WASHINGTON — A celebrity chef kicked up a social media storm against the first daughter and a Washington restaurateur over a perceived guest list mix-up at a joint that serves $19 bagels.
Chef Jose Andres is now saying “let’s all be friends” after he posted a grimacing selfie outside Cafe Milano, the tony Georgetown restaurant where he said he was given the boot thanks to the restaurant’s owner, Franco Nuschese, and Ivanka Trump. Trump told CNN she had nothing to do with Andres’ entry to the party, and Nuschese’s restaurant also denied any unfair treatment.
What happened?
Andres, one of Washington’s most influential restaurateurs, alleged that following the 2018 Alfalfa Club dinner — a yearly banquet for American elite in Washington — he was not allowed into the after party hosted at the restaurant.
Andres tweeted Saturday night:
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
On Sunday, Andres said Ivanka Trump had reached out to him.
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
“I am thankful for Jose’s clarification,” Ivanka Trump said in a statement to CNN. “I had nothing to do with anything that transpired relating to him last night at the restaurant.” Attempts to reach Andres and Nuschese were unsuccessful.
The Cafe Milano Twitter account also chalked up the snub to a “misunderstanding.”
Andres thanked the restaurant for the apology, but added that it was “still hard to understand why I was the only person not allowed in!”
“Now let’s all be friends,” he added.
Andres, a frequent critic of President Donald Trump, backed out of a deal to open a restaurant inside the Trump International Hotel in Washington after Trump called undocumented Mexican immigrants “rapists” and “criminals” in his 2015 speech announcing his bid for president.
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