The president made an unannounced stop at Ross', a 24-hour local eatery in Bettendorf, Iowa, owned by a woman he met at an Aug. 25, 2008, town hall meeting.
Cynthia Freidhof, the owner, amused Obama at the town hall with her description of the sandwiches sold at Ross': the Magic Mountain (Texas toast grilled, loose steamed hamburger meat, choice of french fries or hash browns, homemade cheddar cheese, onions) and the Volcano (the Magic Mountain plus spicy hot chili on top).
During the 2008 town hall at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, which was for undecided voters, Obama said he would make it one day to Ross'.
Obama walked into the restaurant around 12:10 p.m., surprising the lunch crowd and the restaurant workers.
He greeted Freidhof, who was shocked and very excited.
"How are you doing? We came to order some food," Obama said.
He held up an enormous cinnamon roll, about six inches in diameter.
"I'm not sure I'm going to be able to eat one of these," Obama joked.
He was then given a description of the sandwiches.
"Anybody who wants one, I will buy it for you," Obama said. "Anybody in the press corps has to eat the whole thing. I already got some takers on the plane though, so we're going to order four Magic Mountains and two Volcanos."
"Any takers on the press?" Obama asked.
No one responded.
"You chickens," he said.
Obama then turned his attention to Freidhof.
"So business is going ok?" Obama asked her.
"It is going ok, it is ok, yeah," Freidhof said before quickly changing the subject. She said a woman told her Obama would stop by Ross' one day, that "he is a man of his word. I didn't believe her."
"I'm thrilled to be here," Obama said.
He worked his way through the restaurant, taking pictures and shaking hands.
Interview with Freidhof:
She said she wasn't given a heads up on the visit. She was standing outside the restaurant to watch the motorcade and saw it turn into her business, which was started by her father in 1940.
"I hope he brought his antacids because he said he's going to need one after he eats the Magic Mountain, he thinks, but I don't think so," she said.
She renamed it the "Presidential Magic Mountain" for the day.
"This is just beyond," Freidhof said.
She said she still supports the president and that she would do everything she can to help him win Iowa.
"I think he is doing the very best he can with the way things are," she said.
A local reporter said Guiliani stopped by Ross' a few years ago.
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The president arrived at 12:41 pm at the Alcoa factory. The streets were thick with onlookers.
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