http://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/219951-obama-praises-celebrity-chef-at-10000-per-plate-fundraiserOctober 06, 2014, 06:49 pm
Obama praises celebrity chef at $10,000-per-plate fundraiser
By Justin Sink
President Obama held José Andrés up as an example of the need to pass comprehensive immigration reform during a $10,000-per-plate fundraiser at the celebrity chef's Zaytinya restaurant.
The president called Andrés “exhibit A of giving immigrants an opportunity” and credited the Spanish immigrant as “the quintessential American success story.”
“Michelle loves him. I love him,” Obama added.
The Obamas have long been fans of Andrés, with the first couple spending last Valentine's Day at his Minibar restaurant. Andrés also catered a lunch for the spouses of world leaders during the G8 summit at Camp David in 2012, and the Obamas visited his Oyamel restaurant in Washington this February.
Earlier this year, Obama recognized the chef as an “Outstanding American by Choice” during a naturalization ceremony at the White House.
Andrés himself has been a proponent for immigration reform, penning an op-ed last year in the Washington Post to promote the legislation.
The fundraiser Monday night, which will benefit the Democratic National Committee, begins a busy week of fundraising for the president. On Tuesday, Obama will attend at least two DNC events in New York City, and then head to Connecticut for a fundraiser benefiting Senate Democrats.
On Thursday, the president will head to Los Angeles for another DNC event. The next day, he'll head to San Francisco for two more days of fundraisers benefitting the DNC.
