What is Foie Gras?

Question

I was taken to a Michelin Star restaurant last night. On the menu was Foie Gras. I had a little taste and to be honest it tasted a bit like bird s**t smells. What the h**l is that stuff (I know its something to do with goose) and how is it considered a delicasy

Answer 1

Goose liver... from force fed geese.

Answer 2

It is french for Fatty liver...and is usually goose liver which is artificially fattened by feeding the ducks grain...usually corn, through a funnel placed down the throat....It is a delicacy because it it rare...and personally I like the taste....but best eaten in France where it is not frowned upon.....and has not yet been banned.

Answer 3

It's goose or duck liver made into a pate eaten alot in france although I understand they are trying to cut down on it as the animals for overfed to make the liver that way I think

Answer 4

Goose liver and yes, it is only loved by those who can appreciate livers of birds who p**p in soccer fields!

Answer 5

It is forcefed fatty duck liver or goose liver.  It is cruel how it is done and you must have gone to a very expensive restaurant because foie gras is extremely expensive

Here is the wilkipedia answer.

Foie gras [fwɑ gʁɑ] (French for "fat liver") is "the liver of a duck or a goose that has been specially fattened by gavage" (as defined by French law[1]).

Foie gras is one of the most popular delicacies in French cuisine and its flavour is described as rich, buttery, and delicate, unlike that of a regular duck or goose liver. Foie gras can be sold whole, or prepared into mousse, parfait, or pâté (the lowest quality), and is typically served as an accompaniment to another comestible (food item), such as toast or steak.

Answer 6

disgusting is what it is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foie_gras

Answer 7

In Europe, it is usually a fattened goose liver, and in the states it is usually duck. I know that production is illegal in the UK, but consumption isn't. In the US, some cities (Chicago, for one) has outlawed service as well. You must have been at a VERY nice restaurant for there to be foie gras on the menu!

Some people say it is cruel process, and it is. That's why PETA is all over it. I mean, if a duck only weighs 8lbs, then that means that they are force fed 4lbs of food all at once. The birds sometimes die from their stomaches rupturing, and there is an awful lot of waste- the birds can only be used for the livers and nothing else. This is the basic reason for why it's so d**n expensive.

I've only had it once myself, and I didn't particularly like it. Mine was prepared by a fellow culinary student so this may have been the reason why mine was so terrible. It tastes a bit like earth to me... as in, potting soil.

To the guy a few answers above me... HIGH QUALITY FOIE GRAS IS NEVER MADE INTO PATE!!! Only the lowest quality foie gras is made into pate... and that means that you should probably steer clear of it.

Answer 8

Foie gras is the liver of a duck or a goose that has been specially fattened by gavage

Answer 9

Force fed Goose's Liver  - made into Pate.

Its really a cruel way to produce the pate but it seems you cant stop the French from doing it.

Answer 10

Goose liver

Answer 11

It's the bloated liver of a duck or goose that has been force fed on huge quantities of corn.

Answer 12

Hi Kid     Foie Gras is Goose Liver.       There was a program on TV showing geese , in France,being force fed by tube to enlarge their liver.  It is supposed to be a delicacy.   Disgusting and to my mind cruel.

Answer 13

Goose liver, and a VERY cruel meal.

They force feed the goose by forcing food down it's neck, causing the liver to swell quickly.

**

I just thought - Foie Gras is illegal in the UK. See:

"Until new scientific evidence on alternative methods and their welfare aspects is available the production of foie gras is prohibited by treaty"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foie_gras_c...

Answer 14

goose liver

usually in a paste served on crackers

Answer 15

IT IS A goose liver pate made by the goose being FORCE FED corn hence the colour of the pate

Answer 16

goose liver  its force fed geese. same as veil force fed calf.

Answer 17

It is goose liver and by the way it is illegal to serve it these days. Well I cannot be sure it is illegal in all countries.  Where were you when you ate it?

Answer 18

its a goose that is force fed with a funnel...its very cruel and alot of ppl are against it