A Few Less Ducks In Philly...
September 24, 2007
"Any time someone carries a picket sign in front of the White House, that is the First Amendment in action" -- Julian Bond
This is a local story with major implications on the national and international restaurant scene. A Philadelphia chef/owner has seen (and heard) enough of the protesters against foie gras. It was the picketing of his home that was driving his neighbors crazy that finally convinced him to discontinue the serving of foie Gras at Ansill Food & Wine. His personal decision will not alter the course of human history, but it will play a part in some inevitable changes in our food culture.
The protesters are protected by the Constitution and possibly the National Guard. The chefs are on their own. It's not a level playing field and the protesters will eventually rid the country of this controversial delicacy that has been around forever. People don't appreciate being harassed, and the last place they need this aggravation is at their favorite restaurant or while they are sleeping. The protesters have the edge because they also have the capability of putting a restaurant out of business.
You can't blame the chefs for surrendering, but you can wonder what food item will be next after they rid us of foie Gras.
READER FEEDBACK:
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Next it will be veal, then suckling pig, then squab, oh, and lets not forget lamb (they are baby animals too). These people have nothing better to do with their lives than to jump on the bandwagon of some popular local protest, and a business, doing what they've done for years, as restaurants the world over have also, has to buckle under as a result. The likelihood is that this restaurant has more individual foie Gras eaters than there were protesters, but majority rule means nothing if your minority is vocal enough. It should be illegal to protest any business or individual that is offering any goods that are sold within the law.
These people do have the right to protest the sale of foie Gras, but they should be protesting to their government to have it banned, or work towards having a resolution passed to have it banned in their state, but then this would actually require some form of real commitment, rather than a few evenings around the corner in front of some hard working, law abiding chef's house.
Ashley Nichols
HCMC Viet Nam
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I guess we all have to eat the same crappy processed food that Americans love and all become lazy fat people that have nothing to do but bother owners of restaurants or chefs to get the same bad food??? Less than 5 companies in the US make Foie Gras, which is not barbarian to make, it doesn't hurt the ducks or geese. If they stop doing it, that particular duck breed is going to disappear, thanks to you!
Mind your own business, if you don't like it don't eat it. Pick a real fight, like stop driving on the left lane with your cell phone, or else...
-PZ
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If you don't like it don't eat it. But don't tell me what to eat or not to eat. If you do I might go to your house and picket you!
- TG
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I think this is truly frightening. PETA'S agenda is to stop the serving and use of all animal products. If they are allowed to have their way, all restaurants will eventually be vegetarian. This is rule by intimidation. You're right, what is next?
Miriam Silverberg
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