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Congressional dining room features CNMI food specialties
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Posted on Apr 30 2012
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Last week the Members’ Dining Room at the U.S. House of Representative served up food specialties of the Northern Mariana Islands as part of a program to “Celebrate America” with recipes from each state and territory. A three-course meal of kelaguen mannok (lemon coconut chicken), pork ribs estufao, and madoya aga’ (fried banana) was on the menu for Members of Congress, their staff and visitors.
Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) was asked to recommend dishes that would reflect the Marianas and his staff worked with the chefs at the Dining Room to assure that everything would be prepared authentically—right down to the banana leaf on which the food was served.
The Members’ Dining Room was established in 1858 at the direction of Speaker of the House James Orr, after the Capitol building was expanded. Prior to that a simple refectory run by local vendors provided food for congressmen.
Sablan has never been to the Member’s Dining Room. He does not feel it would be appropriate when many of the people he represents do not have enough to eat. Sablan typically has his meals at his office desk. He expressed thanks, however, to the Members’ Dining Room for including the Northern Marianas in Celebrate America and for preparing the island foods so well.
