Bessent Eats at Cheesecake Factory

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent ate a French Dip Cheeseburger at a Cheesecake Factory near the White House on Thursday. He told reporters the meal was great. He suggested that people from the Martha's Vineyard set try the food.

The lunch came after a campaign event in Ohio earlier this week. Former President Barack Obama criticized the current administration's decor choices. He said the White House looks like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory.

Obama's comment triggered a partisan debate about the restaurant chain. Some observers questioned the need for a new White House ballroom. The project is estimated to cost more than $600 million. Critics argued that state dinners could be held at existing restaurants instead.

Cheesecake Factory locations carry more than 250 menu items. The menu includes Chicken and Waffle Skewers and Tex-Mex Eggrolls. It also features Pickle Fries and Buffalo Blasts. The Buffalo Blasts are chicken, cheese, and hot sauce stuffed into a spicy wrapper. They are deep-fried and served with celery sticks and blue cheese dressing.

State dinners often feature specific dishes. King Charles III received Dover Sole Meunière this spring. The meal included Potato Pavé, Spring Ramps, Snow Peas, and Parsley Oil. In 2018, French President Emmanuel Macron attended a dinner that opened with a Goat Cheese Gateau.

Proponents of the restaurant chain argue it offers more variety than traditional state dinners. Guests at state dinners often consume specific vegetable preparations. Cheesecake Factory menus offer options like Asian Chicken Nachos. These dishes include wonton chips, peanut sauce, and fromage fondu.