Protesters in Massachusetts are pressuring restaurants to stop serving foie gras, a controversial French delicacy that has been enjoyed for centuries. The dish, made by overfeeding ducks and geese to enlarge their livers up to tenfold, has sparked outrage from the Boston Animal Advocates group for the past six weeks, according to the Boston Globe.
Background of the Debate
Foie gras has been at the center of debate for years. Last May, Brookline became the first municipality in Massachusetts to ban its sale. However, animal rights activists found this insufficient and took their demonstrations directly to restaurants, demanding they remove foie gras from their menus permanently.
Pammy's Restaurant Targeted
Pammy's, an Italian-inspired restaurant in Central Square, succumbed to pressure after protesters picketed outside for a week. The restaurant occasionally included duck liver on its prix fixe menu. Despite sourcing foie gras from an ethical distributor, activists remained unsatisfied. Video footage from November showed protesters entering Pammy's and confronting co-owner Pam Willis. A police report noted a protester allegedly assaulted the restaurant's manager, though an activist claimed the protester merely stepped on the manager's shoe.
Matthew Woodstone, a diner at Pammy's during the protest, described the experience as a 'dystopian' clash between the elegant interior and the aggressive demonstration outside, with protesters using megaphones, signs, and flashing lights.
Other Restaurants Stand Firm
Not all restaurants have yielded. Alex Crabb, co-owner of Asta, stated that protests have not affected his business and he has no plans to stop serving foie gras. Chainsaw Boston, another animal rights group, protested outside Asta but saw no change.
Percy Gouldstone of Chainsaw Boston explained that their campaigns are considered successful when a restaurant agrees in writing to never serve foie gras. 'We ask nicely first,' Gouldstone said. 'Everything you see is an escalation of them refusing our initial ask.' He emphasized that their actions, though intimidating, are 'completely legal.'
Chainsaw Boston continues to work toward a foie gras-free future, while other restaurants remain defiant.
