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Eateries, mall in court over white rice

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PROVIDENCE, R.I., April 26 (UPI) -- A dispute among restaurants in a Rhode Island mall food court is in a real court with one restaurateur claiming other eateries violate terms of his lease.

Cathay Cathay, a Chinese restaurant in the Providence Place Mall food court, claims Japan Café and Gourmet India both serve similar dishes and white rice, something Cathay Cathay attorney John J. DeSimone said violates exclusivity agreements outlined in the lease.

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Judge Stephen J. Fortunato Jr., who dismissed Gourmet India from the suit, heard arguments from both sides about the process of making rice and how the actual dishes look, the Providence Journal said.

The attorney for Japan Café claims his client is serving parboiled rice, not boiled or steamed white rice. He said while the color may be similar, the rice is prepared in a different way, and served in Mexican fare too.

Rouse Providence, LLC, owner of the mall, claims it doesn't have power to prevent restaurants from serving certain food.

DeSimone said the contract Cathay Cathay signed with Rouse stipulates it would be the only provider of certain Chinese fare, including white rice. Cathay Cathay pays a mall-topping $275,000 per year in rent for exclusivity.

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Fortunato said he will make a ruling on May 4.

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