Where's the beef?

While an eager nation looks to Obama to beef up the economy, Gino Gambrato (pictured) has seen the future President’s beef firsthand. A corned-beef slicer at Manny’s Coffee Shop and Deli (1141 S Jefferson St, 312-939-2855, mannysdeli.com), Gambrato has handed savory meat to Obama twice.

What’s it like to hand a mouthwatering sandwich to a President-elect?
In 2004, he came in and ate in the deli, but this past time [on November 21], he took it to go. He bought two corned beef on rye and one corned beef on an onion roll with three potato pancakes and two slices of cherry pie. He paid cash. I think he was getting a sandwich for Rahm Emanuel, too.

How presidential is he: not presidential, somewhat presidential, mostly presidential or totally presidential?
Totally presidential. He has an amazing charisma. I had seen him before, but it was more exciting now that he’s President-elect.

If you could serve corned beef to any president, dead or alive, who would it be?
Probably Kennedy. At the time, everybody loved him. Everyone felt like they were a part of the Oval Office, like they were on the same level. They trusted him—and Obama gives you the same feeling of trust.

Would you follow Obama to the White House if he offered you a corned-beef-slicer position?
Absolutely.

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