Inside Trump's Secret Dinner: A Side of the President You Don't Ever See

Independent Journal Review ^ | February 26, 2017 | Benny Johnson

[monkapotamus]

The president was heading to his new flagship property in D.C., the Trump Hotel, for a private dinner at the BLT Steakhouse inside. 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.

Inside the restaurant, I was seated at a table that had booked hours earlier, directly next to where Trump would be dining. I made the booking based on a tip from a trusted source. I was ready to tell the story no one else would get to see and was personally fascinated to observe how a restaurant prepares for a president — and how Trump interacts when he believes no press are present...

6:45 PM: Our bacon tower appetizer arrives. Highly recommended.

Benny Johnson/IJR

[faucetman]

I am reassured that there were more comments on ketchup than on the presidents security.

RELAX.

Let Trump be Trump. It’s the only way we would want him to be.

[T-Bone Texan]

I put ketchup on my Kraft macaroni.

My family thinks it is a culinary hate crime.

[Georgia Girl 2]

I read somewhere that bacon and meatloaf were two of Trump’s favorites. :-)

[Liz]

BLT Steak Famous Gruyere Popovers

Complimentary popovers arrive w/ butter pot and sea
salt shaker......and the recipe. Recipe makes 12 popovers.

ING 4 cups milk, warmed 8 eggs 4 cups Gold Medal flour 1 ½ heaping tbsp. salt 2 ¼ cups Gruyère cheese, grated

METHOD Place popover pan in oven. Heat the oven and pan to 350 degrees. Gently warm milk, and set aside. Whisk eggs until frothy, and slowly whisk in milk (so as not to cook eggs). Set mixture aside. Sift flour with salt. Slowly add dry mixture, and combine until mostly smooth.

FINAL Once combined, remove popover pan from oven and spray with nonstick vegetable spray. While batter is still slightly warm, fill each popover cup three-quarters full. Top each popover with 2 tb grated Gruyère. Bake 350 deg 50 min, rotating after 15 min. Remove from oven and liftout to server.

Serve immediately w/ butter pot and sea salt shaker.

[poconopundit]

What an epicurean, V K! LOL.

I know where I’ll dine next time I go to D.C. What a fabulous story this is. We are so lucky to have this man.

[V K Lee]

DJT is a man of the people: Be it in his hotel dining room or sinking his teeth into a Big Mac on his jet. He remains comfortable in his own skin.
How can a nation be so fortunate?

BTW, caramelized bacon is very, very good. You should give it a try, but warning: it is very addictive.

[maine-iac7]

We don’t need to tell security how to protect the president. I’m confident that they know what they are doing and don’t need any advice from us.

And just Where in my post (#141) did I suggest any such thing?

got your reading glasses on backwards?

[lizma2]

There isn't a person on this thread that wouldn't eat it off a clothesline. Some would even lick the clothesline afterwards.

Great point! I'd know I'd lick it! LOL!

But it does remind me of my Grandmother's laundry! Not exactly elegant.

[EDINVA]

The source has to be outed and gone. Unless Trump, Machiavellian that he is, had his chosen source ‘leak’ the info so it was covered but not by any of his normal detractors who then could not complain.

[EDINVA]

The source has to be outed and gone. Unless Trump, Machiavellian that he is, had his chosen source ‘leak’ the info so it was covered but not by any of his normal detractors who then could not complain.

[EDINVA]

That building was the “Old Post Office.” Over the years DC tried to do various things to make it a successful venture, but to no avail. For a period they had a New Year’s Eve “Stamp Drop” similar to NYC’s (then) Apple Drop at midnight. That ended after about two years when there were knifings and other more minor crimes at the event.

Along came Trump & Co., who entered into an agreement with the DC government and refurbished it as a first class hotel. Conveniently located @ 3 blocks from the White House

[lizma2]

How do you get peppered pickle infused in to the bacon. Marinade in peppered pickle juice or pepperoncini juice? (I always save pickle juice for marinade. Great for potatoes and chicken.)

I don’t know about pickle and maple syrup. If I feel adventurous, I’ll work on it and let you know.

Done bacon baked with brown sugar. Not bad. AT ALL.

[Jamestown1630]

I think the peppered pickles are served WITH the bacon - the bacon itself is ‘candied’. (The menu is written in a way that I’m not familiar with - which probably exposes my completely non-upscale lifestyle ;-)

I’ve tried to find a recipe, but haven’t so far. I’ll keep looking.

[defconw]

It really does depend on the cut of steak!

[poconopundit]

Carmelized bacon? Sounds deliciously sinful... Have to try. Thanks.

[Yardstick]

Thanks — I didn’t realize that. Figures Trump would come along and make it into something really impressive.

[thecodont]

That building was the “Old Post Office.”

Also (affectionately) known as "The Old Tooth."

[V K Lee]

Here ya go:
BROWN SUGARED BACON
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/brown-sugar-bacon-recipe

Warning - can’t eat just one strip. If you really like this,
try the next...
BROWN SUGAR GLAZED BACON WRAPPED SHRIMP
https://www.gritsandpinecones.com/brown-sugar-glazed-bacon-wrapped-shrimp/

Enjoy!

[poconopundit]

Great, V K. The second recipe with the shrimp reminds me of a Japanese favorite, Bacon-Wrapped Enoki mushrooms.

[Titan Magroyne]

bfl