by Lacey Griebeler, Chef Magazine

Today was the swearing in of our 44th president Barak Obama--and it was a cause for celebration in restaurants across the U.S. The Chef Magazine e-mail inbox was inundated with many a creative promotion to mark the historic occasion. Here are just a few.

The folks at Juicy Wine Co., a wine bar in Chicago, opened early so patrons could watch the inauguration. They also served up half-price glasses of Pinot Noir and ObamaBurgers, which the restaurant describes as, "Benton's hickory-smoked country bacon piled on top of a char-grilled mound of juicy, Kobe beef (reflecting Obama's Pan-Asian upbringing), topped it with gooey Wisconsin Cheddar, spicy, Michelle-fist-pumped caramelized onions and a dollop of our very own Secret South Side Sauce. All that goodness is crammed between two slices of marble rye (celebrating Barack's multiracial background) and fed to our panini press, transforming it into the ultimate patty-melting-pot that is America."

Hotel guests and the L.A. community are celebrating Obama's inauguration with a special menu, prepared by The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey executive chef Chad Minton. The $44 (for the 44th president) prix fixe menu will consist of three courses and the option to say "Yes I Can" to a house-made dessert. Also being offered is a “Hail to the Chief” cocktail.

In Philadelphia, the Visitors Bureau is sponsoring an "Inauguration Celebration," and City Tavern chef/proprietor Walter Staib is offering a special menu featuring: an aperitif of Champagne Shrub, Ale-Braised Mallard Duck Sausage, West Indies Pepperpot Soup (accompanied by Sam Adams Lager), a choice of Chicken Breast "Mount Vernon Style" or Medallions of Beef (accompanied by General Washington's Tavern Porter) and Martha Washington's recipe for Chocolate Layer Mousse Cake (accompanied by a toast of Madeira) for dessert.

All Legal Sea Foods restaurants on the East Coast (including the D.C. location) will be offering their famous New England clam chowder for 44 cents with the purchase of any entrée.

José Andrés's Oyamel, an authentic Mexican restaurant in D.C., sold its signature cinnamon-vanilla-clove hot chocolate to-go for $5 to keep inauguration parade spectators warm.

In case you missed it, the menu for the official Inaugural Luncheon (complete with recipes) is available in PDF version here on the Web site of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.

Tell us about your inauguration day specials in the comments section.