California Foie Gras Ban

In case you haven't heard, one of culinary's top delicacies — foie gras — will be disappearing from California restaurant menus on July 1, the result of a state-wide ban on the consumption of force-fed duck liver.

Several California chefs are up in arms about the California foie gras ban, including Thomas Keller, owner of Yountville's 5-star French Laundry. The new law is forcing the closure of Sonoma producer Artisan Foie Gras, which shuts its doors on June 30.

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, who leads the kitchen at London West Hollywood, is responding with his “Last Bite” Foie Gras Dinner. The 6-course dinner, which includes such menu items as Foie Gras Nigiri and Foie Gras Cupcake, will be offered every Thursday in May. Cost is $135, and an extra $85 for wine pairing.

Here are a few more places to find foie gras in California before the ban:

• Salted Licorice and Foie Gras Ice Cream at Humphry Slocombe in San Francisco
• Humane foie gras with sea beans and shiso from Cyrus in Healdsburg
• Quail stuffed with foie gras from Gary Danko in San Francisco
• Pig's blood papparadelle with foie gras & trotters from Incanto in Noe Valley
• The "Foie For All" menu at Melisse in Santa Monica, featuring dishes like foie gras flan with blood orange gelee and truffled foie gras agnolotti with chicken oysters and consomme.
• Human Artisan Foie Gras seared with Medjool dates, candied orange peel and pistachio nitro bread from La Toque in Napa.
  

— Veronica Hill • CaliforniaTravelExpert.com

Chef Gordon Ramsay's Last Bite Foie Gras Dinner is available through May.