Fighting for Foie Gras

The chefs in Philadelphia are fighting back, and so am I. I’m just glad that New York establishments like David Burke & Donatella still have my back.

I was having a conversation with some friends earlier this week about the ethics of foie gras. Both of these friends are omnivores, but seem to be in agreement that the way foie gras (generally the birds are force fed) comes to exist is just too cruel to justify eating the delicacy.

So the battle rages on. Chicago has long since banned the use of foie gras in restaurants, forcing some of the world’s greatest culinary talent to either serve it speakeasy style or serve it outright and accrue fines.

Ok, so here’s my issue with this whole thing: if you’re a vegetarian and you don’t believe in foie gras, the way it’s made, or whatever else, I’m TOTALLY cool with that. You have your principles and you’re standing by them. I am not surprised by your perspective on the issue. In fact, I expected it.

My problem is the non-vegetarians fighting the foie gras. You’re cool with having slaughtered cow or a lobster that’s been boiled alive, but a duck overstuffed with organic ingredients is where you draw the line? Really?

Here’s how I see it: If I had a choice of dying one of three ways, by having my head chopped off, by being shot in the wilderness, or by being fed to death…well…guess which one I’d go for. In fact, I PRAY that I die from being fed to death!

I refuse to live in a world where the government tells me what I can and can’t eat. I will keep Martin Picard in business myself if I have to (though somehow I don’t think he’ll need me to).

If you care to join me in the fight to protect endangered foie gras in New York, please visit the following foie-embracing establishments:

Per Se: Thomas Keller’s much loved and much respected restaurant. Keller’s kitchen was also the model for the Disney culinary flick, Ratatouille.

DB Bistro: Home of the famous DB Burger, a sirloin burger topped with foie gras.

Union Market: For those who want to prepare a little luxury in the comfort of their own homes, Union Market has the goods.

She Won the Most Coveted Prize in Literature–and Couldn’t Care Less

Doris Lessing, author of The Golden Notebook, became the oldest person honored with a Nobel Prize for Literature today. You’d think she’d be thrilled. . . . But as is obvious in the video where reporters inform her that she has won, we can see that she doesn’t seem to really give a poop. In fact, as she pushed her way past reporters to get into her London home she told them, “Oh Christ, I couldn’t care less.” She said that “they can’t give the Nobel to someone who’s dead, so I think they were probably thinking they’d probably better give it to me now before I’ve popped off.” Lessing turns 88 next week.