Chef Jose Andres didn’t want to do business with Donald Trump after he heard some of the things Trump said on the campaign trail. Andres had a deal with Trump to open one of his renowned restaurants in Trump’s new Washington DC hotel — the one on Pennsylvania Avenue right down the street from the White House. But Andres decided he didn’t want to be Trump’s partner. When he backed out, Trump sued Andres for breach of contract. (Trump’s hotel has a Ben Franklin-themed bar/restaurant, featuring a $22 drink called the Silence Dogood.)
[Check out one of Chef Andres’ many books, Made in Spain: Spanish Dishes for the American Kitchen]
Trump is due to be deposed in the case in January, despite his rather busy schedule. Andres appealed directly to Trump on Twitter, asking if it wouldn’t be better for both parties to end litigation and donate money to veterans instead. Trump, who uncharacteristically settled the lawsuit against Trump University after winning the election, may be amenable to Andres’ plea. He’s got bigger fish to fry than even Andres fries in his kitchens. Trump has also shown a surprising willingness to let bygones be bygones, even dining with Mitt Romney after Romney called him a “fraud” and a “con man.”
Mr. @realDonaldTrump can we end our lawsuits and we donate $ to a Veterans NGO to celebrate? Why keep litigating? Let’s both of us win..
— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) December 13, 2016
