Foie gras

We've had a few agressive and rude calls just recently, mainly from youngsters who are getting worked up over foie gras. Yes we stock it and we don't hide from the fact. However we have done our homework on this issue and as with ALL our ingredients -chickens, eggs or beef - we refuse to use suppliers that have little regard for humane farming practices. Force feeding a duck is not humane I hear you cry. Ducks and geese have a natural tendancy to over feed to prepare for their migrations, this is probably how the concept of foie gras was discovered by the Egyptians centuries ago. The birds are force fed in the last month of their lives, having had a life of freedom in the open air. Take a closer look at battery hens or chickens packed into henhouses who never see the light of day but provide cheap meat for Kentucky Fried Chicken. Personally I feel animal rights activists would do well to focus on the chicken. In fact if you want to push me further I would say we should all be battling harder for the human cause and the removal of poverty in the world. This is why French Living has chosen to be an active supporter of the charity Restaurants Against Hunger for the last few years.

Here are a couple of links to contributors to this subject (who are not involved in the business of producing foie gras)

foie gras: pleasure, or murder most fowl?: Food + Drink: mensvogue.com

WorldTable - Foie Gras Redux

Finally my advice to animal rights campaigners would be to use a less abusive and more tolerant language when you speak or write to people, however sensitive the subject is to you.