Joined: Feb 21, 2006 Posts: 4196 Location: Sanford, Fl
Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 4:40 pm Post subject: Disney drops controversial dish from menus
Disney's menu change is good for the goose, not the gourmet
Scott Powers | Sentinel Staff Writer
October 11, 2008
Maybe Donald Duck squawked about the dish.
In a move that thrilled animal-rights activists but disappointed some gourmet diners, Walt Disney World has quietly dropped a controversial delicacy from its menus.
Au revoir, foie gras.
On Oct. 1, Disney dumped the traditional French appetizer, made of fattened duck or goose liver, at the last four Disney World restaurants to offer it -- Victoria & Albert's, California Grill, Citricos and Les Chefs de France.
Disney insisted Friday that this was no political statement. Officials wouldn't even comment on the international animal-rights campaign that calls foie gras production cruel and inhumane and seeks to persuade restaurants to drop the dish.
"It's really just about making adjustments to the menu," Disney World spokeswoman Andrea Finger said.
Nonetheless, activists consider the Disney decision a victory. Bryan Pease, co-founder of the anti-foie gras Animal Protection and Rescue League, called Disney's choice "huge," regardless of the company's official motives. According to his organization, farmers produce foie gras by forcing a metal pipe down the throat of a duck or goose and force-feeding it massive amounts of grain until its liver swells to 10 times the normal size.
"I think if they [Disney officials] make a policy decision to ban the product from all their menus, there must have to be a social reason for that," Pease said. "It wouldn't be because people don't like it anymore."
Actually, people who like foie gras like it a lot. John Bergan, an insurance consultant from New Jersey who's planning a Disney vacation for next month, considers it a rare treat. His Disney plans include dining at Victoria & Albert's, and he was looking forward to the foie gras. So he's angry and said the next time he schedules a Disney vacation, he'll be sure to book a special night out at an Orlando restaurant that, in his view, doesn't compromise its menu.
"What I have a problem with is any restaurant giving in to a special-interest group to the detriment of their customers," Bergan said.
Disney's decision might not be political, but it's clearly strategic, said Kevin Yee, author of the unofficial guide The Walt Disney World Menu Book. He equated it with the giant resort's recent decisions to eliminate trans fats from its fried foods and to replace french fries with apple slices on children's menus.
"It's kind of inching the resort toward socially responsible food," Yee said.
I think Disney dropped it because of the high fat content and probably as a cost cutting measure also.... Anyone out there actually ever tried it before (whether at Disney or elsewere)? _________________ Up or Down North, South, East, or West An Adventurer's Life is Best!
Joined: Jan 20, 2006 Posts: 1040 Location: Lexington, TN
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 3:31 am Post subject:
well i think it has to do with the duck i have a reason for saying when Epcot first opened the garden grille offered something very unique and tasty i might add duck sausage pizza with goats cheese holy cow do i miss it. My then girl friend and went there for lunch and i saw it and ordered it wow how good it was too man i wish i knew where they still serve it it was ahead of it's time and was it good did i mention how good it was _________________
Ich bin der Piraten zu behaupten, was mir jetzt und für immer
Joined: Feb 21, 2006 Posts: 4196 Location: Sanford, Fl
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 3:08 pm Post subject:
The issue is with the duck liver, the foie gras. Foie gras is "produced" by over/force feeding ducks to specifically enlarge their liver, then the liver is "harvested". Foie gras has come under a lot of heat and protests over the last few years.... California outlawed the production and sale of the dish within state boarders.
The issue is not with duck itself, just the foie gras... But I think finances might be more of a reason then protesters.... I haven't heard any "bad press" or pressure being put upon Disney specifically for offering the dish.... Foie gras is pretty expensive, so that is why I think it more financial... _________________ Up or Down North, South, East, or West An Adventurer's Life is Best!
Joined: Feb 21, 2006 Posts: 4196 Location: Sanford, Fl
Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 8:14 am Post subject:
Another high end food product has been dropped from the WDW menus, this time it is Prime Rib. Prime Rib has been removed from the AYCE buffets and replaced with strip loins.
Of course the company line is that the removal is not because of the economy, but it probably really is.
I am a carnivore. Every step in the process of providing meat to my plate is barbaric. So I am hoping Disney stopped serving the Foie gras because of the cost. If not the cost, and it is the treatment of the animals, then what is next ?
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