Kamala Harris recently shared a glimpse into her personal life, revealing that as the Vice President of the United States, she often found herself batch cooking for her husband before embarking on international trips. This candid insight highlights the juggling act Harris had to perform while fulfilling her duties alongside President Joe Biden.

Harris, now 61, frequently traveled abroad on state visits, a routine part of her role as the Vice President. During these times, her husband, Doug Emhoff, known affectionately as ‘America’s first second gentleman,’ would remain at their official residence, the United States Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C.

In a discussion with Ruth Rogers, the owner of River Cafe, Harris humorously recounted how the situation arose because her staff, who accompanied her on trips, were unavailable to cook for Doug. This left her with the task of ensuring he had meals ready in her absence.

To address this, Harris took to preparing a large batch of Bolognese, which she would freeze to sustain Emhoff while she was overseas. This practical solution ensured the entertainment lawyer had something homemade to enjoy, even when she wasn’t around.

Speaking on the ‘Ruthie’s Table 4’ podcast, Harris explained, “We lived in the vice president’s residence and were supported by naval enlisted aides [formerly known as Personal Quarters Culinary Specialists].” This arrangement, however, required adjustments when her aides traveled with her, underscoring the unique dynamics of balancing a high-profile political career with domestic responsibilities.

She told the Ruthie’s Table 4 podcast: ‘We lived in the vice president’s residence and were supported by naval enlisted aides [formerly known as Personal Quarters Culinary Specialists].’

‘If I was out of the house, they all left to travel with me, and nobody would cook for Doug.’

‘So as vice president of the United States, I made a few times a big pot of Bolognese to freeze containers so that my husband could eat when I was doing the business of the United States of America.’ 

In 2021, the Vice President was asked if the second gentleman, who she married in 2014, was a good cook.

Kamala Harris has revealed that she was forced to batch cook for her husband before she went away on foreign trips as US Vice President

The failed Democrat presidential candidate said when she would travel abroad as VP ‘nobody would cook for Doug’

In 2021, the Vice President was asked if the second gentleman, who she married in 2014, was a good cook

‘He’s an apprentice,’ Harris said.

Emhoff added: ‘She taught me during COVID out of necessity after almost burning down our apartment, then I got a little bit better.’

The keen foodie, who served as VP from 2021 to 2025, also took a swipe at Donald Trump arguing he ‘does not appreciate’ the power of state banquets.

Harris said she was meticulously involved in their planning when Joe Biden was in The White House.

She said: ‘I would work with my Social Secretary and plan the menus. Every one of them, though, pretty much, I participated in planning.

‘State dinners were just magnificent and beautiful. And this was a beautiful aspect of the power of diplomacy, which we call soft power.

‘And sadly, the current occupant of the White House, I think, does not appreciate the significance of that power.’

‘Let’s break bread. It’s such a beautiful act of love. It is a gesture of kindness. It is a gesture of caring.’

Harris claimed that she was such a good chef that she would often go into the White House kitchen and teach the chefs technique.

‘We did formal dinners, unless it was family,’ she said.

‘We did a lot of formal dinners. I would go down to the kitchen, to the industrial kitchen, and cook with them and also share with them technique.’

It wasn’t the only swipe she took at Donald Trump, although she refused to use his name throughout the interview.

Reminiscing about her mother Shyamala, she said: ‘She was a scientist. She loved to cook. She loved the chemistry of food.’

‘So for example, and she – unlike this guy in the White House – understood that scientific research is obviously a passion that is about improving the human condition, that scientific research in its best is going to be peer reviewed. It will be a collaborative effort among nations.’

Harris said she was meticulously involved in dinner planning when Joe Biden was in The White House

The former US Vice President dubbed the dish she cooked her husband ‘Kamala Harris’s World Famous Bolognese’ (stock image)

The keen foodie, who served as VP from 2021 to 2025, also took a swipe at Donald Trump (pictured) arguing he ‘does not appreciate’ the power of state banquets 

The politician, who hasn’t ruled out another run for the presidency, also recounted her recipe for the Bolognese she used to cook her husband while away.

She even dubbed it ‘Kamala Harris’s World Famous Bolognese’.

Harris said she began the mouth-watering dish by frying pancetta in her favourite Le Creuset pot, before making a mirepoix – a mixture of chopped onion, celery, and carrot.’

She said she would then add garlic later so ‘it won’t burn’, before adding a combination of beef and pork to the pan.

The former Democrat senator then revealed her secret trick for making the perfect dish.

‘There’s a theory about whether you should do the wine first or the milk first,’ she said.

‘I am of the school that you should do the milk first. So I do the milk. And also add sage and thyme. And I have beautiful bay leaves.’

‘I have an herb garden. And my bay leaf tree is just the most beautiful thing you have ever seen. I bring bay leaves to people as gifts. I just put a nice fancy ribbon on it. And then I let it reduce around the milk. And then I do pretty much a whole bottle of wine, white.’

‘I do a white, not super expensive. I know you’re supposed to do whatever you drink.’

‘Then I do a combination of a little bit of tomato paste and San Marzano tomatoes.’

She told the podcast host that she would then cook the dish for five hours on a low heat until it was complete.

But revealed that she controversially doesn’t serve her husband traditional spaghetti with her Bolognese.

She said: ‘I usually do linguini. I don’t do spaghetti. I like a flat pasta. I do penne a lot, too.’