Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
How L.A. Chefs And Restaurants Are Celebrating The Foie Gras Ban Lift
Foie gras is baaaack in Cali (Photo by margouillat photo via Shutterstock)
()
The California food world went aflutter today after a federal judge lifted the 2-and-a-half-year ban on foie gras, declaring that it would be legal to import the decadent and fatty goose and duck liver from out-of-state.
Chefs around Los Angeles have been scrambling to put together foie gras-centric menus, tweeting out to followers that they're celebrating this momentous occasion. Michael Cimarusti, the chef at Providence, tweeted, "It feels a little like December of 1933," equating this lift to the end of Prohibition.
French chef Ludo Lefebvre of Trois Mec and Petit Trois shared the same excitement. He tweeted:
So excited to add some amazing Foie gras dishes to @PetittroisLA and @TroismecLA menus!!! Justice.
— Ludo Lefebvre (@chefludo) January 7, 2015
Support for LAist comes from
Animal co-owner Jon Shook told the L.A. Times that foie gras is getting on his menu ASAP: "Hell yea!! Friday night is the plan. All the product is coming in tomorrow and the foie will show up on Friday if everything goes right."
Eater LA reports that Josiah Citrin of our famous two-Michelin star restaurant Melisse is already getting a head start with a foie gras supplement on his $135 tasting menu tonight. Also, french brasserie Terrine will have a full-out foie gras menu available on Monday.
Bazaar's chef José Andrés is even giving foie gras freebies tomorrow:
@eatersf @Eater toMorrow Free cotton Candy Foie Gras to All!!!! @BazaarLA @SLSBeverlyHills just stop at the door from 5 to 7!!
— Please wear a mask! Do it for the World please... (@chefjoseandres) January 7, 2015
It looks like HYDE on Sunset chef Chris Crary (of Top Chef Season 9 fame) is also adding the fatty liver to his menu:
Breaking: Foie Gras Is Legal in CA: Anti-Foie Ban Invalidated http://t.co/kLC9t8xSru guess what's coming to @hydesunset
— Chris Crary (@ChrisCrary) January 7, 2015
Animal rights activists who argue that force-feeding duck and geese is inhumane and cruel aren't too pleased with this new development. PETA's got a new name for chefs using foie gras; they tweeted out, "Fathead = US word 4 chefs who serve birds' bloated organs." Pro foie gras folks argue that duck and geese don't have same gag reflexes as humans do, and it doesn't bother them to be force-fed.
Support for LAist comes from
Either way, it looks like Californian chefs are bubbling with excitement and are planning some delectable dishes to come.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs. -
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
Best of LAist