Obama stops by Peach’s Restaurant in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood

CHICAGO (WGN) — A South Side restaurant received a surprise visit from former President Barack Obama on Friday.

Friday got a little sunnier for folks at Peach’s Restaurant in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood when former President Obama walked in. Obama is known to do the occasional drop-bys in Chicago from time to time, but Friday’s endeavor was a bit more strategic. Peach’s Restaurant is owned by Chicago’s Very Own Chef Cliff Rome, who has been chosen as the Obama Foundation’s in-house culinary expert. 

When asked what he thought about being on the national stage, Rome smiled, replying, “How about that? A little kid from South Side Chicago, right? And it’s great that young people, particularly the ones who we’re working with, they get a chance to see it.”

After the former president placed his order with a little peach cobbler on the side, it was meet-and-greet time with the patrons. Obama shook hands with diners and took photos at every single table. 

He even connected with the youngest in the crowd, a 2-year-old.

This isn’t Rome’s first rodeo with Obama. Rome served him in a private setting at his Parkway Ballroom and spent 10 minutes just chatting.   

“I didn’t realize that he was really that funny,” Rome said. “Super cool, very inviting.”

But this is the first time he’s talked with him and even seen him since he was awarded the contract to supply the café, restaurant, and catering at the Obama Presidential Center after a stringent application process. 

“They didn’t skip a beat,” Rome joked. “Checked all the boxes.” 

Rome’s place in the Obama Presidential Center will be called Bamjoy, a collaboration with the Bon Appétit company and Rome’s Joy, his brand name. Rome added that he couldn’t be happier taking the professional leap with a man he admires. 

When WGN-TV asked Obama about his motivation for doing the drop-ins, he joked, “because I’m hungry,” but added that Peach’s was one of many local establishments that his Presidential Center will collaborate with.

“Part of the goal here is to make sure that this is an economic engine for our entire community, and Chef (Rome) is going to be one of our outstanding partners,” Obama said.

Peach’s Restaurant is located at 4652 S King Drive.