Everyone’s favorite wannabe dictator, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-GiftedHouse), has again been caught not following the “law,” this time one he wrote. While his administration is bitching about families wanting to gather to give thanks for what they still have after pandemic lockdowns, issuing inane and painfully detailed “guidelines” for holiday celebrations, Newsom is out at birthday gatherings with people from multiple households.

Alexei Kosoff, one of the few decent political reporters in California, broke the story at the San Francisco Chronicle:

The dinner the night of Nov. 6 at the famed French Laundry in Yountville in Napa County brought together at least 12 people to celebrate the 50th birthday of Jason Kinney, a longtime friend and political adviser to Newsom who is also a partner at the lobbying firm Axiom Advisors. In addition to the governor, his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, was in attendance.

Representatives for Kinney and Newsom declined to specify how many households the diners represented, but did not dispute that it was more than three.

Nathan Click, communications director for Newsom, initially defended the birthday celebration because it took place outdoors at a restaurant, which must follow separate coronavirus safety regulations developed by the state for the dining industry. That guidance is silent on whether people from more than three households can dine together.

These types of gatherings are behind the “spike” in cases, according to His Highness:

On Monday, [Newsom] pointed to private gatherings, such as extended families getting together, as a driving factor of the increase in new cases in the state.

“It’s for obvious reasons. People are letting their guard down,” Newsom said at a news conference. “They’re taking their masks off. They’re starting to get together outside of their household cohorts. They’re starting to see businesses reopen and we’re starting, again, to see more people mixing. As it gets colder, we’ll see more still.”

But hey, that was after he attended the birthday party, so it’s all good in the ‘hood, right?

If you’re not familiar with French Laundry, it’s widely regarded as one of the best restaurants in the country; there’s even a primer for how to prepare to eat there in Town & Country magazine. The prix fixe menu starts at around $300 per person (it can go higher if you choose certain dishes that have an upcharge). The iconic blue door finds its way onto many Instagram brag posts, including the restaurant’s own.

Neither caviar nor mayonnaise is my thing, but I guess if you’re into that kind of thing:

This is a little more my style:

And this, absolutely:

Or you can have a dish “steeped in history and whimsy.”

Of course, Newsom deflected and blamed the restaurant.

UPDATE: @GavinNewsom has issued a new statement: "While our family followed the restaurant's health protocols and took safety precautions, we should have modeled better behavior and not joined the dinner." https://t.co/rB29C15qys

— Alexei Koseff (@akoseff) November 13, 2020

…as Arthur Schwartz noted.

Pelosi blamed the hair salon; Newsom blames the restaurant. These people never take responsibility for their own behavior. https://t.co/fwYp3Q7U2z

— Arthur Schwartz (@ArthurSchwartz) November 13, 2020

I just have one question for the Governor. Is this what you spent money on when you weren’t paying your property taxes (again)?