Two white American restaurateurs opened Lucky Lee’s, an establishment in Manhattan, New Your City where they advertised that they were serving “clean Chinese food”.
The accusations of racism and stealing from another ethnic group’s culture soon came thick and fast.
The word “clean” was actually being used to try and attract diners who dietary issues, but Chinese Americans saw this term rather differently: it reinforced harmful stereotypes.
A link to the story in the New York Times can be found below:
A white business owner advertised “clean” Chinese food. Chinese-Americans had something to say about it.
https://apple.news/A1q-z7kJgScaN
Postscript
It would seem that accusations of cultural appropriation or theft in the culinary world aren’t confined to just the USA: our very own celebrity chef, Gordon Ramsay, has got himself into hot water concerning the launch of one of his restaurants in London.
Please see the link to the story on Sky News below:
Gordon Ramsay hits back at ‘prejudice and insults’ after cultural appropriation claims
Copyright Seán J Crossan, 14 and 15 April 2019
Seán Crossan's Scots Law 