Trump at dinner - an interesting vignette on the private Trump you don't see

[Dewey_Finn]

@TruCelt

As for the bacon appetizer, I suppose with a name like “BLT” they sort of have to be serious about their bacon. But they don’t even have a BLT appetizer. It seems like an odd name for a steak house. If I’d been looking for steak, I’d have assumed that was a sandwich shop and kept walking.

Looking at the “Prime” menu, it’s clear that the “B” is David Burke. Who is “L”?

P.S. on the “Prime” menu, the seafood section is called “Ocean Meats.” :roll eyes:

I did a search. Apparently, the original “BLT Steak” opened in Manhattan in 2004 and the initials stand for “Bistro Laurent Tourondel”. Laurent Tourondel was the chef at that first restaurant.

[iamthewalrus_3]

@Bricker

Not to derail the thread, but that’s not a complete answer. The problem of maris ayin remains: doing a halakically permitted act that nonetheless appears to an observer to be forbidden.

I will admit to not knowing the specifics of the dietary rules they may follow.

But to the extent that they can comply by having a special kitchen, a personal chef and food servers, those things are definitely within their means.

[PatrickLondon]

Once the president arrived at the location, the reporter who was on assignment to cover him, Jordan Fabian of The Hill, was not let into the building and had to wait in the van outside for the remainder of the dinner, without a guest list or details of what was happening inside.

Whatever one might think of Trump as a person or a politician, surely he’s allowed some private time and space?

[Dewey_Finn]

Of course he is. For example, the press is not normally allowed in the private upstairs rooms of the White House, and they typically don’t sit in the Oval Office opposite him all day. But when out in public, the president is normally followed all the time by members of the press. What if the press was not there on that day in Washington when John Hinckley shot Reagan?

[GargoyleWB]

@TruCelt

That menu is just plain weird. Look under salads. One says Baby spinach/Maytag . . .

What on Earth is “Maytag”? Unless they are butchering clothes washers back there . . .

Reminds me of the parody Guy Fieri menu…

[mhendo]

@Princhester

The headline makes it sound like the article is going to be a revelation. The reality was very dull. Quick summary for those who haven’t time to read the article for themselves:

Trump goes to dinner with family and advisors at his hotel. Security is tight. Staff and other guests fawn over him.

The End.

Yeah, i opened the article with some sense of anticipation, but all i got was an overdone steak with ketchup.

There was literally not a single thing in the story that i found surprising.

[Apollyon]

@Bricker

There are two considerations. A regular cup may be rendered unusable because of a concern that it held milk in the last 24 hours. [snip] Glass is safe regardless, because it is said to not absorb hot material it contains. And obviously a disposable cup is fine as well. Glazed chinaware is generally not acceptable, because it’s said to absorb material or flavor from hot foods. Earthernware is also right out.

That’s awesome, thanks Bricker, really interesting and not something I would have ever considered.

[Whiskey_Dickens]

@Merneith

According to the online menu, those four strips of laundered bacon cost $15.

$15 for an appetizer is pretty reasonable. Actually, the whole menu looks pretty reasonable, comparable to a chain steakhouse in price.

The night was a wild one. Here is what happens when President Trump goes to dinner.

Wild? Signed some autographs and chanted “USA.” Not exactly lampshade-on-head, or prezilla diva meltdown territory.

[Urbanredneck]

Notice he tipped one guy $100.

But I read that Obama tipped well also.

[Weisshund]

@leftfield6

I’ve seen snippets of this elsewhere on the web. A well done steak with catsup. That should be impeachable right there.

Nothing wrong with it, tastes about the same as on decent hamburger.
I’d prefer A1, but a little ketchup works, as long as it is not smothered in butter onions and mushrooms, then A1 or Worcestershire only

[Weisshund]

@Bricker

Not to derail the thread, but that’s not a complete answer. The problem of maris ayin remains: doing a halakically permitted act that nonetheless appears to an observer to be forbidden.

Let’s imagine that Yedidiah is known to be pious and observant. One day, people see him eating at a non-kosher restaurant. There are three possible poor results:

[ul]
[li]That Yedidiah isn’t pious at all! What a jerk![/li][li]Hmm, Yedidiah eats here. The place must be kosher.[/li][li]We see Yedidiah eating here, and we know that he is observant and that the restaurant is not kosher, but since Yedidiah knows the Torah so well,it must be one of those prohibitions that isn’t all that important.[/li][/ul]

All of these are evils that marit ayin seeks to avoid.

Perhaps there is another choice that is left out?

Perhaps Yedidiah is eating only raw fruits and vegetables (avoid cut onions and garlic and such) and only drinking plain tea or coffee from a glass cup.
Might not we than admire him and think kashrut must be very important because while everyone around him eats steak, he is eating raw carrots cabbage etc?
Unless yedidiah happens to be spotted in Big Bubbahs all you can eat pulled pork plaza
in which case he better be near death from starvation or something.