January 31, 2009

Italy bans kebabs and foreign food from cities

to make Italians eat Italian

gastronomic racism

in the town of Lucca this week, where the council banned any new ethnic food outlets from opening within the ancient city walls.

Yesterday it spread to Lombardy and its regional capital, Milan, which is also run by the centre Right

“We stand for tradition and the safeguarding of our culture,” he said.

Massimo Di Grazia, the city spokesman, said that the ban was intended to improve the image of the city and to protect Tuscan products. “It targets McDonald’s as much as kebab restaurants,” he added.

There is confusion, however, over what is meant by ethnic. Mr Di Grazia said that French restaurants would be allowed. He was unsure, though, about Sicilian cuisine. It is influenced by Arab cooking.

The tomato comes from Peru and spaghetti was probably a gift from China.