After Trump leaves the DC hotel, celebrity chef José Andrés returns with a new restaurant
Celebrity chef José Andrés announced plans on Monday to open a restaurant in the former Post Office, Washington Monument which recently reopened as the Waldorf Astoria Washington DC after operating for five years under Trump’s name International Hotel.
“Big news for the people of DC! Today, after a 30 year dream, I am announcing that we will be opening @bazaarbyjose in the Old Post Office!” Andres tweeted. “Building longer tables in the heart of our nation’s capital, welcoming people from across the city & the world.”
The new restaurant follows Donald Trump’s company’s agreement to sell its hotel lease in May.
This isn’t the first time Andres has planned to have a location at the resort — or the first time his career has overlapped with Trump’s. According to the Washington Post, Andrés was in the works on the $7 million Topo Atrio, at Trump International, when Trump launched his 2016 presidential bid.
The leader parted ways with Trump after the latter, then a businessman and reality TV host, announced his campaign at an event in New York where he notoriously bashed some immigrants.
Andrés then sought to leave their partnership and a legal battle ensued. (It was settled in 2017.)
Chef Jose Andres smiles during a reception at the SLS Las Vegas Hotel, where he received a ceremonial key to the Las Vegas Strip in recognition of his contributions to the Las Vegas culinary scene and his philanthropic and humanitarian efforts, the April 26, 2019 in Las Vegas.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images, FILE
The leader went on to repeatedly publicly criticize Trump-the-politician, tweet in 2017 that Trump’s continued behavior has only reaffirmed his decision to withdraw from the hotel partnership.
The next restaurant, The Bazaar by José Andrés, has locations in Chicago, Miami’s South Beach, and Las Vegas. It offers a “vibrant mix of sophisticated cuisine” and “playful lounge spaces”, according to the restaurant’s Twitter.
A spokesperson for the hotel told ABC News that it “looks forward to sharing more details about new partnerships in the coming months,” but that “with a long history of innovation in the culinary industry , Waldorf Astoria creates iconic, award-winning dining experiences at its iconic locations, and we’re continuing that tradition with exciting dining concepts at our new hotel.
Jose Andres is seen arriving at the Late Show With Stephen Colbert at the Ed Sullivan Theater on May 3, 2022 in New York City.
Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images via Getty Images, FILE
In a video that Andrés – whose aid organization World Central Kitchen also works to provide meals to Ukrainians during the Russian invasion – tweeted with his announcement on Monday, he saw the historic bells of the old post office ringing background.
“Who do the bells ring for?” He asked. “Well, for a new restaurant by José Andrés at the Old Post Office.”