Obama to Open Restaurant Honoring Late Personal Chef

Former U.S. President Barack Obama plans to open a restaurant named after his personal chef, Tafari Campbell, who passed away in the summer of 2023, in his memory. The restaurant aims to embody the culinary values and warm memories that Chef Campbell cherished during his life.

Campbell, 45, a father of two, died last July while paddleboarding near the Obamas' vacation home in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. The Obamas described him as "a beloved part of our family.".

The restaurant, named Tafari's Kitchen, will showcase dishes inspired by the Obama family's personal stories and recipes. A portrait of Chef Tafari Campbell, painted by Kate Capshaw, will be displayed inside the eatery.

Chef Campbell served two presidents during his time at the White House and was the Obamas' personal chef. He was hired by the White House during the George W. Bush administration and continued his service through the Obama administration, departing the White House at the end of the Obama presidency in late 2017.

The Obamas recalled Campbell as "a talented executive chef when we first met him, passionate about the power of food to bring people together. We later discovered he was a warm, funny, and exceptionally kind person who made all of our lives brighter." They asked Campbell to join them when they left the White House, and he accepted, becoming a fixture in their family's life.

The Obama Presidential Center is set to open after more than a decade of development, design, and facing controversies over costs. Through this tribute project for Chef Campbell, the foundation hopes the Presidential Center will become a space for community engagement and positive influence.