FYI.

This story is over 5 years old.

Food

Why Israeli's Prime Minister Is Getting Major Flak for Eating at a Florence Restaurant

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a backlash for dining with Italian Prime Minister at a three-Michelin-starred but decidedly non-kosher restaurant.
Photo via Flickr user TomEats

Enoteca Pinchiorri is, by all accounts, a charming restaurant in Florence, Italy. A restaurant fit for, say, two heads of state to visit. In fact, that's what recently happened when Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, dined with the Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

The restaurant has long had three stars from the Michelin Guide, and has also received the Wine Spectator Grand Award. Restaurant magazine says it's the 32nd best restaurant in the world.

Advertisement

READ: Banned in the US, Qat Juice Is Buzzing in Israel

So what could possibly go wrong with the food at Enotecca Pinchiorri?

Well, it's not exactly kosher dining. So—perhaps as no surprise—Netanyahu has faced criticism from ultra-Orthodox politicians in his coalition for having eaten at a place that serves such traif as rabbit, escargot, and lobster. IOL News reports that Netanyahu's observant supporters are not being very supportive of his latest dining choice.

What could possibly be wrong with rabbit, escargot, and lobster? Oy gevalt—where do we start? Oh, behave, Bibi! Behave!

netanyahu-podium

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo via Flickr user Downing Street A non-kosher dish at Enoteca Pinchiorri. Photo via Flickr user TomEats

Rabbit, you see, does not have cloven hooves. Hence, it is verboten under the strictures of Jewish dining as set forth in many sacred tomes dating back to, like, a long time ago.

Escargot and lobster? Shellfish, duh. No go on that.

But, wait. Did Netanyahu eat these forbidden items? No, actually, he did not.

Still, his Orthodox constituents are not pleased. An ultra-Orthodox news website quoted officials from the United Torah Judaism alliance—who typically support Netanyahu and are part of his coalition—as saying that the choice of a non-kosher restaurant was unacceptable for a prime minister of the Jewish state.

Yikes.

Netanyahu needs all the support he can get as his coalition holds only a one-seat majority after elections in March. One lousy seat! United Torah Judaism holds seven seats in parliament.

Netanyahu's people say, yes, he "was invited to a restaurant by the Italian prime minister (Matteo Renzi)." On the other hand, they say: "he did not eat forbidden foods."

Advertisement

Still, no one is arguing that the temple to fine dining that is Enoteca Pinchiorri is anything near a kosher restaurant.

Of course, Netanyahu must travel the world, and plenty of countries don't have kosher offerings. Hence, when in such a country, Netanyahu avoids foods that are forbidden by kosher stricture—like pork and shellfish—but does not limit himself to restaurants whose kitchens are considered to meet all kosher laws. "This is also the procedure he always follows during his trips abroad," an official said.

Florence, however, does have kosher restaurants. But none of them is Enoteca Pinchiorri.

The problem crops up on the regular for Netanyahu. Last year, he ate at a non-kosher restaurant in New York with Sheldon Adelson, the American gazillionaire who owns—among a lot of other things—the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas.

READ: Israel Likes Its Cheetos Without Cheese

Oh well, Mr. Netanyahu, we understand. Going to what the Michelin Guide calls "one of Florence's temples of gourmet dining" is worth a little flak.

All we can say is: Bibi, bubbie, you're my white knight.