Celeb Spotting
A former president, the Secret Service and his staff chow down at a Houston food truck
Looks like Cousins Maine Lobster, the California-based, Shark Tank TV showbacked food truck that launched in Houston last month, is a bona fide phenomenon. While typically a new food truck can count on a visit from hip hop superstar Bun B, Cousins hosted a slightly more unlikely visitor.
Former President George H.W. Bush enjoyed a special meal from the truck.
In addition to being one of Houston's most popular celebrities, Bush 41 knows quite a bit about Maine. His family owns an estate in the coastal town of Kennebunkport. When the Cousins Maine Lobster truck set up shop on Post Oak at the monthly Tasty Tuesday food truck event, a member of Bush's staff and a Secret Service agent approached the truck and asked if they could also visit the president's office. Local franchisee Neil Werner tells CultureMap he packed up a little early in order to accommodate the request.
"One of his aides told me it really raised his spirits because it brought Maine back home to him."
So, what did the former leader of the free world think of the truck's signature lobster roll?
"He didn't have lobster," Werner says. "The clam chowder was his big thing. He wanted his staff to have the lobster."
Fair enough. Bush's assistants and members of his Secret Service detail ate through Cousins' lobster specialties while he ate clam chowder, a whoopie pie, a Maine Root soda and a little whoopie pie ice cream, just for good measure.
Werner reports that the former President thoroughly enjoyed his meal. "He loved it. He couldn't stop raving about it," Werner says. "One of his aides told me it really raised his spirits because it brought Maine back home to him."
During the half hour or so Werner spent at Bush's office, he says they talked about favorite places in Maine, where Cousins sources its lobster and the recent success of the New England Patriots.
"He's the nicest guy in the world and an incredible presence to be around," Werner added.
