Bye Bye Foie Gras

If you haven't already heard, the State of California is looking to ban foie gras from being used and sold here. The law that they are looking to pass in July states:

"This bill would establish similar provisions regarding force feeding a bird, as defined. The bill would prohibit a person from force feeding a bird for the purpose of enlarging the bird's liver beyond normal size, and would prohibit a person from hiring another person to do so. The bill would also prohibit a product from being sold in the state if it is the result of force feeding a bird for the purpose of enlarging the bird's liver beyond normal size. The bill would authorize an officer to issue a citation for a violation of those provisions in an amount up to $1000 per violation per day."

Now for those of you who don't know, foie gras is fattened ducks liver and man, is it good!!! I think most people have a bad conception fo foie gras and think it's inhumane to the ducks. Chef Anthony Bourdain went to Hudson Valley Foie Gras farm (one of the biggest purveyors of foie gras in the US) to find out the scoop on what's really going on.

Many chefs here in San Francisco and around the area are trying to defeat the bill. Several big names like Thomas Keller, Chris Cosention, and Michael Chiarello have weighted in on the subject. A group called "Artisan Farmers Alliance" represents "all of America's foie gras framers and others involved in bringing artisanal agricultural products to the American table." They have helped to defeat similar bills in Maryland, Maine, and Chicago. Here is there petition if you want to sign it.