Newsom's French Laundry Dinner, Costing Hundreds Per Person, Draws Scrutiny Amid Pandemic Guidelines

California Governor Gavin Newsom faced significant public backlash in November 2020 after attending a birthday dinner at the opulent French Laundry restaurant in Yountville, Napa Valley. The event, held for lobbyist Jason Kinney, involved 12 guests, including the Governor and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, at a time when state guidelines urged Californians to avoid multi-household gatherings and practice social distancing due due to a surge in COVID-19 cases. The incident quickly became a symbol of perceived hypocrisy, particularly given the restaurant's high-end reputation where a tasting menu could cost upwards of $350 per person, with reports of a wine bill reaching $12,000.

The dinner, which took place on November 6, 2020, involved several influential figures, including two high-level executives from the California Medical Association, Dustin Corcoran and Janus Norman. Photos obtained by FOX 11 showed guests seated closely without masks, contradicting Newsom's public health directives. While initially described as an outdoor gathering, subsequent reports and photographic evidence suggested the group was in a partially enclosed private dining area.

The tweet from Houman David Hemmati, MD, PhD, sarcastically highlighted the perceived disconnect, stating, “I can verify @GavinNewsom was telling the truth. When he walked into his $1100 dinner at French Laundry the other day with energy & housing lobbyists, the entire staff started hugging him & crying.” This sentiment resonated with many Californians who were enduring strict lockdown measures. Governor Newsom publicly apologized for his attendance, acknowledging it was a "bad mistake" and stating he should have "odeled better behavior."

The controversy fueled a recall effort against Governor Newsom and raised questions about the credibility of public health messaging during the pandemic. Critics argued that the dinner undermined the sacrifices made by ordinary citizens and highlighted a perceived elitism among political leaders. The event served as a focal point for discontent regarding the state's pandemic response and the perceived double standards applied to those in power.