Hunger Strikes
By: Emily Heil and Anna Palmer
December 13, 2007
It’s the home stretch before Congress recesses for the holidays and plenty of staffers and Members are planning to clock long hours on the job. And they’ll need plenty of fuel, in the form of greasy lunches, coffee and afternoon snacks to complete their work — but they aren’t likely to get them in the House cafeterias, where food supplies are dwindling.
In scenes reminiscent of Soviet-era Russia (er, minus the communism), long lines and food shortages have been the norm for the past few days, as the vendor
operating the cafeteria apparently isn’t restocking, since its contract is up on Saturday. That’s when a new vendor, Restaurant Associates, takes over. But promises of a new and better-stocked cafeteria next week aren’t helping the hordes of hungry folks, who have reported tales of dining woe to HOH, including a severe condiment shortage, meaning there’s no ketchup or even any lettuce to top burgers (the horror!).
Even the man charged with overseeing the House cafeterias has had problems getting his favorite items this week.
“I went down for my morning coffee in the cafeteria, and I couldn’t find any cream,” Chief Administrative Officer Dan Beard joked Tuesday. But Beard also promised that things will get better next week once RA, which also oversees the award-winning cafeteria at the National Museum of the American Indian, takes over. Beard has promised a better variety of tasty dishes, along with a spiffy new look for the cafeterias and plenty of environmentally friendly restaurant supplies.
So, now you know who to see if you don’t like what’s on the menu.
