Chefs to Defy Foie Gras Ban?

By Elina Shatkin Fri., Sep. 9 2011 at 11:20 AM

Rabbit albondigas, teriyaki foie gras, green garlic tempura, miso broth by chef Laurent Quenioux at Starry Kitchen.

Foie gras, the delicacy beloved by gourmands and protested by animal rights activists, may be off California menus by next summer. SB 1520, which bans force-feeding of ducks or geese to make foie gras and forbids selling foie gras produced that way, takes effect in July 2012. It was signed into law in 2004 by then-governor Arnold Schwarzeneger.

"When the ban comes in, we're going to serve it every day," chef Laurent Quenioux tells Bloomberg. "They can send me the foie gras police."

Some chefs, like Thomas Keller, are resigned to the ban, while others vow to band together and fight the ban via legal challenges in the courts. A similar foie gras ban was passed in Chicago then lifted in 2008 at the urging of Mayor Richard Daley.

In the meantime, cook it, if you got it. Here's a recipe for foie gras fingerling potato chips and a behind-the-stoves look at how chef Ludo Lefebvre makes his fabulous foie gras cupcake.

Tags:

Ban, Bloomberg, Chicago, Elina Shatkin, Foie Gras, Laurent Quenioux, Law, Legal, Richard Daley, Thomas Keller

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Megan Spanjian

Oh NO. How is it possible I didn't know about this? Could it be because I've had foie gras at least three times in the past two months at (shh) restaurants in LA? They should have a group: foie gras sympathizers.

Val

The question is, what is the consequence for defying that ban? Will the chefs/restaurant be required to pay the $1,000 per day per offense penalty, or receive a slap on the wrist, and will chefs/Chinese restaurants ignoring the shark fin ban (AB 376) be treated equally.

It's also interesting to note that some chefs will dismiss the assertion that the method of raising ducks and geese for foie gras is cruel (including Anthony Bourdain, who demonstrated that on "No Reservations" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v... but all agree that the practice of finning is cruel (no argument there).

I just find it amusing that the State of California has determined both to be cruel, and has outlawed both practices in California, but there seems to be mixed values here when it comes to foie gras (perhaps that ducks and geese are not in danger of extinction?).

Seoul451

Fight fight let's win and eat I'm an animal lover and it sux to force feed but why stop traditions so let's eat

ConcernedConsumer

The cruel and unhealthy force-feeding of birds for foie gras production has been banned in over a dozen countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Israel. The Animal Legal Defense Fund just filed a petition asking the USDA to place consumer warning labels on foie gras products. Similar to cigarette warning labels, the public has a right to know that the food they’re consuming comes from a diseased animal. Read the full petition here:http://org2.democracyinaction....