5 More Farewell Foie Gras Feasts in SF

Petite Sale, Txoko's version of pork and beans using foie gras.

By Meesha Halm
There are 19 more days to legally feast on foie gras, but who’s counting? Well, apparently lots of Bay Area chefs and the diners that love them and their fatty liver creations. This week, we’re highlighting five more restaurants that plan to go out with a flame of foie (listed in calendar order). If you've got the fever for foie, we recommend you take advantage of this batch of dinners. Txoko owner Ryan Maxey tells us he's had to raise the price of his themed dinners because the price continues to rise as we get closer to the ban.

Txoko: Chef Ian Begg burst onto the scene with his foie gras torchon sandwich at Naked Lunch, so it’s not surprising that his sister sit-down Basque restaurant would take the final days of the ingredient seriously. Begg brings back his popular four-course foie gras prix fixe for three nights only this week. According to their Twitter account, the nightly menu will change depending what the chef can get his hands on. Reservations for the diner must be made via SeatMe. (June 12-14; $65 per person, $35 for an additional optional wine pairing; 504 Broadway, 415-500-2744; www.seatme.com/txoko).

Stag Dining Group’s Foie-ther’s Day Dinner: The avant garde dining group will be throwing a special five-course, cocktail-paired "Foie-ther's day" soiree. Highlights from chefs Jordan Grosser and Ted Fleury’s proposed menu will include English pea chanwanmushi, with sake-poached foie gras, lobster and morels, NY strip loin with smoked foie gras, porcini, asparagus and salsa verde, and cherry clafoutis served with almond milk and foie gras ice cream. Each course will be paired with a different specialty created vodka cocktail. In the spirit of the soon-to-be-outlawed ingredient, the exact address where the foie-ther’s day dinner will be held not be announced until the morning of the event (June 16, Foie-therthon, somewhere near Union Square, reception cocktail party starts at 5 PM; $110 per person plus tax, which includes cocktails and food; tickets available online).

Chaya Brasserie: The Euro-Asian bistro by the Bay is hosting a two-week “Au Revoir Duck & Foie Gras Food Fair” during which it will be offering seven special à la carte foie gras dishes to its regular menu. Most dishes range from $17-$25, making it one of the few affordable spots to sate the urge without the splurge. Executive chef Yuko Kajino’s Sinful Seven include items such as: seared foie gras nigiri, foie gras beignet with cinnamon-port wine reduction, foie gras torchon salad, pan-seared foie gras with corn relish, jalapeño cornbread and miso barbeque sauce and grilled Wagyu beef Zabuton (June 18-30; 132 Embarcadero; 415-777-8688 or www.thechaya.com).

Nombe: Chef Noriyuki Sugie will be creating a shockingly affordable foie-gras tasting menu available for one night only at the Mission izkaya. Look for dishes such as foie and eel terrine, foie gras chawan-mushi, miso-marinated escolar with foie gras butter, foie gras ramen and a dessert of aged mirin ice cream served with balsamic-marinated strawberries and grated foie gras. In addition, his signature foie gras ramen will be available daily through end of June (June 21; $49.95 per person, excluding tax and tip, with optional sake and wine pairings for $25 more; 2491 Mission St.; 415-861-7150).

Bisou Bistro: The Castro bistro will be bidding the soon-to-be-illicit ingredient adieu in style with a one-night only, three-course menu on Thursday, June 28 for $75 per person. The kitchen will actually be offering a multitude of foie dishes for guest to pick and choose to create their own feasts. Items include a foie gras Royale - country pâté stuffed with foie gras terrine, apricot compote and beef sauces on toast; filet Mignon Rossini on toasted brioche with seared foie gras, summer Luberon shaved truffles and truffle sauce;  and even foie desserts such as foie gras macaron or foie gras short cake (June 28, 2367 Market St.; 415-556-6200; full menu online).