Gastronomy Diplomacy, Between Theory and Practice: The Case of Israeli ‘Immigrant Chefs’ to the EU

Gastrodiplomacy, is defined as the use of cuisine as an instrument to create cross-cultural understanding in the hopes of improving interactions and cooperationbetween international and local actors. Its theory has so far examined agents in national aspects only, with the actor always being affiliated to the state. This paper focuses on the question of whether Israeli-immigrant chefs have become independent agents engaged in the establishment of gastrodiplomacy among themselves and within the field in which they operate? Examining if actors are no longer solely linked to the state, will allow my research to point out the representations and language that chefs choose to use is a diplomatic tool for conveying messages and ideas that sometimes are contrary to national interests. This study will focus on the role of Israeli-immigrant chefs as actors across European main cities that are plays as a major space where gastrodiplomacy takes place. By doing so, it aims at expanding the gastrodiplomacy theory with the introduction of cuisine as an instrument for chefs as significant global actors, to promote political ideas and interests. With the use of critical discourse analysis my research will attempt to deconstruct common political narratives, using the term “Gastrodiplomacy” for narrow political interests. There by, this research will give its contribution in theorizing Gasrtodiplomacy while using broader Diplomacy and International Relations theories.