Bits of Foie Gras
Famous Chicago chef Charlie Trotter speaks out against foie gras. The article quotes also-famous Chicago chef Rick Tramonto, who says that Trotter's stance is hypocritical because animals are slaughtered all the time. They're talking about two different things. The issue is not that the ducks are slaughtered, it's that they're force fed until their liver is swollen to the bursting point, it's in partial metabolic shutdown, and it may nor may not be diseased (experts differ). People need to realize that's what makes the issue different and then they can argue about the same thing. That said, Trotter's biggest complaint seems to be battery cages, which none of the U.S. producers use. So which farms did he tour, exactly? (A curious side note: Trotter seems to think that "left-leaning" is part of an insult. Didn't it used to be a simple statement?)
On an unrelated note, Illinois is considering legislation to forbid production of foie gras within that state. None is produced there now, but they want to head off Guillermo's relocation once the California ban kicks in in 2012. And Oregon, among others, is considering legislation more drastic than California's: It would ban possession.
I've long argued that foie gras is in its sunset years, and those of you who have read my article know that I'm divided about foie gras. I still assert that consumers should be able to choose, but that presumes they're well informed about the topic, which they almost never are. I've had two chefs recently argue that the ducks aren't force-fed. And the front page of PETA's foie gras campaign has such a glaring contradiction it would be funny if it weren't so sad. I think my article gets the facts right, but The Art of Eating is hard to find unless you order it from them directly.
- Dr. Vino Goes To The Geese
Some of you know that I have a spider-sense that tingles when writers mention foie gras, but this time Tyler at Dr. Vino made my job easy when he sent a link to his post about a visit to a French goose foie gras farm. He touches on the "unmentioned" problems...
- Chicago Bans Foie Gras
Chicago has banned the sale of foie gras, starting in June. This won't surprise anyone who's followed the issue. Once Californa legislators passed a ban on production and sale in 2004 (effective 2012), other cities and states followed suit. Long-time...
- Ny Metro On Foie Gras
Alaina mentions a New York Metro article about foie gras, and of course I have to comment. Melissa hopes that one day I'll just let these things go, but it hasn't happened yet. The author has a decent command of the facts: He knows there are...
- Rosengarten And Foie Gras
I recently bought a copy of The Rosengarten Report. I heard that it had a write-up on the foie gras debate (FOIEGRACALYPSE NOW! the cover screams), and I wanted to see what it said. I kept thinking of Troy McClure as I read the text, but I'll give...
- Why Do People Eat Foie Gras At Christmas?
You may not know it, but foie gras is a customary treat for the holiday season. Sonoma Foie Gras doubles its production for the last couple months of the year (ironically, California's ban on force-feeding generated a lot of press which translated...