Another great post. Foie gras has not been a staple of my diet, but I visited the Dordogne region in April of this year and had a tour of a foie gras farm called La Ferme de Turnac (south of Sarlat). The geese and ducks there were treated with great respect and almost reverence, especially during the much criticized gavage process -- at least at that particular farm. I brought back a small can of foie gras from that farm to show my colleagues at work. Some colleagues were appalled and seemed ready to "cancel" me for my transgression, others (especially Chinese Americans) were intrigued and volunteered to help me finish off the can. So the debate continues, even among friends. What is not debatable, as this post notes, is that conditions at that little French farm I visited were far more humane than what one will find at most industrial poultry farms in the US (although the Bell & Evans company here in Virginia seems to be a leader in the ethical treatment of chickens).
I'm glad you had a positive experience at the foie gras farm. I've seen flocks of geese waddling at speed across a field as soon as they spy Gran'mere approaching with her bucket of corn. Still, there are industrial enterprises whose practices need monitoring - and correcting. But I wish we'd shine the light of our fury against the horrifically cruel and massive market of industrially farmed chickens - a much better target for 'cancelling' reactions.
Thank you Julia for your lovely recipes and all the fascinating Info in your posts.
Heading for Le Bugue on Saturday and the walnut tart & poussin are top of my list.
Will also invest in a French edition of Bruno - to help improve my language skills - not so great at the moment!!
Another great post. Foie gras has not been a staple of my diet, but I visited the Dordogne region in April of this year and had a tour of a foie gras farm called La Ferme de Turnac (south of Sarlat). The geese and ducks there were treated with great respect and almost reverence, especially during the much criticized gavage process -- at least at that particular farm. I brought back a small can of foie gras from that farm to show my colleagues at work. Some colleagues were appalled and seemed ready to "cancel" me for my transgression, others (especially Chinese Americans) were intrigued and volunteered to help me finish off the can. So the debate continues, even among friends. What is not debatable, as this post notes, is that conditions at that little French farm I visited were far more humane than what one will find at most industrial poultry farms in the US (although the Bell & Evans company here in Virginia seems to be a leader in the ethical treatment of chickens).
I'm glad you had a positive experience at the foie gras farm. I've seen flocks of geese waddling at speed across a field as soon as they spy Gran'mere approaching with her bucket of corn. Still, there are industrial enterprises whose practices need monitoring - and correcting. But I wish we'd shine the light of our fury against the horrifically cruel and massive market of industrially farmed chickens - a much better target for 'cancelling' reactions.
Looks like a yummy tart! Have their putative powers got anything to do with their resemblance to brains perhaps?
Hehehe! They may be an entry point into offal-eating...
Bon voyage - et bon appetit!