Holiday Lettings news - Ethnic restaurants and fast food bars banned in Lucca

Ethnic restaurants and fast food bars banned in Lucca

The Tuscan city of Lucca has banned new ethnic restaurants from opening in its historic centre. The new rules were passed last weekend and aim to protect the city's traditional cuisine.

Travellers staying in short term rental accommodation in Lucca will also find that fast food restaurants have been banned in the centre. By doing so, the authorities hope that littering in Lucca's historic city centre will be reduced, according to The Associated Press.

A city spokesman, Massimo Di Grazia, explained: "By ethnic cuisine we mean a different cuisine. That means no new kebab, Thai or Lebanese restaurants." Restaurants that were already open before the ban came into place could continue in business, Di Grazia added.

As a result of the move, the city has been accused of 'gastronomic racism'. "It's a discriminatory ban," one opposition councillor told the Corriere della Sera newspaper. "It's a sign of closure towards different cultures."

Italian chefs have also criticised the new rules. "There is no dish on the face of the earth that doesn't come from mixing techniques, products and tastes from cultures that have met and mingled over time," said TV chef Vittorio Castellani.

Di Grazia, however, maintains that the ban is not discriminatory and told The Associated Press that other nearby towns had introduced similar measures. According to Di Grazia, the aim is to improve the city's image and protect Tuscan products and specialities of Lucca's cuisine.

It still remains unclear as to what criteria will be used to determine if a new restaurant can open. Di Grazia told the news agency that a French restaurant would be allowed to open, but one offering Sicilian dishes might not be permitted, as such meals often include Middle Eastern ingredients.

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