Inbox

[November 5th, 2008]

Duck And Cover

I am a big fan of Willamette Week, but I must say I was appalled to read the Restaurant Guide 2008 and learn about your pick for “Restaurant of the Year,” Sel Gris. You highlighted their Foie Gras Two Ways, touting its attributes as their signature appetizer. I have always thought of WW as a forward-thinking publication, willing to take on controversial issues. DO YOU KNOW HOW FOIE GRAS IS PRODUCED???! I’m sure your culinary staff is well aware, but just in case there is any doubt, I will enlighten you.

Foie gras (translated literally from French as “fatty liver” and pronounced “fwah grah”) is produced by cruel and inhumane farming practices. At just a few months old, ducks are confined inside dark sheds and force-fed enormous amounts of food several times a day. A farmworker grabs each duck and, one by one, thrusts a metal pipe down their throats so that a mixture of corn can be forced directly into their gullets. In just a matter of weeks, the ducks become grossly overweight and their livers expand up to 10 times their normal size and the birds can scarcely stand, walk, or even breathe. At this point, they are slaughtered, and their livers are peddled as a “gourmet” delicacy.

Foie gras has been exalted in some gourmet food circles as a prized delicacy, but if most people knew how foie gras is produced, they would be horrified.

I’m sure that the French have many other wonderful gastronomic delicacies that are not produced by cruelty to animals. I urge you to support the effort to eliminate this horrific practice.

As long as any restaurant is serving foie gras, I certainly won’t be a patron. We have many wonderful restaurants in Portland and we can choose those that value humane treatment of animals.

Renée Johnson

Southeast Taylor Street

Shiprack’s Flip On Prevailing Wage

The connections between developers, influence peddlers and politicos in this community is nauseating [“What’s Up Bob?” WW, Oct. 29, 2008]. They are all sucking at that golden trough known as urban renewal.

“Dave Lister”

via wweek.com

Editor’s note: Lister was a Portland City Council Candidate in 2006.

Performance Pay For Politicos

Could someone tell us, as this is a worldwide teacher-bashing movement, how, once these idiots pass measures such as Measure 60, are they going to staff schools in lower socio-economic or non-English-speaking areas [“Core issue,” WW, Oct. 29, 2008]. When they bring in performance pay for politicians and government bureaucrats, I’ll accept pay for performance for an increasingly difficult job. As Jim Chambers stated, “Who determines merit?” The bright teachers will retire if they can, or go to safe schools where they know students will succeed. Staffing tough schools will be next to difficult.

“RA Hudson”

via wweek.com