Foie Gras War: D'Artagnan Besieged

By JULIETTE ROSSANT New Jersey state assemblyman Michael J. Panter (D-12) is "one of those thugs who think free speech only applies to the anti-Bush left," according to Expose the Left. The comment followed Panter's recent appearance on FOX's Hannity & Colmes with Ann Coulter, one of whose books he is trying to have banned. Apparently, the current Islamo-fascist ban-frenzy is no longer exclusive to either Islamo-fascists or their right-wing American political counterparts: now, it's a Democratic thing, too. Who needs freedom of speech, anyway? According to AP and other sources, Panter is also down on freedom of choice, especially when it comes to eats. He plans to introduce a bill this to ban the production and sale of foie gras in New Jersey. Why? He feels that foie gras is a "barbaric practice that has no place in any civilized society." The legislation also would prohibit distribution and importation. While Panter's foie gras ban remains yet unfiled, you can see from the current legislation sponsored by Panter that he is be torn between traditional Republican and Democratic positions. On the one hand, he backs the prohibition of black bear hunting (A525), and public bidding on government contracts (A526) -- both acts clearly set against the position of our country's covert de factor ruler and all-around eminence grise, Dick Cheney. On the other, Panter clearly supports centralized government control, at least when it comes to animals, such as A532, which prohibits trapping of dogs and cats except by animal control officers, members of SPCA and DEP professionals -- very PETA-sounding. Superchefblog has been covering the Foie Gras War for two years now and watched banning progress from New York to California as well as abroad. Last April, Chicago saw a big media splash over its city-wide ban -- now under attack by proposed repeal. The New Jersey bill makes many chefs particularly nervous due to the pending impact it would have on top food supplier D'Artagnan, which is based in Newark. Anthony Bourdain said last week via eGullet that a foie gras ban would be "a bomb in the New York restaurant scene." Foie gras is a primary color in the flavor spectrum that we use in the kitchen. It simply goes back to Roman times. To ask chefs to cook without that is to ask a painter to not use the color blue. Meanwhile, Panter has professed sympathy for the New Jersey businesses that would be affected, particularly D'Artagnan, but called profiting from the food "blood money." Ariane Daguin, D'Artagnan's owner and chief executive, said the proposed bill would devastate her 20-year-old business of about 120 employees. She said foie gras makes up about 30 percent of her $45 million in annual sales. Bourdain added: Foie gras and foie gras related products constitute, they have said, 30% of their income stream. THIRTY PERCENT. That's an impossible gap to make up for with mark-up. More importantly, the duck breasts, legs, bones, gizzards, pates, sausages, terrines and fat etc--which we chefs have all come to know and rely on--and which you have come to expect as constituting the restaurant standard--are a direct by-product of that same specially bred duck. No foie? No nice breast. No foie? No good duck sauces etc. No foie? No D'Artagnan. End of story. The enormity of the ban would echo through gourmet stores, restaurants and home cooking far outside the Northeast. Earlier this month, UPI asked a question similar to Superchefblog: If you object to these points, consider instead the lawmakers. With problems to face like obesity -- not to mention gas emissions and global warming, poor education for the under-privileged, health insurance and immigration reform -- why are they spending time on animals not people? Superchefblog joins Bourdain in urging all readers to write to the New Jersey State Assembly. Bourdain is calling on all concerned citizen to urge New Jersey State Assembly members to vote against the ban. Bill Sponsors: Assemblywoman Joan Voss Assemblyman Thomas Giblin Assemblyman Michael Panter Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee: Assemblyman Douglas Fisher - Chair Assemblyman Nelson Albano - Vice-Chair Assemblyman Herb Conaway Assemblyman Ronald Dancer Assemblywoman Marcia Karrow You can email any and all of these representatives by clicking on their names and then "Electronic Mail." Worried that your email will go unheeded? Don't -- New Jersey people are "bridgde tunnel people" themselves, many of them working in New York but living in New Jersey, so they're used to crossing state lines. Superchefblog recommends that you cross inside their stateline and make your voice heard electronically -- before New Jersey jumps into your refrigerator and throws out your best D'Artagnan foie gras. So, write up a good letter, be sure you indicate every who will receive it ("cc"), join the fray. Related news: Boston Herald International Herald Tribune (AP) MSN Money (AP) Newsday (AP) Courier-Post (AP) Hemscott Group (AP) Courier News (AP) Daily Record (AP) United Press International (UPI) Record Previous articles: [Foie Gras War - complete] [Chefs & Politics - complete] Technorati Tags: superchefblog, Juliette Rossant, super chef, celebrities, chefs, food, restaurants, cooking, branding, cuisine, blogging, food blogging, foie gras --> back to superchefblog