# Goddammit, Leave The Liver Alone!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 14, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddammit-leave-the-liver-alone/539437 "2010-05-14T15:47:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddammit-leave-the-liver-alone/539437/41 "2010-05-16T20:21:35Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Nah. Its not a gateway drug or anything. It won’t reset your taste mechanism permanently. There’s a lot of different ways to make it but my favorite is this one: [http://forkyou.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/foie-gras-dish1.jpg](http://forkyou.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/foie-gras-dish1.jpg) > > That’s seasoned, seared foie gras. It looks like in that picture its being served with some kind of grape compote or something. My experience with this method is that its best served with some kind of a fruit with decent acidity, as it provides an excellent acid cut to the uber-richness of the foie. This method usually also has some kind of bread (typically brioche) served underneath it to catch all the drippings and sauce. To me, this way is the ultimate: its salty, sweet, rich, clean and texturally orgasmic. > > Another way to try is called _torchon_. Its essentially a rolled, salt-cured foie “log” that’s been wrapped in saran wrap after curing and refrigerated. Its usually blended with dried fruit (apricot works great!) before its rolled (sensing a trend? fruit+foie=heaven), and then its sliced and lain atop toasts, or arranged on a plate on its own. Usually its then drizzled with some kind of a reduction (like one made from port wine) and eaten by hand as an hors d’ ouvres. Here’s what a torchon looks like: > > [Joshhouse's Weblog: Image](http://joshhouse.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/torchon10.jpg) > > [http://d1.biggestmenu.com/00/00/db/6fe5467691662ddd\_m.jpg](http://d1.biggestmenu.com/00/00/db/6fe5467691662ddd_m.jpg) Ooooo. I am not usually such a fancypants about my diet (last night I gave myself permission to order the smothered burrito with chicharrones- those ought to be in controversy too, but gawd, I slurped it up!), but you make a strong case and are certainly getting my attention. It certainly looks like a great treat, and the serving size looks much larger in the first example than what I expected. I think I will go ahead and put it on my ‘list of things to do before death’ list, though I better do something worthy in advance to atone for the poor bird’s suffering, such as it is. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddammit-leave-the-liver-alone/539437/42 "2010-05-16T23:26:03Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > Ooooo. I am not usually such a fancypants about my diet (last night I gave myself permission to order the smothered burrito with chicharrones- those ought to be in controversy too, but gawd, I slurped it up!), but you make a strong case and are certainly getting my attention. It certainly looks like a great treat, and the serving size looks much larger in the first example than what I expected. I think I will go ahead and put it on my ‘list of things to do before death’ list, though I better do something worthy in advance to atone for the poor bird’s suffering, such as it is. Well, I don’t eat like that hardly at all anymore. When I worked in various higher-end restaurants and sold fine wines for a living back in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, I had a lot more opportunity to try these things and eat out. Now I’m married with three kids, and if I can sneak a little onion powder into our scrambled eggs on a Sunday morning, that’s high-falutin’ eating anymore! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddammit-leave-the-liver-alone/539437/43 "2010-05-17T01:25:45Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Well, I don’t eat like that hardly at all anymore. When I worked in various higher-end restaurants and sold fine wines for a living back in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, I had a lot more opportunity to try these things and eat out. > > Now I’m married with three kids, and if I can sneak a little onion powder into our scrambled eggs on a Sunday morning, that’s high-falutin’ eating anymore! > > 🙂 Ah. I used to be pals with a chef, and learned all kinds of interesting foodie things. Foie gras came up, but I don’t think the whole thing really ‘stuck’ at the time. A well prepared duck, however, stuck like glue 😉 I managed to avoid marriage and kids so far, and I have hung on to my good job. While growing up a little garlic powder on anything was pretty exotic. Now, foie gras is in my future if I want it! Mostly though I want to invest my dough… Kids are a great thing to invest in too though, don’t take me wrong. I’m a little jealous really… ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddammit-leave-the-liver-alone/539437/44 "2010-05-17T02:41:17Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > Ah. I used to be pals with a chef, and learned all kinds of interesting foodie things. Foie gras came up, but I don’t think the whole thing really ‘stuck’ at the time. A well prepared duck, however, stuck like glue 😉 > > **I managed to avoid marriage and kids so far** , and I have hung on to my good job. While growing up a little garlic powder on anything was pretty exotic. Now, foie gras is in my future if I want it! Mostly though I want to invest my dough… Kids are a great thing to invest in too though, don’t take me wrong. I’m a little jealous really… I like how you put that…“managed to avoid”… Sometimes I wish I’d managed that trick too. Sadly, no. Anyway, since you’re a swinging dick with no parental responsibilities, then try the shit. You only live once and if you don’t like it, at least you tried it. Try everything, omit nothing. A good motto for life. But you’ll love it and crawl on your knees for it and…oh, was I still talking? Ooops! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddammit-leave-the-liver-alone/539437/45 "2010-05-18T01:51:34Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > I like how you put that…“managed to avoid”… > > Sometimes I wish I’d managed that trick too. Sadly, no. Yah well sometimes I can’t decide if it is an achievement or a failure. Looks like what we have here is a case of the grass is greener… > [@](#): > > Anyway, since you’re a swinging dick with no parental responsibilities, then try the shit. You only live once and if you don’t like it, at least you tried it. Try everything, omit nothing. A good motto for life. It looks like I have discovered food porn if nothing else thanks to you. Omit nothing is a decent motto I suppose, but it can bite you in the ass. If you ever have the chance to order the Sea Cucumber- don’t! You are not. missing. anything. > [@](#): > > But you’ll love it and crawl on your knees for it and…oh, was I still talking? > > Ooops! > 🙂 Ok now, you’re going back into ‘gateway drug’ territory. If foie gras turns out to be the evil Pharaoh of the food world, and once introduced I will be bound to do its will forever, well, what if I cease to be a man of even modest means? Would I be haunted the rest of my days by the memory of a bird liver which I could never taste again?!? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddammit-leave-the-liver-alone/539437/46 "2010-05-18T02:06:54Z")
I like liverwurst every now and again. I usually get a couple of thick slices from the deli and make a sandwich. I’d like to try foie gras sometime. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddammit-leave-the-liver-alone/539437/47 "2010-05-18T02:38:14Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > Ok now, you’re going back into ‘gateway drug’ territory. If foie gras turns out to be the evil Pharaoh of the food world, and once introduced I will be bound to do its will forever, well, what if I cease to be a man of even modest means? Would I be haunted the rest of my days by the memory of a bird liver which I could never taste again?!? :eek: Well, I don’t have my username for nothing! I am haunted by my inability to eat at the high table of culinary goodness…but memories will suffice until NEXT TIME!! > [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > I like liverwurst every now and again. I usually get a couple of thick slices from the deli and make a sandwich. I’d like to try foie gras sometime. I like crap like braunschweiger too, which is spreadable meat paste, essentially, but foie is on its own level. Try it. If you don’t like it, at least you can say you tried. The only problem is failure of preparation, which many restaurants are prone to. Its too bad really. The best examples are spectacular, the worst fail miserably and not only are expensive, but turn people off of it forever afterwards. It has to be done right. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddammit-leave-the-liver-alone/539437/48 "2010-05-18T07:03:13Z")
In my braunschweiger/liver sausage thread a month or two ago, a poster gave me the suggestion of searing slices of it as though it were foie gras. Well, braunschweiger is AMAZINGLY better seared in a pan. Another poster mentioned eating it with red jam, and I now eat the seared slices with lingonberry preserves (not too sweet). It balances it out perfectly. Try it! I was further inspired by other posters to try goose or calf’s liver sausage, which I also tried (from a German deli). They are sublime. I usually start the pan off with a bit of bacon fat, and then a bit of the fat from the slices melts off too. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddammit-leave-the-liver-alone/539437/49 "2010-05-18T12:12:50Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > In my braunschweiger/liver sausage thread a month or two ago, a poster gave me the suggestion of searing slices of it as though it were foie gras. Well, braunschweiger is AMAZINGLY better seared in a pan. Another poster mentioned eating it with red jam, and I now eat the seared slices with lingonberry preserves (not too sweet). It balances it out perfectly. Try it! I was further inspired by other posters to try goose or calf’s liver sausage, which I also tried (from a German deli). They are sublime. I usually start the pan off with a bit of bacon fat, and then a bit of the fat from the slices melts off too. Yeah, that’s a similar concept to my favorite foie preparation. Any time you have something that full of fat, er, FLAVOR, a nice acidic fruit always accompanies it very well, standing up to the richness of the food so it isn’t cloying. I haven’t had Braunschweiger in awhile, I might have to pick some up! ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddammit-leave-the-liver-alone/539437/50 "2010-05-18T13:13:51Z")
Hey! Protesters! Leave the Liver Alone! All in all it’s just another organ in the gut! ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddammit-leave-the-liver-alone/539437/51 "2010-05-18T16:18:13Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > I guess I completely misunderstood your username Add me to the list of those that completely misunderstood the OP’s username. I’d always pictured him as a PETA-type animal rights activist, solely based on his username. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddammit-leave-the-liver-alone/539437/52 "2010-05-18T16:28:46Z")
I have enjoyed fois gras in a variety of different ways. My eldest offspring usually makes some for Yule each year. I prefer it seared as mentioned by others. When I discovered how fois gras was made, I was initially upset, but when I discovered that ducks _naturally_ gorge themselves in order to sustain long periods without food, and that the domesticated method was quite similar, then I was no longer upset and could enjoy the marvelous and incomparable delight. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddammit-leave-the-liver-alone/539437/53 "2010-05-18T18:37:14Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > I guess I completely misunderstood your username Ditto. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddammit-leave-the-liver-alone/539437/54 "2010-05-18T19:02:40Z")
Yeah the birds will happily overeat. My understanding is that the people that feed the birds (apparently they are generally women, something about the birds responding better to women) have their little gaggle of them and they will eat and eat from the feeding tube that’s inserted into their esophagus (they have no gag reflex) and once they are gorged on food they become very thirsty and drink a ton of water, which of course abets the liver expansion process. As for my username, well…sorry guys. I hate PETA, unless you’re talking about the offshoot group People Eating Tasty Animals. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddammit-leave-the-liver-alone/539437/55 "2010-05-18T19:11:40Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > \ > As for my username, well…sorry guys. I hate PETA, unless you’re talking about the offshoot group People Eating Tasty Animals. No problem. We have much in common. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddammit-leave-the-liver-alone/539437/56 "2010-05-19T04:32:47Z")
Yah well the ethical treatment of animals is a worthy goal, and they do yell about foie more than, say, fishing, but the organization seems to lack the gravity of their cause. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddammit-leave-the-liver-alone/539437/57 "2010-05-19T11:03:45Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > Yah well the ethical treatment of animals is a worthy goal, and they do yell about foie more than, say, fishing, but the organization seems to lack the gravity of their cause. I agree about minimizing the suffering of animals meant for human consumption, but in no way do I advocate stopping eating them. And frankly, PETA’s just fucking loony-tunes. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddammit-leave-the-liver-alone/539437/58 "2010-05-19T11:33:51Z")
We just explain Foie Gras to our daughter yesterday (along with a lot of other Food Facts), and we managed to freak her out. I think she’s given up eating for a while. The thing is, we weren’t trying to “sell” it one way or another, and weren’t demonizing anything. But the actual nature of the stuff we eat can sometimes freak you out when you first learn about it. Now she’s looking askance at the “creme” filling in her Oreos. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddammit-leave-the-liver-alone/539437/59 "2010-05-19T12:35:47Z")
Personally, I love foie gras, though I’ve only had it a couple times. I also love veal. When I first met my gf I made her an incredible dinner, with veal shanks as the entree. She loved everything. After, we were sipping after dinner drinks when I used the term “veal shanks” for the first time. She kinda freaked. Turns out she had never had veal as an adult, due to concerns about the whole humane thing. It was a sobering moment for both of us (I though for a bit that I’d really fucked up). We have had veal a few times since. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddammit-leave-the-liver-alone/539437/60 "2010-05-19T14:24:51Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Personally, I love foie gras, though I’ve only had it a couple times. I also love veal. When I first met my gf I made her an incredible dinner, with veal shanks as the entree. She loved everything. After, we were sipping after dinner drinks when I used the term “veal shanks” for the first time. > > She kinda freaked. Turns out she had never had veal as an adult, due to concerns about the whole humane thing. It was a sobering moment for both of us (I though for a bit that I’d really fucked up). We have had veal a few times since. I think personally that veal production is more “animal ethics” problematic than foie gras, but its still really, really tasty. I mean, baby _anything_ is almost universally better (or at least, more tender) than its adult counterpart. Veal, lamb, suckling pig, etc. Take them early in their lives with less chance to exercise (toughen) their muscles. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddammit-leave-the-liver-alone/539437.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddammit-leave-the-liver-alone/539437.md?page=4)