The Trump Organization recently settled a two plus year lawsuit with Washington D.C.-based celebrity chef José Andrés.
Andrés had initially agreed to open a restaurant in the Trump International Hotel in D.C., but pulled the deal after then-presidential candidate Donald Trump made comments referring to Mexicans as “rapists” and “killers.” Trump subsequently sued Andrés’ restaurant group, Think Food Group, for $10 million in a breach of contract suit before settling on Friday with undisclosed terms.
“I am glad that we are able to put this matter behind us and move forward as friends,” Donald Trump Jr. said in a statement, according to NPR. “Since opening in 2016, Trump International Hotel, Washington, D.C. has been an incredible success and our entire team has great respect for the accomplishments of both José and TFG. Without question, this is a ‘win-win’ for both of our companies.”
“I am pleased that we were able to resolve our differences and move forward cooperatively,” Andrés said in the statement, NPR reports. “I have great respect for the Trump Organization’s commitment to redeveloping the Old Post Office. … Going forward, we are excited about the prospects of working together with the Trump Organization on a variety of programs to benefit the community.”
Following Trump’s initial lawsuit, Think Food Group countersued for $8 million, claiming that Trump’s comments had cast a negative perception that damaged the company’s ability to recruit Hispanic workers and attract Hispanic customers.
Andrés was an outspoken proponent of February’s Day Without Immigrants that protested Trump’s immigration policies and Andrés closed five of his D.C. restaurants in solidarity with his many immigrant employees.
About Chef José Andrés:
José Andrés was born in Mieres, Spain. He is married and has three daughters. Early in his career, he trained under Ferran Adrià at the restaurant elBulli. Beginning in the fall of 2010, Andrés taught a culinary physics course at Harvard University with Ferran Adrià. In May 2012, Andrés was named dean of Spanish Studies at The International Culinary Center, where he and Colman Andrews developed a curriculum in traditional and modern Spanish cuisine, which debuted in February 2013. On 29 October 2012, he announced he was heading back to the classroom, and would teach his first course on how food shapes civilization at George Washington University next year, which awarded him an honorary doctorate degree in public service on 18 May 2014, when he served as university’s commencement speaker at the National Mall.
He is often credited for bringing the small plates dining concept to America. He owns restaurants in Washington DC, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, South Beach, Dorado and Philadelphia. Andrés is chair of the advisory board for LA Kitchen, a social enterprise in Los Angeles, California that works to reduce food waste, provide job training, and increase access to nutritious food. In September 2016 he was awarded the National Humanities Medal.
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