Celebrity Chef José Andrés: DC Restaurant Booted Me From Event Featuring Ivanka Trump
Celebrity chef José Andrés took to Twitter late Saturday evening to call out D.C.-area restaurant Cafe Milano for barring him from attending an after party at the establishment that featured President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump. Showing a picture of himself outside the doors of the restaurant, Andrés questioned if Ms. Trump had asked the owner to have him booted from the event.
Thank you @CafeMilanoDC Franco Nuschese! I was a guest of the #alfalfaclubdinner2018 “everyone”welcome to the after party, but I’m the only individual not allow in? Is because @IvankaTrump told you so? You should be ashamed of yourself Franco.@washingtonpost pic.twitter.com/iJ5wQM18Z6
— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) January 28, 2018
Cafe Milano hosted the after party for the Alfalfa Club dinner, a political event that Andrés had attended earlier in the night. A friend of the celebrity chef, diplomat Jorge Guajardo, tweeted out Sunday morning that owner Franco Nuschesse had asked Andrés to leave because “his presence made Ivanka Trump uncomfortable.”
In a new low for Washington, yesterday @chefjoseandres was asked to leave the Alfalfa dinner after-party at @CafeMilanoDC by its owner, Franco Nuschesse, apparently because his presence made Ivanka Trump uncomfortable (Cafe Milano is the watering hole of the Trump Admin).
— Jorge Guajardo (@jorge_guajardo) January 28, 2018
Unbelievable! I’ve been to @CafeMilanoDC with Jose Andres and had the dinner comped by Franco, because they are friends. Now asked to do the Trump’s dirty work and kick him out. Only in Washington. Correction, only Franco Nuschesse. Anyone else would have better sense.
— Jorge Guajardo (@jorge_guajardo) January 28, 2018
Andrés has been a fierce critic of Donald Trump since pulling out of a business arrangement with the Trump Organization following Trump’s disparaging comments about Mexicans when announcing his presidential bid. This led to Trump filing a breach of contract lawsuit and Andrés countersuing. Those lawsuits were settled in August 2017.
With Guajardo’s and Andrés’ tweets going viral, Cafe Milano’s account took to the social media platform to apologize to the chef for any misunderstanding and state that Ivanka Trump had no role in keeping Andrés out of the party.
. @chefjoseandres, you are always welcome at @CafeMilanoDC when we are open and in fact, I will host you and toast to all your successes.I am sorry for the misunderstanding.Last night the restaurant was closed for a private Alfalfa Dinner after party…1/2
— Cafe Milano (@CafeMilanoDC) January 28, 2018
Of note, the dinner and after party are different guest lists. Also, Ivanka Trump had no role on determining event attendees. Franco 2/2
— Cafe Milano (@CafeMilanoDC) January 28, 2018
Andrés tweeted his acceptance of the apology while also stating that Ivanka had reached out to him and he now believes she had nothing to do with him getting the boot. He still wanted to know, however, why he was the only one barred from attending the party.
Thank you @IvankaTrump for reaching out. I believe now that you personally had nothing to do.
Let’s now work on what’s important: Immigration reform, where #DACADreamers and Undocumented citizens will become part of a strong USA. With secure borders. With economic growth.??— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) January 28, 2018
Thank you @CafeMilanoDC and Franco for the apology. I understand was a “misunderstanding”. Still hard to understand why I was the only person not allowed in! Please people of @washingtondc keep supporting a great resturant institution. Now let’s all be friends. #USAforward
— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) January 28, 2018
The Washingtonian also reported that a source close to Ivanka Trump that “this never happened” and Ivanka “had nothing to do with the guest list and never said anything.”
[image via screengrab]
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