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| India-Pakistan |
| Hitler-Themed Restaurant Dreamed Up By Bombay Publicity Ho's |
| 2006-08-21 |
| A new restaurant in India’s financial hub, named after Adolf Hitler and promoted with posters showing the German leader and Nazi swastikas, has infuriated the country’s small Jewish community. Hitler’s Cross, which opened last week, serves up a wide range of continental fare and a big helping of controversy, thanks to a name the owners say they chose to stand out among hundreds of Mumbai eateries. They could have used "Ptomaine". That would have stood out and been less tasteless... “We wanted to be different. This is one name that will stay in people’s minds,” owner Punit Shablok told Reuters. “We are not promoting Hitler. But we want to tell people we are different in the way he was different.” I wonder if Mr Shablok would be offended if I opened up a Krishna-themed steakhouse called "Holy Cow!" ? I mean, I would just be trying to be different...... But India’s remaining Jews — most migrated to Israel and the West over the years — say they are outraged by the gimmick. “This signifies a severe lack of awareness of the agony of millions of Jews caused by one man,” said Jonathan Solomon, chairman of the Indian Jewish Federation, the community’s umbrella organization. “We are going to stop this deification of Hitler,” he said without elaborating. The small restaurant, its interior done out in the Nazi colors of red, white and black, also has a lounge for smoking the Indian water pipe or “hookah.” Posters line the road leading up to it, featuring a red swastika carved in the name of the eatery. One slogan reads: “From Small Bites to Mega Joys.” It tested better than "Try the Jew-B-Q!" A huge portrait of a stern-looking Füehrer greets visitors at the door. The cross in the restaurant’s name refers to the swastika that symbolized the Nazi regime. “This place is not about wars or crimes, but where people come to relax and enjoy a meal,” said restaurant manager Fatima Kabani, adding that they were planning to turn the eatery’s name into a brand with more branches in Mumbai. Why do I find it easy to believe Fatima's family would relax and enjoy a meal when surrounded by Nazi paraphernalia? |
| Posted by:Swamp Blondie |
| #13 “This place is not about wars or crimes, but where people come to relax and enjoy a meal,” And we each of us know that, if nothing else, the Third Reich was all about fine dining and culinary excellence. Those straight armed salutes were actually just a way of getting the waiter's attention. I look forward to the opening of an Indian restaurant named Hindu Kush in Israel. Don't you mean, Hindu Putsch, ZF? |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-08-21 22:36 |
| #12 Gandhi: I do not consider Hitler to be as bad as he is depicted. He is showing an ability that is amazing and seems to be gaining his victories without much bloodshed. Gandhi would have approved. I look forward to the opening of an Indian restaurant named Hindu Kush in Israel. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2006-08-21 20:55 |
| #11 Big Bill's Braised Beef Biryani and Kabob Bistro! |
| Posted by: Texas Redneck 2006-08-21 19:48 |
| #10 I wonder if the owner hoped to tap into the muslim market? |
| Posted by: john 2006-08-21 18:56 |
| #9 How well does it work? Like I said, it's a short story. Very short, from what I recall. Doesn't it end with an SS officer ordering the tanks warmed up? |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2006-08-21 18:53 |
| #8 "Mo's Palace of Pork". |
| Posted by: tu3031 2006-08-21 16:29 |
| #7 Firebomb it on high give it that Dresdan feel. :) |
| Posted by: djohn66 2006-08-21 15:20 |
| #6 just bomb the frikkin place. mebbe he'll rethink his logic Thanks anyway, but no. That's a muzzie tactic. Kill those who offend you and Allan. |
| Posted by: mcsegeek1 2006-08-21 14:59 |
| #5 Bet its a big hit with the Muslims tho! |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2006-08-21 14:56 |
| #4 tu3031: Ever read a short story called "The Last Article" by Harry Turtledove? It's an alternate universe story in which Ghandi takes on the Nazis using nonviolent means. How well does it work? Like I said, it's a short story. |
| Posted by: Mike 2006-08-21 14:35 |
| #3 How about "Barbequed Ghandi"? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2006-08-21 14:04 |
| #2 just bomb the frikkin place. mebbe he'll rethink his logic. |
| Posted by: PlanetDan 2006-08-21 13:59 |
| #1 Perhaps there's another entrepeneur in Mumbai who'll start offering an evening "living history experience" with a DeHavilland Mosquito and some incindiaries. "Rabbit Leader, this is Cowslip. Your target is that brightly lighted swastika there in the financial district. . . ." |
| Posted by: Mike 2006-08-21 13:55 |