Aziza chef Mourad Lahlou appointed “culinary diplomat” by State Department

Aziza Chef Mourad Lahlou at the ceremony in Washington D.C. last week. Courtesy of InsideScoop SF

Grub Street SF brings news that the owner and head chef of Aziza (5800 Geary), Mourad Lahou, was named a “State Chef” by the State Department in a ceremony hosted by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The idea, as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton explained at the ceremony, is to get together a small army of respected American chefs to serve as “culinary diplomats,” cooking at state dinners and traveling to other countries to share America’s cuisine during diplomatic events. “Factoring in others’ tastes, ceremonies, and values is an overlooked and powerful part of diplomacy,” Clinton said.

That makes Lahlou a voluntary member of the new “American Chef Corps”, whose members will travel abroad to use food as a diplomatic tool and showcase America’s finest wares at international events,” according to Grubstreet.

Lahlou and other chefs in the Corps “will be called on for various dinners and may travel, most likely on their own dime, to other countries,” wrote food critic Michael Bauer about the program.

With every title comes some nifty swag, and for this honor it’s a special navy chef’s coat complete with the American flag, the seal of the State Department, and Lahlou’s name embroidered in gold on the breast.

This is not Lahlou’s first rodeo with politico. Back in July food critic Michael Bauer enjoyed his birthday dinner at Aziza with none other than Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (who apparently has a thing for dark chocolate).

Congratulations to Chef Lahlou!

Sarah B.