During a CNN interview, Janet Yellen, the secretary of the Treasury, stated that she had eaten “hallucinogenic” mushrooms in a Chinese restaurant, but added that she was actually “not aware” that the dish would have psychoactive effects.
CNN said that Yellen’s group was seen getting dinner at Yi Zuo Yi Wang, a restaurant that is also called “In and Out,” but not to be confused with the American chain. Yunnan food, which comes from an area in southwestern China close to Vietnam, is said to be the restaurant’s specialty.
The story got out when a Chinese food writer wrote on social media that Yellen’s group was at the place.
CNN said that Weibo user Pan Pan Mao stated that “When I passed the table they were sitting at on the way to the bathroom, I stopped to look at what they had ordered.”
The eatery confirmed that the Americans were there and posted “Yellen the US Treasury Secretary was actually here” in Chinese.
“The timing on the news led to speculation that it was accurate to say that she arrived to the restaurant shortly after arriving in China. Our staff said that she really liked mushrooms,” the restaurant said.
“She asked for four servings of jian shou qing, which is a type of wild mushroom that grows in Yunnan. It was a very wonderful day.”
Erin Burnett, a CNN reporter, said that the finance secretary “started a ruckus” when she ordered a dish with “what appear to be magic mushrooms.”
“Now, these dishes with wild mushrooms are sold out at all of that restaurant’s locations in China,” Burnett said. “How did it go? How was your mushroom experience?” asked the host.
“I went with a big group, and the individual who set up dinner for us placed the orders,” said Yellen. “There was a tasty mushroom dish, but I didn’t know at the time that the mushrooms could cause hallucinations. I found out later.”
“Later, perhaps when you slept and had visions, or?” Burnett joked about it.
Yellen said, “I heard that the mushrooms had no effect if they are prepared properly, and I am sure they would have been at this really nice restaurant.”
Under Yellen’s guidance, the United States’ long-term credit rating dropped from AAA to AA+. After borrowing more than $1.3 trillion in the early half of 2023.
This put the US on track to issue almost $3.2 trillion in debt in only one year, which is almost twice as much as in 2022.
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