hotsnack: foie gras fight coming to town?

The ever vigilant gonzo tag team of Tony Bourdain and Michael Ruhlman has sounded the alarm (well the email subject said emergency) on a potential foie gras ban coming to New Jersey. The Garden State is also the home of D’Artagnan, the country’s top purveyor of foie gras and things delicious, that supplies many of the fine dining and retail establishments in NYC and beyond. Hit eGullet for Bourdain and Megnut for Ruhlman.

As I’m sure you’re aware, there’s a ban in effect in Chicago now and said ban is being challenged as unconstitutional. It would seem if the ban is repealed based on constitutionality, that would set a good precedent.

Coincidentally, this press release came in this afternoon with an update on the Chicago appeal.

With Repeal Ordinance Pending, City of Chicago Asks to Defer Its Response to Constitutional Challenge of City Council Foie Gras Ban

Complete press release after the jump.

Illinois Restaurant Association and Allen’s the New American Café do not oppose City’s 30-day extension request to answer lawsuit

CHICAGO – The Illinois Restaurant Association and Allen’s the New American Café today agreed to the City of Chicago’s request for a 30-day extension to respond to their lawsuit challenging the City Council’s foie gras ban. In a suit filed on August 25, 2006, the Illinois Restaurant Association and Allen’s the New American Café allege the City Council ban violates the Illinois Constitution. The City, which will now have until October 25, 2006 to respond to the lawsuit, requested the extension in light of the ongoing legislative effort to repeal the unconstitutional ordinance.

“We agreed to the extension to give the City Council time to reconsider what we believe is a misguided unconstitutional ordinance. If this drags on, it will be the taxpayers who will pay most dearly. A straightforward repeal of the law will allow restaurant-goers to continue to eat the foods they enjoy and will save Chicago taxpayers their hard-earned dollars,” Colleen McShane, President of the Illinois Restaurant Association, said.