Foie gras lovers descended on the Presidio Social Club, housed in a converted infantry barracks on a former US army base, on Saturday night to have their first taste of the delicacy since California imposed a ban on July 1st.
Restaurant owner Ray Tang reasoned that the restaurant can legally ignore state law because the Presidio has remained federal property even after being decommissioned by the army. Businesses on federal property must adhere to federal regulations, which trump state ones, he says.
Animal rights activists who fought for the ban because of the way the delicacy is made – force-feeding ducks or geese to fatten their livers – protested outside, displaying photographs of brutalised birds. – (Reuters)