New food and restaurant laws draw concern that preservation of culture negatively targets immigrants and minorities

Thousands, if not more, are dissenting a regional law passed this week that regulates how fast-food restaurants and takeout shops may sell the food they produce. The law, which applies to any food or bar establishment, says that selling anything other than what they themselves produce on site, is not allowed to be sold to

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Italy bans kebabs and foreign food from cities citing cultural protection

Foreign foods such as kebabs are being kicked out of Italian cities as it becomes the target of a campaign against ethnic food, backed by the center-right government of Silvio Berlusconi. In the town of Lucca, the council recently banned new ethnic food outlets from operating within the city walls. In Lombardy and its regional

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Ethnic food may be off the menu in Roman schools

Ethnic menus in public schools are scheduled to be re-evaluated, and replaced with Italian regional dishes as well as typical Mediterranean cuisine said Laura Marsillo, city councilor for schools in Rome. Also on the agenda, are plans to re-evaluate centers where parents of immigrant children and their relatives are taught Italian laws, computer classes, and

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Immigrant chefs taking strong presence in Italian restaurants

The International Herald Tribune features an expose on the rising number of immigrant chefs taking a strong presence in Italy – a phenomenon causing debate concerning the strong national image of famed Italian cuisine. The article features several chefs of Indian, Tunisian, Jordanian, and other non-natives gaining respect for their work in the kitchen, and

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A Return to Muslim Mallorca

PALMA – Muslim immigration to Mallorca revives a historical presence. The relatively peaceful coexistence of natives and Muslims is at least partly due to the surviving elements of a once common culture, including poems, songs, language and cuisine. Toleration and mutual understanding seem natural.

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