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Chinese restaurant opened by white woman shuts down 8 months after controversy
NBC News ^ | 12/9/2019 | Kimmy Yam

Posted on 12/13/2019 10:23:54 AM PST by simpson96

ontroversial New York City restaurant Lucky Lee's closed its doors Friday.

The establishment, which was opened in April by nutritionist Arielle Haspel, a white woman, had been marred by accusations of racism and cultural appropriation from the Asian American community. It initially described its cuisine as “clean Chinese food,” comparing its meals to the “icky” dishes at traditional Chinese American joints.

In a statement on its website, the restaurant did not provide a rationale for its closure but wrote that “it is with a heavy heart that we are shutting down our woks and ovens tonight.”

“We have truly loved feeding and entertaining you and your families,” the statement read. “We are very proud of our food and the space we created, but a lot needs to come together to make a restaurant work in New York City and we wish it could have succeeded as we hoped.”

Haspel first drew backlash after social media users pointed out how language used in the restaurant’s posts perpetuated racist “dirty Chinese restaurant” stereotypes.

“We heard you’re obsessed with lo mein but rarely eat it. You said it makes you feel bloated and icky the next day? Well, wait until you slurp up our HIGH lo mein. Not too oily. Or salty,” one of the restaurant’s earliest social media posts, which has since been deleted, read.

The restaurant also touted its MSG-less dishes as another healthy aspect to its cuisine. However, there is little evidence that actually links the food additive to negative health effects — rather, racism and biases are largely to blame for its bad rap.

(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...


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1 posted on 12/13/2019 10:23:54 AM PST by simpson96
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To: simpson96

I guess she wang the wong number...


2 posted on 12/13/2019 10:25:30 AM PST by Gman
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To: simpson96

What controversy? These people are nuts.


3 posted on 12/13/2019 10:25:56 AM PST by ChicagoConservative27
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To: simpson96; Gman

It had been snowing all night - So ......................:

8:00am I made a snowman.

8:10am A feminist passed by and asked me why I didn’t make a snow woman.

8:15am So, I made a snow woman.

8:17am My feminist neighbour complained about the snow woman’s voluptuous chest saying it objectified snow women everywhere.

8:20am The gay couple living nearby threw a hissy fit and moaned it could have been two snow men instead.

8:22am The transgender ma..wom...person asked why I didn’t just make one snow person with detachable parts.

8:25am The vegans at the end of the lane complained about the carrot nose, as veggies are food and not to decorate snow figures with.

8:28am I am being called a racist because the snow couple is white.

8:31am The Muslim gent across the road demands the snow woman wear a burqa.

8:40am The Police arrive saying someone has been offended.

8:42am The feminist neighbour complained again that the broomstick of the snow woman needs to be removed because it depicted women in a domestic role.

8:43am The council equality officer arrived and threatened me with eviction.

8:45am TV news crew from the ABC shows up. I am asked if I know the difference between snowmen and snow-women? I reply, “Snowballs” and am now called a sexist.

9:00am I’m on the News as a suspected terrorist, racist, homophobe sensibility offender, bent on stirring up trouble during difficult weather.

9:10am I am asked if I have any accomplices. My children are taken by social services.

9:29am Far left protesters offended by everything are marching down the street demanding for me to be beheaded.

Moral: There is no moral to this story.

It’s just the world in which we live today and it is going to get worse.


4 posted on 12/13/2019 10:26:02 AM PST by SeekAndFind (look at Michigan, it will)
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To: simpson96

I would have boycotted the restaurant too. Not because she is white. But because an Chinese restaurant opened by a “nutritionist” is going to be horrible.


5 posted on 12/13/2019 10:26:47 AM PST by Opinionated Blowhard (When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.)
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To: simpson96

A Chinese restaurant in my area (run by off-the-boat immigrants from rural Fujian Province) were caught in the back of their restaurant butchering a road-kill deer they found nearby.


6 posted on 12/13/2019 10:27:25 AM PST by PGR88
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To: simpson96

How come no one calls out Whoopi Goldberg for her culturally appropriated name?


7 posted on 12/13/2019 10:27:55 AM PST by Gman
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To: simpson96

Kimmy yam? I’ve heard of candied yams. Sum Ting Wong


8 posted on 12/13/2019 10:29:25 AM PST by rktman ( #My2ndAmend! ----- Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?)
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To: simpson96

PC strikes again.


9 posted on 12/13/2019 10:30:18 AM PST by unixfox (Abolish Slavery, Repeal the 16th Amendment)
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To: simpson96
Donna Chang?


10 posted on 12/13/2019 10:31:24 AM PST by Buckeye McFrog (Patrick Henry would have been an anti-vaxxer)
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To: simpson96

The Chinese restaurant in our hick town has a Mexican cook and the food isn’t very good.


11 posted on 12/13/2019 10:32:18 AM PST by dainbramaged (Eenie meenie chili beanie, the spirits are about to speak!)
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To: dainbramaged

all the Panda Express outlets around Seattle that I have visited do as well.

BTW MSG is a health hazard for many of us.


12 posted on 12/13/2019 10:35:41 AM PST by RitchieAprile (available monkeys looking for the change..)
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To: simpson96

> It initially described its cuisine as “clean Chinese food,” comparing its meals to the “icky” dishes at traditional Chinese American joints. <

If she really said that, then she is stupid. Too stupid to successfully run a restaurant. On the other hand, I think she has a future as a food critic.


13 posted on 12/13/2019 10:36:14 AM PST by Leaning Right ( I have already previewed or do not wish to preview this composition.)
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To: RitchieAprile

> MSG is a health hazard for many of us. <

Oh, yes. Me included. And when a Chinese restaurant says “no MSG”, they could really mean “we aren’t going to disclose our use of MSG”.

I found that out the hard way.


14 posted on 12/13/2019 10:39:55 AM PST by Leaning Right ( I have already previewed or do not wish to preview this composition.)
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To: simpson96

Two Wongs don’t make a white


15 posted on 12/13/2019 10:40:22 AM PST by struggle
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To: simpson96

MSG-less dishes as another healthy aspect to its cuisine. However, there is little evidence that actually links the food additive to negative health effects — rather, racism and biases are largely to blame for its bad rap.


So, not liking MSG is now racist?


16 posted on 12/13/2019 10:40:23 AM PST by hanamizu
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To: dainbramaged

There’s a re,restaurant in Solvang, California’s picturesque Danish town,called “Old Copenhagen,” that is run by Mexicans. Their 1/4-lb hamburger on a crumbly bun went for for $11.00.


17 posted on 12/13/2019 10:41:04 AM PST by luvbach1 (I hope Trump runs roughshod over the inevitable obstuctionists, Dems, progs, libs, or RINOs!)
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To: Gman

“ How come no one calls out Whoopi Goldberg for her culturally appropriated name?“

She is a multiple offender, what with those eye glasses and all.


18 posted on 12/13/2019 10:45:37 AM PST by bk1000 (Banned from Breitbart)
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To: Leaning Right

There is a Chinese place I visit sometimes for the only non MSG thing I like from the tree, crab Rangoon.

It’s made fresh every day.

MSG is pain on a plate.


19 posted on 12/13/2019 10:47:20 AM PST by wally_bert (Your methods were a little incomplete, you too for that matter.)
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To: simpson96

I have a feeling it was very few of the “Asian American Community” who complained. Most of the complaints were probably from SJW Whiter than White race quislings.


20 posted on 12/13/2019 10:48:39 AM PST by lastchance (Credo.)
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