CHICAGO — Former President George H.W. Bush famously disliked broccoli. His son, the outgoing president, likes Tex-Mex and barbecue. President-elect Barack Obama loves chili and shuns beets.

Obama's aversion to beets aside — "I always avoid eating them," he says — the new first family are foodies with a wide-ranging palate. They have hankerings for Mexican food and enjoy hand-crafted pastas, and their kids dig fried chicken and macaroni and cheese.

"They are totally adventurous people ... they enjoy food," said chef Rick Bayless of Topolobampo, an upscale contemporary Mexican restaurant in downtown Chicago that's a favorite of the Obamas.

What the Obamas eat in their hometown of Chicago hints at what might be served at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

At Bayless' restaurant, Obama and his wife, Michelle, often begin their meals with tortilla soup and guacamole, followed by something from a changing seasonal menu.

The Obamas aren't teetotalers, partaking of the restaurant's margaritas and wine.

"They never turn a nose up at anything we suggest to them," said Bayless.

Obama's familiarity with finer foods showed up during the presidential campaign. While talking to Iowa farmers, to show he understood their plight he mentioned the high cost of a boutique salad green.

"Anybody gone into Whole Foods lately and see what they charge for arugula?" Obama said. "I mean, they're charging a lot of money for this stuff." Critics latched on to the comment — with its reference to a high-end food chain featuring organic products — as elitist.

But it's not just fancy dining for the Obamas. They enjoy takeout from a neighborhood pizza joint and an island-inspired restaurant not far from their home where Michelle fancies the grilled tilapia.

In an Associated Press survey of all the candidates in the primaries, Obama listed chili as his favorite food to cook.

But on the campaign trail, he proved himself a picky and healthy eater, managing to avoid packing on the presidential pounds.

At campaign stops, his staff would urge him to sample the corn dogs, hamburgers and other fattening fare. Obama would take a bite, but then the food would usually be whisked away. At diners and pubs, he generally ordered his food to go — whitefish and latkes at one place, cheeseburgers or chicken at another.

Obama does have a weakness for chips and salsa and tends to put hot sauce on everything. At Dooky Chase's Creole restaurant in New Orleans, he offended owner Leah Chase by pouring hot sauce all over the gumbo she served to try to fatten him up.

"I hope this isn't insulting," he said. Chase, sitting at his side, stared straight ahead.

For a fancy night out on the town, the Obamas tend to go for upscale Italian.

The weekend after winning the election, the couple visited Spiaggia, a classy Italian eatery on Chicago's Michigan Avenue, where they enjoy the hand-crafted pastas and other dishes, said chef Tony Mantuano.

"They love things out of the wood-burning oven," he said.

The Obamas are loyal customers, visiting there during the busy presidential campaign to celebrate both Michelle's birthday and the couple's anniversary.

In an interview before the election, family friend Yvonne Davila said there's one dish Malia can't resist. "I'm the only person that can make french toast, according to Malia ... She loves french toast, my french toast," she said.

The White House chef has a lot to live up to.