As Foie Gras Ban Approaches, Mélisse Throws All-Foie Dinner

Josiah Citrin, foie gras fan

By Merrill Shindler

In less than three months, as of July 1, California State Bill 1520 will take effect - ending the production and distribution of foie gras within California. Violators will face a civil penalty of $1000 per violation, and an additional $1000 for each day the violation continues.

In other words, eat up - foie is finished.

From now until midnight on June 30, Josiah Citrin will be serving a "Foie for All" menu at Mélisse - giving us that one last cholesterol blast before we're turned into criminals, surreptitiously dining on chunks of foie in back alleys. His meal, an eight-courser, begins with a pre-amuse of foie gras cromesquis, followed by an amuse of foie gras flan with blood orange gelée and toasted hazelnut foam.

Then, the meal itself begins with a torchon with crisp foie gras, followed by truffled foie gras agnolotti with chicken oysters in consommé. Then, dayboat scallop Rossini; Dover sole with poached foie gras and morels; prime beef rib-eye and braised beef cheeks with cured foie gras and foie gras parfait. And finally, a dessert of "something sweet with foie" ($185 per person, served nightly; 310-395-0881).

What do you think about the foie ban? Let us know in the comments.