Celebrity Chef Nick Liberato Wrongly Accused Of Cultural Appropriation

You may recognize the celebrity chef and restaurateur Nick Liberato from his Netflix original series, “Restaurants On the Edge.” Known for his stellar cooking skills and affable charm, Nick, a fairly apolitical guy, never thought he could be targeted by the leftist mob or  “CANCELLED.” After all, he’s a chef, and food is a safe space, RIGHT? Sadly, no. The joyless liberals have ruined everything from sports to movies. Now, they are coming for your dinner, or in Nick’s case, your Jewish Deli.

When so many restaurants shuddered and people in the food service industry were hurting during the pandemic, Nick and his partners decided that their small suburban community in Stockton, New Jersey, could use a Jewish Deli. A new restaurant would stimulate the local economy and provide jobs in a much needed time. It was a win-win . . .until famed New York-based Jewish Deli, Russ & Daughters chimed in.

Established in 1914, Russ & Daughters is a 4^th generation, family-owned New York culinary and cultural icon, known for the highest quality Jewish foods: smoked fish, caviar, bagels, lox, bialys, babka, and other traditional baked goods. In an open letter to Chef Nicky on social media, like insolent children, the folks at Russ & Daughters accuse Liberato of copying and plagiarism. The comments poured in and so did the social media mob.

Cancel culture was here for Nick. They even accused him of cultural appropriation. Forget that his wife is Jewish and they are raising his three kids Jewish; that doesn’t fit the narrative. All that matters is that Nicky is Italian. His opening of a Jewish Deli was cultural appropriation.  

Cultural appropriation is a hypocritical, divisive leftist narrative.  Here, it’s also anti-American. America is a celebration of multi-nationalism. We are the ultimate melting pot of cultures. No one should ever have to apologize for opening a business that pays homage to another culture.

The Jews fought endlessly for freedom, why now would they want to infringe upon the freedoms of another?  If the owners of Russ & Daughters live by their own ethos, they shouldn’t be allowed to use a cash register. After all, the first cash register was NOT invented by a Jewish person, it was invented by a saloon owner named James Ritty.  They certainly shouldn’t have neon signs outside of their business.  Georges Claude, who patented the neon lighting tube on Jan. 19th, 1915, was clearly not a Jew.  

As you can see, accusing one of cultural appropriation can be a very slippery slope.