I'm counting 17 participants in this week's "Freedom Foie for Five" promotion, during which restaurants who support foie gras will offer $5 portions in a bid to expose the masses to the controversial dish. The Artisan Farmers Alliance said it had signed up 20 restaurants, but Bistro 7 in Old City and Django in Queen Village told me they had been approached but would not participate. And Osteria is not participating, though parent restaurant Vetri is. Caffe Casta Diva, which had been on the fence, is participating. Then there's the issue of StudioKitchen, a private catering operation run by the irrepressible Shola Olunloyo. StudioKitchen was on the list. Over the weekend, he told me he would not be serving a la carte, which pretty much means he's supporting the cause but will not participate. The blogger known as PhilaFoodie tells me that Peter Dunmire at N3rd has signed on.
So... As of 11:30 a.m. Monday, here's the list.
Brasserie Perrier, 1619 Walnut St.
Caffe Casta Diva, 227 S. 20th St.
Caribou Cafe, 1128 Walnut St.
Lacroix at the Rittenhouse, 210 W. Rittenhouse Sq.
Le Bec-Fin, 1523 Walnut St.
Little Fish, Sixth and Catharine Streets
London Grill, 2301 Fairmount Ave.
Matyson, 39 S. 19th St.
N3rd, 801 N. Third St.
Rylei, 7144 Frankford Ave.
Salt & Pepper, 746 S. Sixth St.
Standard Tap, Second and Poplar Streets
Susanna Foo, 1512 Walnut St.
Twenty21, 2005 Market St.
Vetri, 1312 Spruce St.
Vintage, 129 S. 13th St.
Zinc, 246 S. 11th St.
Comments (8)
This list is becoming my list of next up restaurants to go to. Power to them all! I wish Ansil was on it though...the shirred duck eggs and Foie Gras was amazing when we had it a couple months ago.
Posted by Amiller | October 1, 2007 1:35 PM
Posted on October 1, 2007 13:35
well, good for you Amiller! glad you found something you can believe in and is willing to do something about it.
personally, i think Foie Gras tastes like crap (and some of those restaurants suck). it's such a non-issue, i find it kind of funny.
Posted by Young | October 1, 2007 4:04 PM
Posted on October 1, 2007 16:04
that's a lot of ducks missing their livers...
Posted by Rachel | October 1, 2007 9:53 PM
Posted on October 1, 2007 21:53
I will not patronize any of these restaurants, thanks for the information.
With the number of alternatives in the city, I think this is a foolish decision for these places to support a cause as disgusting as foie gras.
Posted by Janet | October 1, 2007 10:19 PM
Posted on October 1, 2007 22:19
Never ever thought about trying foie gras in my life.
However, since people made it such a big deal, I just had to try it.
Posted by dan | October 2, 2007 10:17 AM
Posted on October 2, 2007 10:17
Shola Olunloyo of Studio Kitchen will be participating in the ways he
can. Shola is a personal chef, and does not have a restaurant. But he
is very supportive of Philadelphia Chefs for Choice mission, and will
prepare foie gras many different ways all week, and post photos of his
creations on his blog. He will provide information about foie gras on
the blog, open a discussion on the subject, and will give AFA pamphlets
to his clients.
Shola Olunloyo website:
http://studiokitchen.typepad.com/studiokitchen/
Marc Vetri, esteemed Philadelphia restaurateur, supports the mission of
PCFC, and his restaurant Vetri will be serving Freedom Foie for Five.
Since the menu concept of his other restaurant Osteria does not include
foie gras, he has declined to serve it there this week. However, in
solidarity, Osteria will have AFA foie gras pamphlets available in the
restaurant.
N.3rd has joined the effort, as per Chef Peter Dunmire. They will be
serving Freedom Foie for Five, and providing information all week.
Posted by Charli Henley | October 2, 2007 2:27 PM
Posted on October 2, 2007 14:27
Hard to understand why any chef would want to revel in or flaunt cruelty.
Thanks for the listing. Now I know where NOT to go.
Posted by Diane | October 3, 2007 9:35 AM
Posted on October 3, 2007 09:35
Speaking of foie gras, the recognized expert in both tasting and preparation of it, Michael Ginor is coming to Philly for The Book and the Cook. The London Grill is hosting him on October 22nd. I am so excited!
Posted by Katie Coleman | October 5, 2007 11:50 AM
Posted on October 5, 2007 11:50