The fifteenth president held office immediately before the Civil War.
Documented meal / preference
Chicken salad appeared at Buchanan’s 1857 inaugural supper, catered by Charles Gautier. This small home bowl adds lemon and celery to cooked chicken, translating a banquet dish into an easy lunch.
The president & the table
Buchanan’s 1857 inaugural celebration gives us a more solid starting point than a disputed favourite. Caterer Charles Gautier supplied a lavish supper that included oysters, meats, chicken salad and ice cream. Chicken salad was part of a public occasion on a scale few home cooks would want to reproduce.
Behind this story
Accounts of Buchanan’s 1857 inaugural supper and Charles Gautier.
APRON ON. HISTORY CAN WAIT.
Make it at home.
Our home adaptation · Serves 4 · Not yet kitchen-tested
What you’ll need
Let’s make it
Whisk mayonnaise, lemon, mustard, salt and pepper in a bowl.
Fold in the cooked chicken, celery and parsley. Taste and adjust lemon or seasoning.
Serve on lettuce or in sandwiches. Keep chilled until serving.
If cooking chicken especially for this dish, cook to 74°C / 165°F, cool promptly and allow extra time.
About this home version
A modern home recipe with practical ingredients and measured quantities.
Metric and US measures are approximate equivalents. For baking, use weights when you can.
