A celebrity chef’s hurt feelings over being turned away from a swanky D.C. event became fodder for a host of gossipy fake news stories assailing Ivanka Trump over the weekend.
The drama began when liberal activist chef José Andrés was turned away from a party at Cafe Milano Saturday night after attending the Alfalfa Club dinner, “an elite political event,” which took place earlier in the evening at the Georgetown restaurant.
Andrés complained on Twitter that he was the “only individual” not allowed through the restaurant’s door and suggested that it was because Ivanka Trump didn’t want him there. He said Cafe Milano owner Franco Nuschese should be “ashamed” of himself.
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
Former Mexican Ambassador to China Jorge Guajardo also blamed Ivanka Trump in a tweet expressing his dismay on Twitter Sunday morning:
Washingtonians thinking of eating at Cafe Milano should know that it caters to Ivanka Trump by excluding anyone she doesn’t like. #GrabYourWallet https://t.co/UPHfo752cQ
— Jorge Guajardo (@jorge_guajardo) January 28, 2018
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
According to the Washingtonian, the Mexican diplomat is a longtime friend of Andres. Guajardo said when Andrés went inside to the afterparty, he was asked to go back outside, where Nuschese, whom he has known “perfectly well for many years,” wanted to talk to him.
After that, he was not allowed back inside. In contrast, Guajardo says, at the Alfalfa dinner, Nuschese came up to Andrés and “gave him a friendly kiss.”
“A little later he would be asked to do the Trump’s dirty work and, like Judas, betray an old friend,” Guajardo said on Twitter.
Another chef, Anthony Bourdain, and noted Kremlin kompromat expert Louise Mensch also expressed their displeasure on Twitter:
Loathsome. A grotesque betrayal of a true patriot and hero @chefjoseandres https://t.co/r9E5GmhFGV
— Anthony Bourdain (@Bourdain) January 28, 2018
Sorry to hear it Chef. Where can I donate to your relief efforts? Shame on Kremlin Barbie @IvankaTrump
— Louise Mensch (@LouiseMensch) January 28, 2018
Now, spiteful leftists have apparently flooded Yelp with one-star reviews of the restaurant.
However, a source close to Ivanka has completely denied the story. “This never happened. She had nothing to do with the guest list and never said anything,” the source told the Washingtonian.
Cafe Milano set the record straight on Sunday, also claiming that Ivanka had nothing to do with the guest lists.
. @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
According to the Washingtonian:
Andrés has had a contentious relationship with the Trumps after pulling his fine-dining restaurant from the family’s DC hotel in 2015, following Donald Trump‘s controversial remarks about immigrants. The split led to a big legal battle, which settled last spring. Since then, Andrés has needled Trump on Twitter, particularly over immigration issues.
While Cafe Milano has been known to attract politicos from both sides of the aisle over the years (Hillary Clinton is a fan), Page Six quoted a regular last spring saying the restaurant has become a “second White House cafeteria” for the Trump administration.
On Sunday, Andrés tweeted that Ivanka reached out to him and convinced him that she had nothing to do with the incident.
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
Andres’ friend Guajardo, however, was not so gracious. He told Daily Caller reporter Saagar Enjeti that he stood by his story and to “give his regards to Tucker.”
Tell-tale sign that someone has lost an argument with a Daily Caller reporter is when they bring up Tucker. cc @esaagar pic.twitter.com/LUkmZxiE9u
— Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) January 28, 2018
Many media outlets were quick to report on the incident from Andrés and Guajardo’s initial standpoint, later updating with Cafe Milano’s response.
10.5k re-tweets and counting for this bullshit allegation which Beltway insiders and journalists uncritically accepted because they wanted it to be true. https://t.co/ez0u9iYWbo
— Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) January 28, 2018
As usual, the initial, false version of the story got the most attention.
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