While regular Americans battle with a crippling cost of living issue, Jill Biden dined with her grandchildren at a costly celebrity restaurant in Los Angeles.
On Friday, while being closely monitored by her massive security detail, the First Lady spent $23 on a ravioli con asparagi at the prestigious Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica.
The 71-year-old also had a buffet of desserts delivered to her table, which she had with her granddaughter Naomi, her baby brother, and her youngest grandchild Beau Jr., Hunter’s kid.
Jill, who was dressed in a light blue floral print dress with pink pumps, was surrounded by a slew of celebrities at the upscale diner, including Kate Hudson, who had to be vetted by security.
As she celebrated her current long-term love Danny Fujikawa’s 36th birthday, the actress, 43, looked lovely in a monochrome polka dot wrap dress that she paired with trendy sandals.
While Jill was dining at the elite menu, where a steak costs an eye-watering $54, Americans continued to fight for their futures in the face of an out-of-control cost of living problem.
Her husband, who was in LA for the Summit of the Americas last week, is in charge of one of the greatest financial crises in US history, with record-high gas prices, soaring supermarket prices, and inflation at a 41-year high.
Jill came at the restaurant about 6 p.m. and departed two hours later. The First Lady ordered the asparagus ravioli, and the chef brought her a couple treats.
The outing followed the first lady’s hosting of a special spouses luncheon for the wives of the Summit of the Americas leaders on Friday afternoon, which was served by a group of female chefs from Los Angeles.
Biden collected about a dozen first ladies for the lunch, which was held outside the Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall under a grove of trees that provided shade from the scorching heat.
Michelle Bolsonaro, the wife of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, was among the first ladies in attendance. Jair Bolsonaro had his first bilateral meeting with President Joe Biden at the summit on Thursday, after implying that Biden was not the genuine victor of the 2020 election.
Dr. Biden sat next to Mrs. Bolsonaro during a performance by Guatemalan singer-songwriter Gaby Moreno on Friday, remaining close to her.
Later, when the women assembled for a “family photo,” Biden stood with Bolsonaro. Biden instructed the women, ‘Take one for the press and one for the sisterhood.’
For the first photo, they stood side by side, smiling at the cameras, before Biden wrapped her arms around Bolsonaro and Silvana López Moreira of Paraguay, whose sister died in last year’s Miami condo disaster.
During this week’s Summit of the Americas, which brought together leaders from North, Central, and South America, the Bidens took use of Los Angeles’ spectacular venues.
On Wednesday, the President and First Lady welcomed world leaders and their delegations to the Microsoft Theater, where the Emmy Awards are traditionally held, for a song and dance-filled opening ceremony.
In an Emilio Estefan-produced version of One World, One Prayer, percussionists danced down the aisles.
Acrobats from Cirque du Soleil dangled from the stage to The Tenors’ rendition of Lean on Me, which was accompanied by ‘The President’s Own’ Marine Band.
The Bidens then hosted a dinner for summit leaders at the Getty Villa, an extravagant art museum built by millionaire J. Paul Getty in the Pacific Palisades, on Thursday night.
‘I’m proud to share all these pieces of Los Angeles with you,’ Biden told those attending the luncheon, which also included Sophie Grégoire Trudeau.
The food being served was from a mix of cultures: tacos, empanadas, Ethiopian chicken served with injera, a tostada with guacamole, smoked salmon and roe, chicken skewers, pot pies, tomato salad and more.
President Biden has made democracy a signature theme of the U.S.-hosted summit after deciding not to invite the authoritarian leaders of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, which garnered him a boycott from Mexico’s president and criticism from Argentina and Belize’s leaders.
‘As spouses – you know, I’ve heard this so many times – we aren’t elected, but we serve the people of our countries too,’ Biden continued. ‘We can listen and we can learn from them in a way that few others can.’
‘We are cable girls. We are connectors, right? Yes,’ Biden said, making a rope-like gesture, as translators whispered in some of the women’s ears. ‘That’s what you said yesterday, we are cable girls,’ she said, directing her comment to one of the first ladies.
‘And as Joe said last night politics is personal and it’s about relationships. And it’s been so incredible to me to learn how much we have in common and to find places that we can work together. And that’s what I kept hearing at all of the tables, what can we work on, what can we work on together, our common interests,’ Biden noted.
She ended her brief speech telling the women, ‘may the friendships we build here today, live on long after the summit ends.’ ‘All of you are in my heart and I hope that our paths cross soon and often,’ she said.