Earlier this month, California’s ban on foie gras kicked in, leaving fans of duck/goose liver wondering where they would get their next fix. Now one restaurant in San Francisco says it will sell foie gras because it isn’t beholden to California state laws.
See, the Presidio Social Club is located inside the Presidio, former military base, setting of kick-ass Mark Harmon movie, and current national park. Thus, claims the restaurant, its menu is not governed by legislators in Sacramento.
“We’re not trying to exploit a loophole or out to break the law,” the owner, who did not have foie gras on the menu before the July 1 ban, tells the San Francisco Chronicle.
The Social Club’s move could move other restaurants — located in national parks or in casinos on reservation land — to begin selling the delicacy.
Of course, it could be all for nothing. A judge in L.A. is expected to rule in the coming weeks on whether to grant a temporary restraining order against enforcing the ban while a lawsuit over the new rule is pending.
Presidio restaurant says it can serve foie gras
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Scumbags
Because you don’t agree with Foie Gras?
Because it’s wrong to torture animals for human enjoyment.
That would be all animal products then, not just foie gras. The entire meat/dairy/egg industry is horrible.
Hardly. I’ve spent time on dairy farms, cattle farms, and hog farms… and I’ve never seen anything that equates to torture. In fact, the farms I’ve seen treat their animals very well because they have found stress harms output. Dairy cattle won’t produce as much milk, beef cattle won’t put on as much weight, and hogs won’t produce as many piglets if they aren’t healthy and happy.
That isn’t to say all animals are treated well – I know there are large corporate farms that rely upon feed lots and hog confinement operations – but it isn’t safe to say all animal products are “horrible” or that they are on par with force feeding birds in order to enlarge their livers (torture).
And have you seen whether or not the geese that make fois gras are, in fact, “tortured”? Force feeding does not necessarily equal “torture” any more than how other animals are treated.
Sounds like you’ve only been to small privately owned farms. Google “CAFO” if you want to see how the meat you get from your local supermarket or fast food joint is raised. If you don’t want to do your own research, then just see these photos…
Beef:http://www.farmsanctuary.org/wp-content/gallery/beef/feedlot_300_1.jpg
Dairy products: http://www.farmsanctuary.org/wp-content/gallery/dairy/dairy_dscn4599.jpg
Chicken: http://www.farmsanctuary.org/wp-content/gallery/chickens_1/broiler01_300_1.jpg
Eggs: http://www.pewenvironment.org/uploadedImages/PEG/Campaigns/cafo-caged-chickens-585-mfk020311.jpg/eggs/batthens09_300_1.jpg
Pork:http://www.farmsanctuary.org/wp-content/gallery/pork/farmer-john_awaiting-slaughter_neg001501_1.jpg
Turkey: http://www.farmsanctuary.org/wp-content/gallery/turkeys/turkey2_300_1.jpg
Seafood: http://ecowatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/f1.jpg
Please do note that I do eat meat, and have not, do not, nor have plans to join PETA. (Unless it’s the group “People Eating Tasty Animals”) I just don’t eat as much meat as the typical omnivore. And when I do, I try to get it from the types of farms you probably visited: http://www.cafothebook.org/images/whatyoucando_1.jpg, and avoid as much as possible food from the farms that look more like this: http://www.cafothebook.org/images/pages_02b.jpg
Torture may occur in some cases, but it is not in any way required to produce this product.
“Hello, can we have your liver?”
“But I’m using it!”
Your comment is 100% accurate. But has nothing to do with the issue being discussed.
Go after the supplier.
You mean the geese?
I like geese.
But foie gras is so delicious.
But the geese reported suffer from the process.
But a hate California and their stupid nanny laws.
California hate wins. Yea!
So California law enforcement will now be nation wide?
Awesome.
I don’t usually agree with “If you can’t change people’s minds, legislate away their choices”. And not only because of the fact that there will always be loopholes.
I worked in Yosemite for many years. You’d be surprised at how many people don’t understand that while the park is in California it is not a part of California.
And that the National Park Service is the ultimate authority inside a national park. You want them not to serve Foie Gras inside the Presidio? Talk to the Park Superintendent. Outside of a literal act of congress, that’s your only option.
California is so effed up, they have no business wasting money on stupid legislation like this. I don’t care how you feel about Foie Gras, its the principal of the thing. And, by the way, Foie Gras is delicious!
I think we should use every part of an animal.
The only problem with duck liver, is the force feeding part.
But there are other problems with how this country feed their livestock…
Anything that breaks the barriers limiting free choice is a good thing.
In that case I’ll just go ahead & punch everyone in the face who pisses me off, cause laws against physical assault limit my free choice to seek satisfaction.
^^This.
Look at that. Two people in a row who don’t understand that the only acceptable limits to free choice are based around instances where you harm someone else, like say punching them in the face, criteria that foie gras doesn’t meet….
^^This.
Wait, when did one persons definition of something become every persons definition of something?
That’s pretty much how language, law, and society work.
^^This.
/we have a pattern, people, let’s keep it going.
I hope you can outrun a bullet.
I hoped people here were intelligent enough to understand free choice ends when it prevents someone else from exercising their freedom from personal violence.
Clearly, I was wrong.
So tell me did you become that stupid as the result of some accident or is it a genetic disorder?
Enjoying your freedom, aren’t you?
That’s fine, as long as they gave up their free choice not to be punched. I have nothing against a good old fashioned duel.
Or were you just going to punch them against their will? You see, that’s not free choice. That’s being an idiot.
Wait, if you can use Kanuckistani Geese to make foie gras, then they should totally lift the ban, and make more of it. Because I can’t stand those border crossing bastards.
This is why we can drink at Sandy Hook, NJ. Because it’s on federal property and there is no federal alcohol restrictions, we can drink alcohol on the beach. It’s great. No more nanny state in this small part. Only restriction is no glass bottles. Everything else is fair game.
Eff California’s rules.
If they complain, claim to be a sanctuary restaurant.
After all, rules don’t apply to you if you claim you are a sanctuary, right?
Ohh good point there.
Not a moment too soon! Can’t wait ’til this stupid law disappears. We were already making plans to pool money and buy foie gras in Nevada and then bringing it for preparation at restaurants in SF.
Between the federal jurisdiction thing, lack of enforcement, and “paying for crackers” and getting free foie gras…I think we’re good.
Just because the federal government owns the land doesn’t mean that state law doesn’t apply.
There are no federal laws against prostitution (unless you bring someone over state lines for prostitution). Is prostitution legal in national parks? States handle marriages, not the federal government. So does that mean you can’t get married in a national park?
The federal government owns a lot of land, between parks, national forests, military bases, government buildings and other possessions. In at least five states, it owns more than half of the land. Does that mean state law doesn’t apply there?
^ Worthy of investigation.
On federal land, federal law takes precedent. And in National Parks and Forests, the ultimate authority is the National Park Service. They answer only to the full Congress of the United States.
And you can’t get married in a National Park unless you have received permission from the National Park Service. (note the non-refundable application fee in Yosemite)
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/weddings.htm
I’m guessing prostitution isn’t legal because you have to have a business permit from the NPS and they are not about to give one to a brothel.
http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/lawsandpolicies.htm
I especially like how there are ways that you can legally HAVE a firearm in the park, but actually firing it for any reason is illegal. LOL.
Lotsa diseased organ shills up in hurr …