Much mystery still shrouding the president’s dinner at the Jefferson Hotel with 12 key Republican senators, but now it can be told: There was a vegetarian in the mix.
But we do know that of the 16 people seated in the hotel’s private Parlor Boardroom (including the 12 senators and presumably a handful of staffers), there were six orders of the filet, five of the Colorado lamb açaí, four Lobster Thermidors, and one special-ordered vegetarian plate. Dessert options included peanut butter crumble, heart of guana chocolate tart and iced Tahitian vanilla and praline bar.
The president had arranged for the $85 per person tab (not including tax or tip) to be billed directly to the White House. The hotel was sworn to secrecy on the question of whether or not wine was ordered or consumed.
Plume first opened in 2009, not long after the historic Jefferson Hotel (whose owner, Connie Milstein, is a prominent Democratic donor) underwent an extensive renovation. It provides a decidedly luxurious dinining experience, our critic colleague Tom Sietsema wrote that year: “Illuminated by crystal chandeliers and animated by a dancing fire, Plume refuses to acknowledge economic hard times. Would the gentleman like a velvet stool for his attache case? (Oh, why not?)”
Attendees Wednesday night included John McCain, Tom Coburn, Bob Corker, Kelly Ayotte, Dan Coats, Richard Burr, Mike Johanns, Pat Toomey, Ron Johnson, John Hoeven, Saxby Chambliss, and Lindsey Graham.
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