Culinary Discrimination Hits the Small Town of Lucca, Italy?
What does Italy think it is, France?
According to this article, the tiny town of Lucca, near Florence, Italy, has imposed a ban on ethnic cuisine. The article quotes city spokesperson Massimo Di Grazia, "That means no new kebabs, Thai or Lebanese restaurants."
Now, before you get your knickers in a twist, let me tell you the "official" reason for this ban. You see, Lucca is a medieval town and this is an attempt by the city to preserve the authenticity of the experience for the flocks of tourists.
So, that's sort of like the restaurant rules for the Venetian or Paris casinos in Vegas, right? I mean, you don't want to ruin the authenticity of your fake gondola ride by eating a hot dog en route. Best to stick with some gelato.
However, the article does note that a French restaurant will be allowed within the medieval jurisdiction. Though Sicilian restaurants might be banned due to their occasional use of Middle Eastern ingredients. Hmmm.
Readers, what do you think? Smart tourism, or culinary discrimination?
Discuss.
--KitchenMaus
p.s. Thanks go davidlebovitz on Twitter for retweeting this news from contexttravel! Readers, don't forget to join us on Twitter so we can get the dish on all your culinary goings-on.
Christine on January 30, 2009 at 12:27 PM
It is interesting the town's nod to a French restaurant, but to snub a Sicilian one, whose recipes are said to have Middle Eastern ingredients - smells like culinary discrimination to me.
jasonhad on January 31, 2009 at 09:46 AM
Hurrah for at least one Italian town. Who wants to go to a charming medieval city only to be assailed by the smell of MacD's or BK's or KFC's frying oil, the gaudy signs of American commercial colonialism - their disposable cups, straws, wrappers, bags, containers and napkins, sprouting like mushrooms in every nearby neighborhood? They may make profits, but they destroy the local culture and thus put at risk the entire tourism trade save the bloody Polyester Yanks who can't do without stuffing their porcine faces and bodies with artery-clogging fast food.
Kimberly on February 10, 2009 at 03:48 AM
Italians are pretty xenophobic when it comes to food, but this goes too far. I am an American (or Yank if you prefer) who lives in this charming medieval town. The thing I miss the most (besides my family and friends, of course) is the diversity of cuisine. Of course, fast food in general, especially McDonalds, is disgusting, and probably shouldn’t be allowed in the center. But this law bans also "ethnic cuisine." I don’t see the problem with having a nice sit-down non-Italian restaurant. It would be a refreshing change for us locals. Tourists can eat what they want, and believe me, there is no shortage of places in Lucca to indulge in some of the best food in Tuscany. And by only allowing Italian restaurants with a Lucchese focus will only increase competition for existing restaurants with a focus on local cuisine, and increase the homogeneity of our already narrow diets. I don’t see how anyone benefits from this in the long term. On its face, the law is “gastro-discriminatory” but there seems to be a pretty obvious ulterior motive of discouraging immigration in general. On a sad note, it seems that even Milan has jumped on board.