waderoberts wrote:What DOES concern me mightily, though, is the precedent that it would establish: if a legislative body is allowed to ban foie gras, what foodstuff(s) might be next? Runny scrambled eggs? Rare hamburger? Traditional aoli or mayo or Caeser salad dressing (made with raw eggs)? Sashimi? Steak tartare?

Next on the legislative agenda: Can't boil a live lobster!
You are now required to put the lobster to sleep first.

And then they'll close that kill-your-own-veal-calf place in River North!

I don't mean to awaken the sleeping beast, here, but my understanding was that this was probably going to come back for a full vote, and soon. If this is correct, here's the best ammo I can find:

http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/sep05/050901q.asp

I can't imagine anything more compelling than a crowd of scientists who have dedicated their lives to animal welfare drafting a resolution opposing foie gras production, pausing to actually do the research, then coming back and unanimously voting to overturn the draft. Every alderperson should see this. I've already spoken to mine (Manuel Flores) and put this in his hand. I'd urge anybody else of a like mind to do the same. It's fairly short, easily digestable (no pun intended), and makes a very, very strong case.

City Council Approves Foie Gras Ban

Say what??? These guys really passed an ordinance banning foie gras. So much for those fantastic ravioli at LeLan and the amazing burger at Rockit. Guess I'll have to travel to the 'burbs for my fix.

Holy *&%^


So this is a done deal? Da Mayor can't save us now?

For once I think this merits a content-less, one word, 7 syllable reply:

un-fucking-believable

My favorite is that Moore estimates there are "no more than a dozen" restaurants in the city serving foie.

I think we've listed well over a dozen before in this thread or others.

This is perhaps an inaccurate list, but based solely on memory/etc:

Alinea
Hot Doug's
Blackbird
Volo
Tru
Moto
Avenues
Sweets and Savories
Rockit
Le Lan
Ambria
Aria
Kiki's Bistro
Brasserie Jo
Yoshi's Cafe


Anyone have more for the list? I'm sure most of the bistros have a foie gras terrine somewhere on their menu..

And yet we can still smoke in the bars! Seriously how is it that this town can agree to ban foie gras....if only the foie lobby was as large as big tobacco...wonder if a prohibition style foie supply chain will start up? Better stock up on meat before it's banned.

I am beyond livid.

Anybody who is even moderately educated in meat production knows that the foie gras birds are treated far better than 90% of the meat in the supermarket case. The aldermen who voted for this either A) apparently feel that 95% of the meat production in this country should be illegal, or B) are cowards.

I suspect the latter is far more likely.

The really scary thing is that this is just the beginning.

Holy #$%@! When does it take effect? We have reservations for a foie-gras serving restaurant tonight!

Takes effect in June. When in June, I'm not sure.

And it's not "the aldermen who voted for this". It's "every alderman".

It was a unanimous vote.

FWIW I've just e-mailed our Mayor to inform him that in my opinion the reputation of Chicago as a world-class dining destination has just taken a giant step backwards, and that the city's stance is very likely to be ridiculed for some time to come in many metropolitan centers here and abroad (many of whom, of course, are our competitors for convention business).

Here's the website for others who might want to send similar messages:

http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webp ... umValue=30

Has anyone seen the actual ordinance? I was told by a certain chef at a certain LTH dinner that it was written in a way that is basically toothless (I forget the exact details, but he suggested it doesn't ban the serving of it, just the shipping of it to Chicago).

Cafe Absinthe has a Hudson Valley Foie Fras Appetizer on its menu. (One of the best preps I have had.)

RL serves a Filet Mignon topped with Foie Gras as well as a Duck Foie Gras appetizer.

This whole thing makes me very sad.

Though perhaps since they can't SELL it, they can give it away.

mmm...Foie Amuse Bouche.....

I apologize for my earlier post. I know this is a politics-free zone, and I don't want that to change. In an effort to keep it that way, may I suggest that this discussion be continued in private? Anybody who's upset about today's events and fears for the future, drop me a private message. Unfortunately, I think this is just the beginning, and I want to make sure any other potential soft targets are made significantly less soft. I want to talk about this a lot more... but this is not the place.

Sorry if I stepped over the line.

jbw wrote:FWIW I've just e-mailed our Mayor to inform him that in my opinion the reputation of Chicago as a world-class dining destination has just taken a giant step backwards, and that the city's stance is very likely to be ridiculed for some time to come in many metropolitan centers here and abroad (many of whom, of course, are our competitors for convention business).

Really, what countries abroad would look down on Chicago? Maybe the French and the Canadians who dont like Americans anyway! I highly doubt any potential convention goer will look if a city serves such a delicacy or not.

Force feeding is prohibited in:

Argentina
Austria (six of nine provinces)
The Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland
Germany
Ireland
Israel (2005)
Italy
Luxembourg
Norway
Poland (1999 — was the world's fifth largest producer)
Sweden
Switzerland
The Netherlands
The United Kingdom
United States: California's ban comes into effect in 2012

tem wrote:What puzzles me is why some creative Francophile biochemist hasn't come up w/ a concoction that suppresses the hormone/enzyme/whatever that makes the geese stop eating.

Would it still be torture if they just fattened themselves up w/o the help of a steel tube ? I believe the same sort of thing is already done for lots of other animals.

I thought of the above when I read this quote from an anti-EU Finnish politician in this article in the International Herald Tribune:

"It may be good if the EU gets so big that it can no longer function - it will be like a rat with its hypothalamus removed, who keeps eating until it explodes," he said, using the kind of colorful analogy that has made him popular with some voters.

Just beautiful. Had to get it in there before this thread gets locked.

I'll admit it -- I love foie gras and I am extremely upset that it is being banned.

But that's not the only reason I'm upset with the ban. I'm upset with the ban because it seems to be nothing more than politicians doing their typical window dressing. So few people eat foie gras, so this really does not amount to anyone taking a real stand against animal cruelty.

But what about pork, chicken and veal? If politicians like Joe Moore really wanted to make a difference, they would ban all of these products that come from the largest commercial farms, which are known to abuse the animals. Let me give some examples:

Although all experts understand pigs to be very intelligent and social animals, almost all of the pigs that we eat (bacon, ham, roast pork, etc.) in Chicago restaurants are raised in gestation crates (tiny metal crates which are grated to allow urine and feces to fall through) -- perhaps making pigs the most inhumanely treated animals of all. Instead of being allowed to roam on a farm, the pigs are kept in crates where they are afforded absolutely no opportunity to move around (or even turn around for that matter). They barely have room to sit down.

Expert evidence has shown that pigs confined to such crates suffer leg and joint problems, as well as urinary tract infections. Studies have also shown that pigs suffer extreme depression and other mental disorders as a direct and proximate result of their confinement. Of course, with no room to move around and because they live in metal crates which the pigs are constantly rubbing up against, the pigs also have sores all over their bodies.

Also, male calves (i.e., veal) are shocked, kicked, dragged and chained by the neck so that they cannot even move.

And then there are the egg producing hens -- they are often kept in the dark, starved for 18 days and denied water just to induce another egg producing cycle.

When Joe Moore stands up to propose a ban on these products in Chicago's restaurants and grocery stores, we'll know that he is serious about protecting against animal cruelty. But I think we all know that this will NEVER happen. So there you have it -- window dressing!

So... are we having a May Foie Gras-athon as a last harrah?

I'll admit to not having participated in past events, but this would get me off the floor.

Unbelievable. Honestly.

(Guess I'd better get that uber-burger at Sweets & Savories while I can... )

I assume this ban in Chicago may create an opportunity for suburban restaurants who are still permitted to serve foie gras. Does anyone have a list of suburban locations.? Le Titi de Paris is one.

BR wrote:But what about pork, chicken and veal? If politicians like Joe Moore really wanted to make a difference, they would ban all of these products that come from the largest commercial farms, which are known to abuse the animals.

sssssshhhhhh... Don't give the alderman No Moore ideas . Seriously, I liked foie gras the few times I have had it, but I think I can live wiithout it. Besides, it is really bad for you. But you think we should open a Foie Gras stand on Howard street, a few feet from the 49th ward? I can see it now, all the bars and liquor stores on the south side of Howard and a bunch of Bistros on the north side.

I'm glad I had the foi grois brulee last Saturday at Custome House. Best dish I've eaten this year.

GreenFish wrote:So... are we having a May Foie Gras-athon as a last harrah?

I guess it's time to start training for the Gras-athon

From a New York Times piece today (4/27):

"The ban, adopted on a vote of 48 to 1, makes 'food dispensing establishments' — restaurants and retail stores — subject to a fine of $500 for selling foie gras. The ordinance, which takes effect in 90 days, will be enforced by means of citizen complaints, said Joe Moore, the alderman who sponsored it."

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/27/us/27foiegras.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Luckily, it looks like they're only banning pâté de foie gras, so us banh mi fans are safe... for now.

I just wrote the mayor and my alderman to express my disappointment. Aldermen can be reached through this portal:

Really, what countries abroad would look down on Chicago?

From my travels in Europe:

cerca 1986: "You from Chicago? Al Capone! Rat-a-tat-tat!
cerca 1996: "You from Chicago? Michael Jordan, yes!
cerca 2006+ (?): "You from Chicago? Foie-gras-free zone, yes?"

Check out Mark Caro's piece in the Trib and the responses:
http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_popmachine/2006/04/the_slippery_sl.html

Headlines on Today's Trib:

Sacre bleu! No foie gras for you

Chicago losing ground in convention battle

Coincidence? I don't think so!

CTB wrote:Check out Mark Caro's piece in the Trib and the responses:
http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_popmachine/2006/04/the_slippery_sl.html

The most interesting (or telling) aspect of the entire thread is that not one single comment supports the action taken by the city council. Unbelievable.

=R=

cerca 1986: "You from Chicago? Al Capone! Rat-a-tat-tat!
cerca 2006+ (?): "You from Chicago? Foie-gras-free zone, yes?"

Looks like things have come full circle. I look forward to the foie gras speakeasy reviews.