An advertisement in the window of a River North marketplace has garnered some criticism over what some believe is an offensive message about Italians. In one of the storefront windows of Eataly Chicago, a large sign features a photo of white truffles with the slogan: “BRING HOME AN ITALIAN, WORTH THE SMELL.”
The advertisement continues with smaller text, “Fresh white truffles are hunted in the wild forests of central Italy only a few months out of the year. Once you taste the aromatic tuber, you will want to bring this well-shaven Italian with you everywhere.” For some, the sign promoting the musky fungi seems to hark back to stereotypes from the early 1900s about immigrants from Italy and their cooking.
