# Netanyahu serves dessert to Japanese prime minister...in a shoe **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 7, 2018, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netanyahu-serves-dessert-to-japanese-prime-minister-in-a-shoe/813775 "2018-05-07T19:11:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netanyahu-serves-dessert-to-japanese-prime-minister-in-a-shoe/813775/1 "2018-05-07T19:11:28Z")
[Netanyahu’s chef prepared a dessert for Shinzo Abe, served in a dish that is an extremely realistic replica of a shoe.](https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Netanyahu-puts-wrong-foot-forward-by-serving-12893870.php) What the fuck were they thinking? It isn’t just the gross (literally) violation of traditional Asian ettiquite, it’s also just _pretentious schlock!_ I hate these hack chefs who are more concerned with the quirky presentation than the food. It’s not like this is an act of war or anything, except against good taste. Still, Abe should get even. Maybe the next time they have dinner, he can serve Netanyahu dessert in a dish shaped like Jesus. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netanyahu-serves-dessert-to-japanese-prime-minister-in-a-shoe/813775/2 "2018-05-07T19:35:56Z")
I’m not saying it’s common Japanese culture, but I’ve seen interest stories of Japanese restaurant that serves food in a mock toilet bowl and the local patrons seem to get a kick out of it. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netanyahu-serves-dessert-to-japanese-prime-minister-in-a-shoe/813775/3 "2018-05-08T01:32:09Z")
> [@Jacquernagy](#): > > Maybe the next time they have dinner, he can serve Netanyahu dessert in a dish shaped like Jesus. I dunno, that’s more of a cheese-and-crackers kind of meal. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netanyahu-serves-dessert-to-japanese-prime-minister-in-a-shoe/813775/4 "2018-05-08T01:39:15Z")
Heck, I’m not the least bit Jewish, Japanese or anything else, yet I would be offended. Who wants their dessert served in a shoe? Personally, I’d prefer a condom or a slop bucket. ---
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netanyahu-serves-dessert-to-japanese-prime-minister-in-a-shoe/813775/5 "2018-05-08T03:51:28Z")
More bad ways to serve food: [https://twitter.com/WeWantPlates](https://twitter.com/WeWantPlates) > **[These Are the Coolest Serving Pieces in DC Restaurants - Washingtonian](https://www.washingtonian.com/2018/02/22/coolest-serving-pieces-dc-restaurants/)** > > Restaurants in the District are getting creative with their servingware. Here are some of the most unusual food vessels we've seen. Sculpted head for foie gras cake pops at Bresca. Glass bee for gin-and-honey cocktails at Bresca. Left: Sculpted head... These are not all bad–the T-rex serving dish is totally awesome, and the coral caviar dish is beautiful. Bacon on a clothesline, though. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netanyahu-serves-dessert-to-japanese-prime-minister-in-a-shoe/813775/6 "2018-05-08T04:19:58Z")
> [@Jacquernagy](#): > > [Netanyahu’s chef prepared a dessert for Shinzo Abe, served in a dish that is an extremely realistic replica of a shoe.](https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Netanyahu-puts-wrong-foot-forward-by-serving-12893870.php) > > What the fuck were they thinking? > > It isn’t just the gross (literally) violation of traditional Asian ettiquite, it’s also just _pretentious schlock!_ I hate these hack chefs who are more concerned with the quirky presentation than the food. > > It’s not like this is an act of war or anything, except against good taste. Still, Abe should get even. Maybe the next time they have dinner, he can serve Netanyahu dessert in a dish shaped like Jesus. So… ixnay on that [kitty litter box cake](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/322500023295085961/) I had in mind for your birthday…? ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netanyahu-serves-dessert-to-japanese-prime-minister-in-a-shoe/813775/7 "2018-05-08T05:24:38Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > I’m not saying it’s common Japanese culture, but I’ve seen interest stories of Japanese restaurant that serves food in a mock toilet bowl and the local patrons seem to get a kick out of it. Thats a novelty thing where they know in advance what to expect. Yes this is mind numbingly stupid, I mean lots of western people would find dessert in a shoe gross (I would) but for any country with buddhist influence it’s really really offensive. Feet and shoes are the lowest part of the body (spiritually), offering food in a shoe like this is saying “you are so low that this is all you deserve, to eat out of a shoe”. I’m sure the Japanese PM knows it wasn’t deliberate but still, did the “celebrity” chef not do even the slightest bit of research on Japanese culture? ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netanyahu-serves-dessert-to-japanese-prime-minister-in-a-shoe/813775/8 "2018-05-08T12:16:47Z")
coremelt: > [@](#): > > but for any country with buddhist influence it’s really really offensive. Feet and shoes are the lowest part of the body (spiritually) Heck, it would have been nice for Netanyahu to know that that’s true in Judaism itself - note that Moses is instructed to remove his shoes at the burning bush (Exodus 3:5). It’s something that he or his chef should have thought about even without needing to know about a foreign culture. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netanyahu-serves-dessert-to-japanese-prime-minister-in-a-shoe/813775/9 "2018-05-08T12:24:26Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > Thats a novelty thing where they know in advance what to expect. Yes this is mind numbingly stupid, I mean lots of western people would find dessert in a shoe gross (I would) but for any country with buddhist influence it’s really really offensive. Feet and shoes are the lowest part of the body (spiritually), offering food in a shoe like this is saying “you are so low that this is all you deserve, to eat out of a shoe”. I’m sure the Japanese PM knows it wasn’t deliberate but still, did the “celebrity” chef not do even the slightest bit of research on Japanese culture? At least it was dessert and not a main dish like…sole. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netanyahu-serves-dessert-to-japanese-prime-minister-in-a-shoe/813775/10 "2018-05-08T12:42:09Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > …I’ve seen interest stories of Japanese restaurant that serves food in a mock toilet bowl and the local patrons seem to get a kick out of it. Nitpick: it’s pronounced “keesh”, and spelt _quiche_. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netanyahu-serves-dessert-to-japanese-prime-minister-in-a-shoe/813775/11 "2018-05-08T13:19:39Z")
So you’re archly lacing into Netanyahu for serving food meant to amuse the eye as well as please the tongue? You heel! ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netanyahu-serves-dessert-to-japanese-prime-minister-in-a-shoe/813775/12 "2018-05-08T13:27:03Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > this is mind numbingly stupid for truly stupid, thy this: I once read a newspaper reporter claim that he saw a high ranking Chinese politician who gave a gift to a visiting Israeli politician. The gift was a book. The book was _Protocols of the Elders of Zion_. But maybe on the other hand, the shoe thing is even stupider… Because you can politely accept a book and then quietly place it aside and ignore it. You can’t ignore your dinner plate at an official banquet. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netanyahu-serves-dessert-to-japanese-prime-minister-in-a-shoe/813775/13 "2018-05-08T13:39:21Z")
I find it hard to even believe it was accidental. It seems more like the type of “accident” that lets you get away with doing something. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netanyahu-serves-dessert-to-japanese-prime-minister-in-a-shoe/813775/14 "2018-05-08T14:01:53Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Heck, it would have been nice for Netanyahu to know that that’s true in Judaism itself - note that Moses is instructed to remove his shoes at the burning bush (Exodus 3:5… And fill it with tasty sweets, apparently. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netanyahu-serves-dessert-to-japanese-prime-minister-in-a-shoe/813775/15 "2018-05-08T16:36:02Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > I’m not saying it’s common Japanese culture, but I’ve seen interest stories of Japanese restaurant that serves food in a mock toilet bowl and the local patrons seem to get a kick out of it. Such a [restaurant](http://www.moderntoilet.com.tw/menu.asp) was right next to my hotel in Taipei, Taiwan. It was not crowded that I ever saw and I never felt the urge to venture inside. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netanyahu-serves-dessert-to-japanese-prime-minister-in-a-shoe/813775/16 "2018-05-08T17:48:48Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > for truly stupid, thy this: > I once read a newspaper reporter claim that he saw a high ranking Chinese politician who gave a gift to a visiting Israeli politician. > The gift was a book. > The book was _Protocols of the Elders of Zion_. Reminds me of when the Russians introduced the Japanese to that book, [and the Japanese promptly invited the Jews to Japan](http://jewishjournal.com/culture/213895/fugu-plan-japanese-saved-jewish-refugees/): > [@](#): > > Then, in 1922, Japan sided with Soviets who made up the White Army in its war against the Communists. The notoriously anti-Semitic Soviets introduced Japanese Col. Norihiro Yasue (a character in the show played by Ryan Moriarty) to the infamous “Protocols of the Jewish Elders” (also known as “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion”), a fabricated document purporting to be the minutes of a meeting during which prominent Jewish figures formulated plans to take control of the world’s economies, governments and media. However, while the fake document was used to justify anti-Jewish oppression around the world, it prompted the Japanese to admire what they believed was the Jews’ wealth and influence, which they hoped could be used to help advocate for Japan in the United States. Yasue even traveled to what was then Palestine in the 1920s, meeting with Chaim Weizmann and David Ben-Gurion, and later got his foreign ministry interested in the Fugu Plan. > > “According to the plan,” Teichman explained, “the Japanese wanted one Jewish man to go to America because they believed [President Franklin D.] Roosevelt was Jewish, and they felt that if they could show Roosevelt that they were being good to the Jews, he would lift the oil embargo that was placed on Japan in 1935 — because Japan had attacked China, and China was an ally of ours. If they showed they were nice to the Jews, somehow that would translate into not going to war. That would translate into, hopefully, getting Jewish-American money to Japan to help the Jews who were in Japan.” Roosevelt wasn’t Jewish, of course, but that didn’t stop American isolationists from calling him “Rosenfeld” to solidify their position that getting involved in WWII and beating up on all those nice Germans would be a bad thing. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netanyahu-serves-dessert-to-japanese-prime-minister-in-a-shoe/813775/17 "2018-05-08T18:36:10Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > coremelt: > > Heck, it would have been nice for Netanyahu to know that that’s true in Judaism itself - note that Moses is instructed to remove his shoes at the burning bush (Exodus 3:5). It’s something that he or his chef should have thought about even without needing to know about a foreign culture. It’s like that time that Iraqi guy threw his shoes at President Bush and the news guys were all, “In their culture, throwing a shoe at someone is a grave insult”. Yeah, chucking your shoe at somebody isn’t exactly a friendly gesture in American culture either. Or any culture.