New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. Photo: David Shankbone

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg joked about Jews and food on Monday at the James Beard Awards, the New York Post‘s Page Six reported.

When presenting a lifetime achievement award to Le Cirque’s Sirio Maccioni, Bloomberg said, “Since today is Cinco de Mayo, I’ve proposed a collaboration between Sirio and me. If an Italian guy from Tuscany can open a French restaurant, why can’t a Jew from Boston do Mexican?”

“He’ll handle the food … and I’ll handle the Spanish,” added the majority owner of Bloomberg LP.

Other attendees at the event, which was held at New York City’s David H. Koch Theater, included Mario Batali, April Bloomfield, Dominique Ansel, Robert De Niro and his wife Grace Hightower.

The James Beard Awards honor food and beverage professionals working in North America. The Awards cover all aspects of the food industry, including chefs, restaurateurs, cookbook authors, food journalists, restaurant designers and architects.