Restaurants Cater to Bush Brigade

Two local restaurants catered meals to the entourage traveling with George W. Bush on Nov. 6, the day before the presidential election.

Kisor’s Grill & Bakery of Rogers prepared about 60 racks of ribs and 80 chicken breasts for the group, said Max Moore, general manager of Kisor’s Fayetteville restaurant.

AQ Chicken House prepared about 150 chicken dinners and several appetizers and desserts that also were delivered to the Bush crew, said Mark Henry, manager of the restaurant, which has locations in Springdale, Fayetteville and Bentonville.

The Bush family requested catfish, so AQ provided a sampling of both its varieties, “granny style” and “over the coals.” The Bush family was also provided with AQ’s “sweet and smoky barbecue chicken,” as requested.

“It’s kind of flattering to be called and feed influential people like that,” Henry said. “We’ve fed the Clintons several times in our Springdale facility.”

Henry said AQ normally charges $8 per catered meal, meaning the Bush entourage would have paid the restaurant at least $1,200 for the meals (not counting the appetizers and desserts).

Moore said he and other caterers never actually got to see Bush. They delivered the meals to the candidate’s airplane before his return after speaking at the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport in Highfill.

“I’ve never had my car sniffed by a dog before,” Moore said.