Internet questions fate of steak and lobster after White House press dinner cut short
An X post asking about what happened to the steak and lobster at the White House Correspondents' Dinner has gone viral, and the internet is curious.
Amid the chaos triggered by reported gunshots at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, an unexpected question has taken over social media: what happened to the lavish steak-and-lobster meal meant for over 2,600 guests?
The question was raised by Nico Perrino, who wrote on X, “My wife and I are wondering what happened to the steak and lobster for 2,600 people that never got served at last night’s #WHCD?” He also shared an image of the evening’s menu, which quickly caught the internet’s attention.
See the post:
CBS News senior White House correspondent Weijia Jiang, however, put speculation to rest, revealing that the thousands of unserved dinners from the event were not wasted.
In a post on X, Jiang said the Hilton repurposed nearly 2,600 untouched meals, freeze-drying the steak and lobster to extend their shelf life before donating them to two shelters for abused women and children.
She also praised the hotel staff for working overnight under difficult circumstances to ensure the food was safely preserved and redistributed.
The menu at the Washington Hilton itself was nothing short of grand. Guests were to begin with a “Spring Pea & Burrata Salad,” followed by a main course of “Prime Chateaubriand & Maine Lobster,” complete with whipped potato gratin and roasted vegetables.
Dessert was an equally indulgent “Grand Opera Cake,” paired with espresso cream and chocolate ganache, alongside curated wines. The meal was put together by Executive Sous Chef Hyun In Sun and Executive Chef Daniel Bennett.
But as it turned out, attendees didn’t make it past the salad.
As reports of gunshots near the venue triggered panic, the event was abruptly disrupted. Guests were evacuated or took cover, leaving the multi-course meal unfinished. That’s when the internet stepped in, with curiosity, speculation, and a fair bit of humour.
Users began guessing the fate of the untouched feast. Some suggested the food was likely discarded due to safety protocols, while others believed it may have been redistributed among hotel staff. A few joked that the real “after-party” was probably happening in the kitchen.
The dinner itself had taken a dramatic turn after multiple gunshots were reported near the venue, prompting a swift security response. US President Donald Trump, along with the First Lady and Vice President, were evacuated as a precaution. Authorities later identified the suspect, and the situation was brought under control.