How to spend $15K on dinner in DC
From the Reliable Source blog at the Washington Post (as in ‘more reliable than the New York Post’):
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s visit to the White House on July 30 didn’t draw much attention (Aray), and her dinner in Washington that night got nary a mention. And that’s how it might have stayed — if not for a controversial meal in New York City.
Arroyo is under fire in her native country for a $20,000 meal at Manhattan’s Le Cirque on Aug. 2, which included caviar and several bottles of champagne. The dinner, first reported in the New York Post, has Arroyo’s critics comparing her to the extravagant Imelda Marcos.
The Reliable Source has learned that three days earlier, Arroyo and an entourage of about 65 people (including security and food tasters) had dinner at Bobby Van’s Steakhouse on 15th Street NW hours after she met with President Obama. The group took over one of the restaurant’s private rooms and dined on lobster, steak and fine wines; at the conclusion of the meal, an unidentified woman opened a handbag stuffed with cash, counted out bills and paid the $15,000 tab — which included a generous tip.
The Philippine Embassy did not return calls for comment Tuesday.
One of the great things about the Filipino World Domination campaign is that we have moles in just about every restaurant on earth. We know what you’re eating, who you’re eating with, and who’s paying (Usually, us). Sticks in the craw, doesn’t it?
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Stella Arnaldo points out that US President Barack Obama has no problem eating at fast food joints. And if you’re hard at work in New York, dropping by a hotdog stand makes perfect sense. The Malacanang apologists really should find a new schtick.
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
August 13th, 2009 at 00:05
The crassness is breathtaking. Paying out of a handbag stuffed with cash. Parang drug lords.
August 13th, 2009 at 08:54
These people clearly are impervious to the hunger, poverty, and employment dilemma of our dear nation. And to think that the itsy-bitsy-teeny one once coined herself as “The Labandera”, claiming that she’s one with the masses. Hmm.. I wonder what’s her definition of masa. But come to think of it, she does laundering business after all, but DEFINITELY not with clothes.
August 13th, 2009 at 09:46
is the handbag Louis Vuitton ? Or Prada? ;) The blogger should have included specifics .
August 13th, 2009 at 13:12
they could’ve gone looking for that Soup Nazi place… and the Prez would’ve gotten coolness points for me, too, but nooooo… :D
August 15th, 2009 at 05:48
Maybe the petite intestines of the lady requires special nourishment that can only be provided by fine cuisine? Or maybe they want to help boost the recession hit American economy by their bagful of US greenbacks? (Shades of mafia syndrome–they wine and dine,they whisper amongst themselves then they pay in cash coming out of paper bags.)Cerge Remonde is really living it up. Nice life,eh?
August 15th, 2009 at 11:57
” do you expect the president to eat on a hotdog stand” these are the words of one of the cabinet members of PGMA. (something to that effect)
and these are my words. . . “WHY NOT!!!!”