Owners

Ron Freidhof 563.650.4219

Cynthia Ross-Freidhof 563.650.2238

Melissa Freidhof-Rogers 563.676.6270

NEWS RELEASE

Obama’s Iowa Lunch Stop Is Magic for Ross’ Restaurant

Restaurant owners to appear on The Rachel Maddow Show

to share “Magic Mountain” recipe

BETTENDORF, IA. (July 1, 2011) Three years ago at a town hall meeting in Davenport, IA during the 2008 presidential campaign, candidate Barack Obama promised Cynthia Ross-Freidhof, one of the owners of Ross’ Restaurant in Bettendorf, IA, that he would return someday to order the restaurant’s famous “Magic Mountain” dish. On Tuesday, 28 June 2011, he made good on that promise, surprising patrons, Cynthia and her husband, Ron Freidhof, with a lunchtime visit before his speech at Alcoa Davenport Works just down the road. “I just can't believe it. That was a dream come true,” said Cynthia. “This is just...Wow.”

With scores of secret service, press corps and patrons crowded into the restaurant, the owners prepared the President’s order of four Magic Mountains and two Volcanoes – to go. During the nearly 30 minute visit he shook hands and walked the aisles talking with patrons, saying, “If we were going to be here, then we had to be sure to stop by.”

“How neat is it that the president fulfilled his promise,” said Cynthia, “I knew he was a man of his word.”

Now, the owners will be serving it up in the Big Apple. “My daughter, Melissa, and I are flying to New York to make Magic Mountains and Volcanoes on ‘The Rachel Maddow Show’. Unbelievable!”, said Cynthia. The owners will appear live on the show on Friday, 1 July 2011, to make the tasty concoctions – a super-sized helping of loose hamburger meat, cheddar cheese, onions and fries or hash browns piled on Texas toast. The “Volcano” adds a spicy topping of hot chili.

Ross’ Restaurant is a long-time Quad Cities favorite, a landmark restaurant founded by Harold Ross, Cynthia’s father, in the 1940s, and still family-owned and operated today. The 24-hour family-friendly restaurant located in Bettendorf, IA just of off the I-74 Bridge also makes their famous cinnamon rolls every day from scratch, and partners with Local Harvest to use fresh local produce.

Ross’ Restaurant

430 14th Street, Bettendorf, IA 52722-4820

563.355.7573

To find out more information about Ross' Restaurant visit www.rossrestaurant.com

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