"I've Never Heard of Rhubarb Vinaigrette"

MCCASKILL HUBBY LUNCHES WITH MRS. BUSH

Joseph Shepard, the husband of Sen. Claire McCaskill, was one of just three males spouses at the White House Monday at a luncheon with First Lady Laura Bush.

Ninety-six spouses of Senators, former Senators and cabinet members were invited to the lunch, which included a salad of young lettuce with citrus filets and roasted baby heirloom beets topped with a rhubarb vinaigrette, followed by an exquisite fricassee of Maryland crab, artichokes, and Portobello mushrooms served over creamy stone-ground grits. The meal was finished off with a warm huckleberry tart served with a light yogurt sorbet, according to McCaskill's office.

Each spouse left the luncheon with a silver notepad holder from the First Lady and chocolates embossed with the seal of the United States of America. In addition, a donation was made in honor of the Senate Spouses Club to a scholarship at the American University in Afghanistan.


“It was a fabulous lunch,” said Shepard. “I mean, really, I’ve never heard of rhubarb vinaigrette!” McCaskill added, “Right. In Missouri, we put rhubarb in pie.”