Chef Eyal Shani Sparks Outrage With Hummus Display at Beverly Hills Restaurant Opening

Israeli celebrity chef Eyal Shani has ignited a firestorm on social media following an unconventional display at the opening of his new kosher restaurant, "Malka," in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles. During the launch event, Shani was filmed spreading a large portion of hummus with his bare hands directly onto a wooden table, a move that drew sharp criticism from online users.

Reactions ranged from disgust to concern for hygiene. "If a chef in a restaurant spreads hummus on a plate like that with his fingers, you call the Ministry of Health, even if he's Eyal Shani," one commenter wrote. Others expressed hopes that his hands were clean, while some suggested the incident reflected poorly on Israelis abroad. One user stated, "If someone served me food like that, I would cut off his hand," and another declared, "It's disgusting on every level."

The restaurant, located in the luxury SIXTY hotel, is set to open to the public on September 1. Like its sister branches in New York and Tel Aviv, "Malka" will be closed on Fridays and Saturdays. The opening event was attended by industry professionals, foodies, bloggers, and influencers.

The menu at the new Los Angeles location features signature dishes from Shani's other restaurants, such as schnitzel with mashed potatoes and hummus, alongside locally sourced produce. A special dish created for the L.A. branch is a flattened eggplant served with tomato sauce, tahini, and yogurt foam.