Obama. He really is a nice guy.
Be prepared to be supervised by white house staff in the preparation of food. The last time the president was here in Las Vegas my aunt had the opportunity to cater a lunch. There were more security personell in the kitchen than cooks. Posts: 1937 | Registered: Nov 2006
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posted
I've always wondered what kind of scrutiny the cooks at the McDonalds Clinton used to frequent got.
Posts: 1087 | Registered: Jul 1999
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