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On Friday November 18th, a Maggiano’s in Washington, D.C. unknowingly hosted a 100-person dinner put on by the National Policy Institute, a group of alt-right white nationalists. This is a transcript from that reservation phone call.
MAGGIANO’S: Thank you for calling Maggiano’s Little Italy restaurant where family comes first. How can I help you?
CALLER: I would like to make a reservation on Friday at 6 P.M. for a party of 100.
MAGGIANO’S: Wonderful! We would love to host your event. What is the name of your organization?
CALLER: …
MAGGIANO’S: Sir? Are you still there?
CALLER: Um, yes.
MAGGIANO’S: I thought I lost you. What was the name of your organization?
CALLER: We’re, um, the Happy Fun Time Love group.
MAGGIANO’S: Well that sounds like a great mission.
CALLER: Yup. So I actually had a few questions for you.
MAGGIANO’S: Of course.
CALLER: You’re an Italian restaurant.
MAGGIANO’S: That’s right.
CALLER: Would you say you are more traditional Italian?
MAGGIANO’S: I’m not sure I know what you mean.
CALLER: Like Italy in the early 1940s.
MAGGIANO’S: We call it classic Italian. All the recipes your grandmother would have cooked.
CALLER: Is all the food cooked by pure Italians?
MAGGIANO’S: Our head chef trained in Sicily at Casa Vecchie. That’s as pure Italian as you can get.
CALLER: Right. Right. Let me rephrase the question. Would you say your restaurant has any African or Latin fusion?
MAGGIANO’S: …What organization did you say you are with?
CALLER: Never mind. I just had a few requests for the menu.
MAGGIANO’S: OK.
CALLER: We would like the signature cocktail to be a white sangria.
MAGGIANO’S: OK, we can do that.
CALLER: We would like the salads dressed with a white balsamic vinaigrette.
MAGGIANO’S: We can do that.
CALLER: For the main entree, we would like linguine with a white clam sauce.
MAGGIANO’S: …Mm hmm
CALLER: And for dessert, we’ll have the double chocolate brownie.
MAGGIANO’S: Got it.
CALLER: is it possible to get the brownie with white chocolate?
MAGGIANO’S: …
CALLER: And vanilla ice cream.
MAGGIANO’S: …
CALLER: And white powdered sugar.
MAGGIANO’S: I’m going to have to transfer you to my manager.
CALLER: Never mind. We’ll see you on Friday.
MAGGIANO’S: Thank you for choosing Maggiano’s.
CALLER: You’re welcome. Heil Hitler!
MAGGIANO’S: Wait, what?
[CLICK.]