Former Top Chef star Mike Isabella is a big fan of rap legends The Notorious B.I.G and Tupac Shakur.
So he's planning a February 2 East Coast vs. West Coast: Biggie & Tupac Tribute Dinner at his at Washington DC restaurant Graffiato.
The special event will cost 65 bucks and the menu features dishes like "LILKIMchee and "milk chocolate chip BLUNTS."
Once word of the event began to spread, some of the menu descriptions Isabella had come up with -- in particular the "THUG RICE" (Risotto) -- began to garner Twitter criticism for cultural insensitivity.
This #biggie & #pac so called “tribute dinner" by @Graffiato is pretty distasteful, no pun. Menu attached. pic.twitter.com/M14fsO52kY — Christopher B. (@chrstphr_) December 17, 2014
Error loading Tweet. It may have been deleted.
In the middle of all of these race events he creates a "Biggie vs Tupac Tribute Dinner." I am not amused @improveomatic @MikeIsabellaDC — Javonni Brustow (@VonniMediaMogul) December 22, 2014
Error loading Tweet. It may have been deleted.
When asked what his motivation behind the meal was by Fox News, this is what Isabella said:
"I grew up listening to Tupac, Biggie and other hip hop artists in the 90s. To this day, their music is still some of my favorite.” “The dinner will feature classic east and west coast dishes set to music from these two greatest hip hop artists. The menu descriptions are a play on song titles and song lyrics," he continued.The actual menu is no longer on Graffiato's web site. However, a restaurant spokeswoman told Fox that not only will the event still take place, but that it has already sold out.
Does the menu rub you the wrong way?