1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:04,080 Speaker 1: Welcome to River Cafe Table four, a production of iHeartRadio 2 00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:05,400 Speaker 1: and Adami Studios. 3 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:14,320 Speaker 2: A few weeks ago, a very special person came to 4 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 2: dinner at our home, Speaker of the United States House 5 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 2: of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi. Before greeting the other guests, Nancy 6 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 2: and I talked together about food and politics, food and family, 7 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 2: food in her Italian American childhood, and being the mother 8 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:35,960 Speaker 2: of five children. We also spent quite a lot of 9 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 2: time talking about our shared passion for chocolate ice cream. 10 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:48,240 Speaker 2: Is it sev? What time is it the seventh? Okay, 11 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 2: well they want. 12 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 3: Us to not time to eat yet, but I can't wait. 13 00:00:57,040 --> 00:01:01,480 Speaker 2: I can't wait up tonight we're having two chocolate Okay. 14 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 4: I was thinking that can make that my whole meal. 15 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:06,559 Speaker 2: I won't. 16 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 4: My husband and I got married. We lived in New 17 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:20,320 Speaker 4: York now New York for me. When I was a 18 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:23,200 Speaker 4: young girl, a child really, our family would go to 19 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 4: New York regularly. We'd go to plays, we'd go to dinner. 20 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 4: All that New York was like heaven. So here we 21 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 4: were young, married in Manhattan. Paul was working but we 22 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:38,399 Speaker 4: didn't have children yet. 23 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:41,039 Speaker 2: The first year and what kind of restaurants would you 24 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:41,560 Speaker 2: seek out. 25 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:47,120 Speaker 4: We had shall we say, champagne taste and beer bottled purses, 26 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:52,240 Speaker 4: so we didn't say that and go. We would go 27 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 4: to the best restaurants as if we were entitled, almost 28 00:01:56,480 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 4: or we would just go to the neighborhood Italian Americans 29 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 4: on New York or something, or the corner place to 30 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 4: have whatever it was. But New York was great because, 31 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:11,680 Speaker 4: for example, if you wanted to have chopped chicken livers, 32 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 4: oh my gosh, the best place in the world for 33 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:17,679 Speaker 4: chopped chicken. You know, anything you wanted, the best was 34 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 4: there carry out that would be. But we were largely 35 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 4: into dining out. Then we had children, and then it 36 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:24,799 Speaker 4: was more than me. 37 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 2: And so when you when you were bringing up the children, 38 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:32,960 Speaker 2: did you follow your mother's footsteps? Did you have somebody helping? No? 39 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 4: No, we had no help none. I mean, that was 40 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:39,600 Speaker 4: a different world. When you have five children in six years, 41 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:45,240 Speaker 4: help doesn't come anywhere near your house. They take detours you. 42 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:46,240 Speaker 2: Help wouldn't come near you. 43 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 3: Oh my gosh, why would they. 44 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 4: You could go work with somebody with one child or 45 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:54,520 Speaker 4: two children, why would they going to work with somebody 46 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 4: with five children? 47 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 2: So how did you do it? 48 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 4: It was intense. It was intense, but I would love 49 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:02,519 Speaker 4: to do it all over again. It was the most 50 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 4: glorious thing. 51 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 2: Even lived in an apartment in New York. Or was 52 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 2: that time we were in San francisc. 53 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:10,400 Speaker 4: No, well, we had four children in New York. 54 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 2: We did. 55 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:11,880 Speaker 3: We left New York. 56 00:03:11,919 --> 00:03:15,040 Speaker 4: We had four children, the oldest was four, and we 57 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:18,920 Speaker 4: had a lovely apartment in Beakman Place, and then we 58 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 4: moved to San Francisco and had a big home. I mean, 59 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 4: we didn't realize how small our apartment was until we 60 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 4: moved into a home in San Francisco, and that was lovely. 61 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:31,080 Speaker 3: And then we had our fifth child there. 62 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 2: And how did you cook for five children? Did you 63 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 2: both cook? Did you cook? How did you feed them healthily? 64 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 4: They'll not say that I was a great cook. I 65 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:46,080 Speaker 4: mean it was standard fair. And then as they got older, 66 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 4: I just got tired of washing pots and pants. I 67 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:54,840 Speaker 4: didn't want to wash anymore pots and pans. So I 68 00:03:54,920 --> 00:04:01,119 Speaker 4: developed a practice where I would go to some place, 69 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 4: say MacArthur Park, which was a restaurant then that the 70 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 4: greatest ribs okay. Or we go to Lorocas which was 71 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 4: a seafood place. Or we go to Chinatown, taking duck 72 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 4: and I would make a salad, and I would bring 73 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 4: home this food. And it wasn't strictly carry out like. 74 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 2: Fast food. 75 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:23,919 Speaker 4: It was delicious food from these restaurants. We have this 76 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:29,120 Speaker 4: meal Linen's salad. So when I went to Congress, my 77 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 4: youngest daughter, Alexandra, she said, mother, I'm so proud of 78 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 4: you because you're a pioneer. I said, really, because I'm 79 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:41,839 Speaker 4: a woman member of Congress. She said, no, Remember when 80 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:44,480 Speaker 4: you used to cook and then you stopped. Well, now 81 00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:46,600 Speaker 4: a lot of people stop cooking, but you were the 82 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:47,520 Speaker 4: first to stop. 83 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 2: Oh good, that's good that you pioneer. Oh it is 84 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:56,040 Speaker 2: a liberation, isn't it. It can be creative cooking. It 85 00:04:56,160 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 2: can be exciting, it can be relaxing. I think affair. 86 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:01,599 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's a lovely thing. 87 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:05,600 Speaker 4: But three times day, every day, and with five children, 88 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 4: five will get you ten every time because they bring 89 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 4: So it's a thing. 90 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:10,000 Speaker 2: Yeah. 91 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 4: But the pots got me, the pots and pants that 92 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:12,919 Speaker 4: got me. 93 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:16,479 Speaker 2: So you got you got that's good. And then the 94 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:19,920 Speaker 2: children got older. You then became more and more involved 95 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 2: in politics and participates. 96 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:23,720 Speaker 3: Always said, we're in school all day. 97 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 2: How did food fit into that life? I mean, how 98 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:30,600 Speaker 2: did it fit into working and being a working mother. 99 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:36,039 Speaker 4: Well, the children would call it child labor. But we 100 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 4: would have many events at our home all the time, 101 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:41,120 Speaker 4: and we always had food. 102 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 3: You know, the Democrats. 103 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,039 Speaker 4: It was about people coming together, people coming so we 104 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:48,760 Speaker 4: would always have food so that kids would help prepare. 105 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:50,160 Speaker 3: And they say to. 106 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:53,599 Speaker 4: This day, you know, for every salmon on a bagel, 107 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 4: we'd eat one and put one on the tray, and 108 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:59,600 Speaker 4: these little ones. And when we would have dinners. I 109 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:02,480 Speaker 4: hope none of our guests hear this, but here's how 110 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 4: we would do it. Say we have like many many 111 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:12,600 Speaker 4: people coming to dinner. Once we had nearly two hundred, 112 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:15,479 Speaker 4: we had a big house. We bought one of those pools, 113 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:18,360 Speaker 4: you know, those little pools that children. You inflate it, 114 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:21,320 Speaker 4: fill it with water and wash the lettuce in there. 115 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:27,600 Speaker 4: Then you put it in a pillowcase, tie a knot 116 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:30,320 Speaker 4: in it, and you put it on the spin cycle. 117 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:35,320 Speaker 3: The dishes in the washing machine. The washing washing machine. 118 00:06:35,320 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 4: We have to be very careful because sometimes while we 119 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:39,920 Speaker 4: tell people and they get it mixed up, they put 120 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:47,919 Speaker 4: it in the dryer. That doesn't work. Had to be 121 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 4: in the spin cycle of the washing machine and come 122 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:55,359 Speaker 4: out crispy. You have to have a big thing to 123 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:58,960 Speaker 4: wash the lettuce and spin cycle. 124 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 2: Have Edie Vachel taken on that recipe for us, No, I. 125 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:03,839 Speaker 3: Don't think so. 126 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:07,360 Speaker 4: I think that they don't entertain one hundred people at 127 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:07,799 Speaker 4: a time. 128 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 2: So I think shopping is a hard thing to do. 129 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:18,040 Speaker 2: Don't you think getting this shopping done well. 130 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 3: We have a little motto. 131 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 4: If I don't have to shop for it, cook it, 132 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:23,880 Speaker 4: or clean it up, I'm all in for it, whatever 133 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:24,240 Speaker 4: it is. 134 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 3: But that's not your life. 135 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 4: It's very important. It's an art. I remember fascinating my 136 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 4: grandchildren by having them put a mountain of flour. Each 137 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 4: had their mountain of flour, break eggs and net, mix 138 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 4: it up this that and net, let it sit, roll 139 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 4: it out neat, you know, put us through the machine 140 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 4: and in the pot of water, and they're eating pasta 141 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:55,000 Speaker 4: that was a mound of flour with an egg in 142 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:55,400 Speaker 4: the middle. 143 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 3: They had their own individual. 144 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 2: Cooking in a restaurant, I say, people say to me, 145 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 2: how can you cook for two hundred people? And I 146 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:06,040 Speaker 2: can't cook for eight? And I go, I don't think 147 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 2: I can cook for eight. It's much harder, you know, 148 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 2: because in a restaurant. It's so collaborative. You have somebody 149 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:14,960 Speaker 2: chopping the barsa and somebody helping you pick the crab. 150 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:17,360 Speaker 2: I think for a lot of people cooking at home 151 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 2: as a performance, and you know, and it's quite hard 152 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 2: to entertain. You feel that you are being judged or 153 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:26,200 Speaker 2: is it good enough? Or well is it hot? It's 154 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:29,640 Speaker 2: the old thing and it keeping it hot. Yeah, that's 155 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:32,360 Speaker 2: a challenge in a restaurant too. And so what about 156 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:36,800 Speaker 2: the Washington moving from San Francisco is a very food city. 157 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:40,160 Speaker 2: I mean you have Alice Walters, you had Judy Rogers, 158 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:44,840 Speaker 2: you have women chef, you have so many different types 159 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:47,400 Speaker 2: of food. So was it a big wrench going from 160 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:49,480 Speaker 2: such a food city to Washington. 161 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:52,880 Speaker 4: Let me just say I live in San Francisco, I 162 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:56,880 Speaker 4: work in Washington, Okay, And I was always working because 163 00:08:57,440 --> 00:09:01,199 Speaker 4: San Francisco is three hours earlier, so when other people 164 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 4: might go out to dinner, it was at seven o'clos 165 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:06,679 Speaker 4: four o'clock in the afternoon in San Francisco. So I 166 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:09,320 Speaker 4: was really always working. And people would say, what's a 167 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:11,560 Speaker 4: good restaurant. I mean, I'm the worst person to ask, 168 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:15,240 Speaker 4: but there are some wonderful restaurants in Washington that I 169 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:18,800 Speaker 4: can now and look forward to, you know, just putting 170 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:19,679 Speaker 4: work on the shelf. 171 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 2: What do you like about a restaurant? What do you 172 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:24,200 Speaker 2: look for in a restaurant? Is it the food? Is 173 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:26,959 Speaker 2: it the welcome, is it the descort? What? 174 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 4: First and foremost, it's the food. And it's very, very 175 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:36,200 Speaker 4: important that there'd be a tablecloth. The tablecloth is not 176 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:40,720 Speaker 4: only a tablecloth, it's absorbed sound. So it's little calmer 177 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:43,680 Speaker 4: when you have that. Now there are many restaurants that 178 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:48,199 Speaker 4: don't have tablecloths, that are wonderful restaurants. But I'm always 179 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:51,160 Speaker 4: happy when I have a tablecloth, still at this point 180 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:55,560 Speaker 4: in life. And I especially still like Italian food. But 181 00:09:55,679 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 4: of course I like friend. I like all you know, 182 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:02,120 Speaker 4: good food, just like they're all different kinds of music, 183 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:05,559 Speaker 4: from classical to rap whatever. Just as long as it's good, 184 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:10,000 Speaker 4: it's good. And same thing with food. Well, we have California, 185 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:13,080 Speaker 4: we have you know, the Mexican influence, we have the 186 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:15,960 Speaker 4: we have every kind of food you can imagine in 187 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 4: the world. 188 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 3: In San Francisco. 189 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:21,679 Speaker 2: So have great farms. And I think Alice has done great. 190 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:25,080 Speaker 2: She's farmed to the table. She's a force. 191 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 3: This I mean unbelievable. Yeah, she's fabulous in every way. 192 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:32,280 Speaker 2: Do you ever work at a restaurant? Would you take 193 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:34,600 Speaker 2: somebody out and work over dinner or do you find 194 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:36,760 Speaker 2: that you kind of work when you work and you 195 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 2: eat when you eat? 196 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:44,800 Speaker 4: I like just to enjoy dinner. Now, maybe that's being Italian. 197 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 3: I don't know. 198 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 4: I'm a big believer in putting things on the shelf. 199 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 4: There's an expression in Latin a jay kuadaj. Just do 200 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:56,720 Speaker 4: what you're doing if you're dining, if you're eating, and 201 00:10:56,760 --> 00:10:59,080 Speaker 4: then even if it means you have to split the 202 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:02,319 Speaker 4: eating out and I'll work then, But I don't want 203 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 4: to do them together, especially since some times your conversations 204 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:07,559 Speaker 4: can become. 205 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:09,839 Speaker 3: Contentious. 206 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:11,760 Speaker 4: I mean, I don't mean in a negative way, but 207 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:13,640 Speaker 4: it's like, why are we talking about this now? I'm 208 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 4: trying to eat my dinner. 209 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:18,079 Speaker 2: And what about How does food fit into your work life? 210 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:20,200 Speaker 2: Do you stop always for lunch? Do you have a 211 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:24,160 Speaker 2: sandwich at your desk? Does it depend on the day 212 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 2: my work? No food? 213 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 4: Well, I have a salad maybe at my desk, but 214 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:31,480 Speaker 4: like on Wednesdays, I have now for a long time now, 215 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 4: it's been a pick up lunch for my members. I 216 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:39,679 Speaker 4: wish that I could be having them for dinner more 217 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:42,200 Speaker 4: and stuff that we really can't because of COVID for 218 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:45,040 Speaker 4: a long time, and some of the restaurants that would 219 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:50,480 Speaker 4: be able to handle that scale just don't even exist 220 00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:54,360 Speaker 4: any I mean, some of them have moved on. But 221 00:11:55,360 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 4: the food is not an important part of my life 222 00:11:57,280 --> 00:11:57,720 Speaker 4: in DC. 223 00:11:58,120 --> 00:12:01,839 Speaker 2: In DC, when you travel, do you look forward to 224 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:05,040 Speaker 2: having a state dinner or lunch? Is it something that 225 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 2: you think about on your foreign trips? What did you 226 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:09,120 Speaker 2: have for lunch today? In London? 227 00:12:10,240 --> 00:12:13,600 Speaker 4: Today we had a beautiful lunch hosted by the Speaker 228 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:18,599 Speaker 4: of the Househoil. It was lovely in every way and 229 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:21,280 Speaker 4: he told me that they have a cook there at 230 00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 4: the House of Commons, and it was beautiful in every way. 231 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:29,720 Speaker 4: It was a lovely, lovely dining experience. It wasn't just 232 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:31,760 Speaker 4: eating lunch. It was a dining experience. 233 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:32,920 Speaker 2: How many of you were there? 234 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 4: Maybe one table, probably at least forty people at the table, 235 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:44,040 Speaker 4: big long table, beautiful, beautiful flowers, beautiful food. 236 00:12:44,559 --> 00:12:45,920 Speaker 3: It was. It was lovely. 237 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:54,559 Speaker 4: AND's London's come a long way, baby, I mean from 238 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:56,440 Speaker 4: when we would come here when we were young. 239 00:12:57,160 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 3: Now you have everything yeah, you have everything. 240 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:04,560 Speaker 2: It's really really good restaurants in London very much. Where 241 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:05,480 Speaker 2: were you last night? 242 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:10,360 Speaker 4: Last night we were at IV How good that nice? 243 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:11,440 Speaker 3: I love Scott's. 244 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:14,640 Speaker 2: Yeah. And we have to get you to the River Cafe. 245 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:16,959 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, all of the River Cafe too. You're in there. 246 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:19,840 Speaker 2: You come to myrowng time. One thing we have to get. 247 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 2: We're closed on Sunday nights, so you're forgiven for last time. 248 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:24,280 Speaker 2: But we would love you to come. 249 00:13:24,880 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 4: And I like Wolsey because it has a lot of 250 00:13:27,320 --> 00:13:28,800 Speaker 4: we love it. 251 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:30,079 Speaker 3: I want to chocolate. 252 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:32,840 Speaker 4: That's why I go there. I mean, yeah, one of 253 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:33,160 Speaker 4: the reasons. 254 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:36,760 Speaker 2: That's a great restaurant I think London has. Definitely there's 255 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:40,560 Speaker 2: so many different types again, different types of restaurants, and 256 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 2: that's one of the heartbreaking things about Brexit, you know, 257 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 2: is that we want to encourage different cultures and being 258 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:52,600 Speaker 2: open and that's something we we must we mustn't forget. 259 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:06,199 Speaker 2: We share values, we share concern for inequality, the fact 260 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:09,600 Speaker 2: that there are children who are going to bed hungry 261 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:13,200 Speaker 2: in Britain and in the United States. That we know 262 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:18,560 Speaker 2: that during the pandemic, certainly in this country, school shot 263 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:22,880 Speaker 2: a lot of children that was their main meal, and 264 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:27,680 Speaker 2: so being in a position of influence and policy, what 265 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:33,440 Speaker 2: do you feel about the question of child hunger, of hunger, yes, 266 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:35,800 Speaker 2: well you know homeless people queuing up for food. 267 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:40,080 Speaker 4: Well, I always say to members of Congress, know your why. 268 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:43,160 Speaker 4: I'll tell people your why. Why do you think you 269 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 4: should be in Congress? What has motivated you? And my 270 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:50,680 Speaker 4: why why I went from the kitchen to the Congress, 271 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:54,360 Speaker 4: from housewives to house speaker was that one in five 272 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 4: children in America goes to sleep hungry at night. That 273 00:14:57,360 --> 00:15:02,360 Speaker 4: I couldn't handle it. It was just that we had 274 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:05,840 Speaker 4: five children, and you think one of these children will 275 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:08,960 Speaker 4: not have food, will not will go to sleep hungry 276 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 4: at night in America now and take it globally, and 277 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:18,240 Speaker 4: it's sinful. It's sinful any place. It's immoral. And that 278 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:22,120 Speaker 4: was my motivation and all that that implied. If they 279 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:26,640 Speaker 4: were hungry, they weren't learning to their capacity, they were 280 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:30,960 Speaker 4: not feeling that their needs were being met, and their 281 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:35,560 Speaker 4: families were just not able to meet their families' needs. 282 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:38,680 Speaker 4: And it is a kitchen table issue for some families. 283 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:40,200 Speaker 4: Are they going to be able to put food on 284 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 4: the table, pay the rent, pay the utility, bill pay 285 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:46,400 Speaker 4: for their children to go to school if that required 286 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:49,880 Speaker 4: some payment. So the food issue, that one in five 287 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:53,040 Speaker 4: children living in poverty going to sleep hungry at night 288 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:56,960 Speaker 4: was my why, and so we all every step of 289 00:15:57,000 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 4: the way, have worked for policy to alleviate that, to 290 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:07,160 Speaker 4: not only supply food, food programs, launch protos and that, 291 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:10,800 Speaker 4: but also to improve the standard of living of people 292 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:13,360 Speaker 4: so that they didn't have to choose between paying the 293 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:17,760 Speaker 4: rent or feeding their children at dinner or taking a 294 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 4: turn eating. 295 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:23,440 Speaker 2: And when you went into Congress, I just will say, 296 00:16:23,480 --> 00:16:25,760 Speaker 2: what was it one in five, how many years ago? 297 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:26,920 Speaker 3: And it's still the same. 298 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:30,160 Speaker 4: And that's really what's so tragic, because no matter how 299 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:34,240 Speaker 4: you try to do one thing and another, all kinds 300 00:16:34,240 --> 00:16:36,600 Speaker 4: of things come along. My also when I went to 301 00:16:36,680 --> 00:16:41,720 Speaker 4: Congress was to fight HIV AIDS, and that was my 302 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:44,320 Speaker 4: first speech on the floor of the House was about AIDS. 303 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:48,680 Speaker 4: So you have all these challenges, and right now with COVID, 304 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:52,120 Speaker 4: when we're talking about the Southern hemisphere and that people 305 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:55,360 Speaker 4: are like, I have to worry about feeding my family 306 00:16:55,760 --> 00:16:59,640 Speaker 4: before I worry about what else is going on in 307 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 4: the world. 308 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 3: And it's still a challenge. 309 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:06,440 Speaker 4: It shouldn't be and again, it's it isn't even an issue, 310 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:07,800 Speaker 4: it's a value. 311 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:08,600 Speaker 3: It's an ethic. 312 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:11,959 Speaker 2: It's a value that goes way back. The concern, you know, 313 00:17:12,040 --> 00:17:16,919 Speaker 2: for looking after children is something that is just eight 314 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:20,000 Speaker 2: years old. It's something that is a principle forever. And 315 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:23,399 Speaker 2: in a way, it was very much feeding your children 316 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:26,360 Speaker 2: and taking care of them. And then we became as 317 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:28,520 Speaker 2: we advanced, we knew that we had to also educate 318 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:31,119 Speaker 2: them and we also had to treat them in a 319 00:17:31,160 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 2: certain we had to love them, we had to you know, 320 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:39,320 Speaker 2: show them different environments. But that we still haven't achieved 321 00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:40,880 Speaker 2: the feeding of children. 322 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:44,680 Speaker 4: And when you think of it, Ruthie, when you think that, 323 00:17:45,119 --> 00:17:48,400 Speaker 4: when we're raising our own children, it's about nutrition and 324 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:50,880 Speaker 4: you know, feeding the right thing, and then these. 325 00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:51,600 Speaker 3: Other children. 326 00:17:53,080 --> 00:17:58,359 Speaker 4: We have urban deserts in terms of you go to 327 00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:01,280 Speaker 4: the store and it's all process food. It's not fresh 328 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:04,640 Speaker 4: vegetables or fresh fish, this, that and the other thing. 329 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:08,760 Speaker 4: So these children are not even getting the nutrition even 330 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:10,200 Speaker 4: if they're getting fed. 331 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:13,760 Speaker 2: And adults, you know, Steve McQueen, the director, told me 332 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:16,120 Speaker 2: that he was in Chicago and there were no vegetable 333 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:19,520 Speaker 2: stores in poor areas. So it's something that we all 334 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:20,440 Speaker 2: need to keep. 335 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:26,320 Speaker 4: Just for one example, in Flint, Michigan, when they had 336 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:29,720 Speaker 4: the water crisis, it gives me chills just to even 337 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 4: think about what it meant for those children. They were 338 00:18:32,119 --> 00:18:36,760 Speaker 4: drinking water that was harmful to them, but not only that, 339 00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 4: it hurt their development in the rest. And we had 340 00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:42,679 Speaker 4: scientists and doctors who would come to us and say, 341 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 4: the only way out is for these children to have 342 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:47,040 Speaker 4: fresh food and vegetables. 343 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:48,200 Speaker 3: And you know all. 344 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:51,080 Speaker 4: This, and if you go there, there might be one 345 00:18:51,119 --> 00:18:54,280 Speaker 4: store someplace that might not be near where they are, 346 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:57,800 Speaker 4: whatever it is that would supply that. Now we're getting 347 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:02,000 Speaker 4: a little more informed to that. You have to have 348 00:19:02,080 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 4: stores that are farmers' markets and things like that where 349 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:10,399 Speaker 4: people can get fresh, fresh food. But it is directly 350 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:12,840 Speaker 4: related to the development of their brains. 351 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:15,879 Speaker 2: And this is how we should judge a society and 352 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:19,320 Speaker 2: the value we place in the future of our children. 353 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:23,440 Speaker 4: So it's not only a value, it's an art. 354 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:27,240 Speaker 2: And that's what I was going. We're coming and they're 355 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 2: all waiting for us upstairs. But before we do, go 356 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:33,560 Speaker 2: upstairs and eat and talk and greet the people who 357 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:37,560 Speaker 2: are all waiting for you. In London, I would say 358 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:40,560 Speaker 2: that we agree that food is values, food is an art, 359 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:45,040 Speaker 2: food is family, food is memories. It is also comfort. 360 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 2: And there's a food and I can probably guess what 361 00:19:47,640 --> 00:19:49,560 Speaker 2: your answer is going to be, but there is a 362 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:53,200 Speaker 2: food that we turn to when we just need comfort. 363 00:19:53,960 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 2: And Nancy Pelosi, my friend, what would be your comfort food? 364 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:05,600 Speaker 3: Ice cream? No, dark, very dark. The older I get, 365 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:06,960 Speaker 3: the darker the ice cream. 366 00:20:07,119 --> 00:20:09,520 Speaker 2: I would say that you were ever predictable, but I 367 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:10,919 Speaker 2: did predict that answer. 368 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:14,160 Speaker 4: Thank you so much, thank you, thank you, thank you, 369 00:20:14,359 --> 00:20:17,640 Speaker 4: love you, love you to thank you. 370 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:23,040 Speaker 2: To visit the online shop of The River Cafe. Go 371 00:20:23,119 --> 00:20:26,440 Speaker 2: to shop the Rivercafe dot co dot uk. 372 00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:39,080 Speaker 1: River Cafe Table four is a production of iHeartRadio and 373 00:20:39,119 --> 00:20:44,280 Speaker 1: Adami Studios. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, 374 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:47,760 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.