The Chicagoland Duck Battle
Bickell's Blog
May 19, 2008
"My idea of heaven is eating pates de foie gras to the sound of trumpets."
- Sydney Smith, English writer (1771-1845)
The big news out of Chicago is that it's legal again to serve foie gras. It never should have been outlawed in the first place, but don't look for this issue to go away any time soon. The anti-foie gras people will continue their campaign to harass restaurants (and their guests) and tell us what we can and cannot eat. They have no respect for little things like law and order, but we will celebrate a significant victory as the Windy City restores some sanity to this ongoing issue.
I recently had dinner in a Malaysian restaurant in Chinatown (Philadelphia). The menu was fascinating and I was thinking about the Animal Rights people and the annoying battle against the aforementioned French delicacy. I wasn't tempted to try the crispy pork intestines, nor the hacked duck. I passed on the chicken feet with mushrooms, and there were several items on the menu that scared the hell out of me. In fairness, I didn't see dogs, monkey brains or foie gras listed anywhere, so I quietly went with the mango chicken. It was delicious.
Dining out should be an adventure as opposed to simply grabbing something to eat. And if your heart can take it, watch the evening news on any evening. You will discover that we have a lot more to worry about than exotic foods.
My congratulations to Chef Didier Durand (Chicago Chefs For Choice), Mayor Daley, and the great chefs of Chicago for winning this so-called battle.
Talk Back:
What's your take on foie gras and local city food regulations?
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