Italy defends its culture, culinarily

Other European countries do this, just indirectly and not as effectively. Asian countries are more forthright about it -and- no one wants to import cuisine into the land of lemon chicken.

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

It is, though, the “foreign” kebab that is being kicked out of Italian cities as it becomes the target of a campaign against ethnic food, backed by the centre-right Government of Silvio Berlusconi.

The drive to make Italians eat Italian, which was described by the Left and leading chefs as gastronomic racism, began in the town of Lucca this week, where the council banned any new ethnic food outlets from opening within the ancient city walls.

The Times

It's sensible to be honest in what we want:

• Set a goal


• Define the steps that need to be taken


• Make sure those who do them are rewarded


• Clearly define what is not wanted

Most Western societies let money, not the law, do the talking for them, because they're afraid of revolutions.

The result is a maze of hidden rules and regulations and inefficient enforcement that will collapses as soon as 20 guys with AKs arrive angry in the same place at once.