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Owner Plans To Sue Over Foie Gras Ban

Allen Sternweiller Will File Suit First Thing Tuesday

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CHICAGO (CBS) ― For some chefs here in Chicago, the foie gras fight is officially on.

Starting on Tuesday, the gourmet delicacy is off the menu when a city-wide ban goes into effect. Chicago will be the first city in the nation to go foie gras-free.

But chefs who are stewing over what they call a frivolous city law are planning to take action. A lawsuit is ready and attorneys will file it first thing Tuesday morning.

CBS 2's Mai Martinez reports some restaurant owners are cooking up a way to try to keep the delicacy on their menus.

Foie gras looks innocent enough, but some say looks can be deceiving.

"This is a product that involves the torture of an animal, and all this ban does is ban the product of animal torture," Ald. Joe Moore said.

Moore says that's why he sponsored the city ordinance banning the sale of the delicacy.

The ordinance passed the City Council with overwhelming support (48-1) but not everyone is a fan.

"I think it was more of a political maneuver or stunt on something most people in this country know very little about," said Allen Sternweiller.

Sternweiller owns Allen's The New American Café, and he's fighting the ban with a lawsuit that will be filed Tuesday, the same day the ban takes effect.

"I sell a lot of foie gras and even more so since this whole thing started several months ago," he said.

Foie gras lovers like the idea of preserving the delicacy. On Monday, several enjoyed a final taste of the gourmet item at a special "outlaw dinner" at the 676 Restaurant and Bar. Many say they're bothered by the ban.

"I don't think it's up to an alderman to decide what food should be served or not served in Chicago," said Tammy Cozzi.

"I agree with the mayor," Albert Cozzi said. "We should be worried about educating our children, not what people are eating."

Chef Didier Durand of Cyrano's will defy the ban by serving foie gras for free, then charge for the wine and garnish accompanying it.

"The city is wonderful, the aldermen are different," he said.

Ald. Moore says the mayor's office will decide how this law is ultimately enforced, and they will likely rely on citizen complaints.

The city health department will enforce the ban beginning on Wednesday.

More than a dozen countries, mostly in Europe, have banned production of the delicacy.

(© 2006 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)