Foie gras - please don't get political on me

[swedishmum]

My French future step mum would like some foie gras as a canape at their upcoming wedding. Rights and wrongs aside how could I serve it as finger food (not faffing around making brioche toast during the reception) - something I can prepare ahead then assemble very quickly before sending out?

When I went to a French wedding, it was served in slices - can't remember the details, but maybe something like a small slice on an endive leaf?

sorry but this will take a turn for the worst. If you know anything at all about how it is produced you would not consider serving this food.

Just googled how they make this. Put your hard hat on swedishmum!

'political'?

Sorry, but there is really no escaping the total wrongs of this. Fois gras is without a doubt one of the dirtiest, scummiest things man has ever done to a byunch of poor creatures.

Please don't support it.

Make it into a mousse and pipe into vol au vents cases

perhaps you could supply a funnel for each guest and force vast quantities down their necks?

A funnel... or a giant vol-au-vent...?

Melba toast - and a hard hat.

still a bit as to the fact op even considered posting this on mumsnet !
sorry swedishmum but please don't!

Thin slices of very good quality gingerbread (Pain d'epices in French but the same thing). No butter but a tiny sprinkling of red pepper corns or a whole red peppercorn on top if you can be bothered to complete but not necessary.

the simpler the better, btw, no mousses or anything as bound to end in tears. Very difficult to handle at room temperature as 'melts', a bit like butter.

massivebigpumpkinface - just curious as to why this being mumsnet makes a difference? Should mothers automatically be anti-foie gras? I'm not having a dig, just wondering.

Consider, if you can get hold of it, "ethical" foie gras. Janet Street Porter did a thing on this on the last series of the F Word.

Ethical Foie Gras

I know that the production of traditional fois gras is cruel but the indignation it arouses amuses me. Intensive farming methods for foods that most of us eat are equally cruel, and if you can pick apart your diet an ensure that it doesn't include any products/by products from battery chickens or rack-reared pigs, well then you can judge others.
I'm not a vegan, that is my choice, and I buy organic meat when I do eat it in the dubious hope that it has a slightly better life than it's intensively farmed relatives. But I also know that every time I eat something that I have not made from scratch myself be it a sandwich or a cake, it contains ingredients that have been produced in a cruel environment. That is a fact of modern life and I'm pretty sure that unless you are a vegan, the same applies to you.

Is the suffering of a French goose more relevant than the suffering of a chicken in Thailand? Or does the French goose just have better PR?

Even just small baked "toasts" (forgotten the proper name for them) that you can buy in bags. Would stay crisp for long enough for you to do a wee bit in advance.

CCC - actually I am vegan, and have been for 15 years, so I feel quite free to be indignant.

Which is why I said unless you are a vegan shroom. But I'll bet most aren't.

artichoke and foie gras canapes

..avec lingonberry jam on brioche (mmm i have lingonberry in the cupboard, might try this on the weekend)

Thanks for the serving suggestions - some great ideas. Yes I know the production's cruel, but don't quite see why I can't ask some advice from some foodies just because it's Mumsnet! Will obviously make sure everyone knows what it is before handing it round. I'm off to hassle on a Primark thread about slave labour. (Yes I'm being flippant before someone starts on me.)

Whether it is cruel or not is a cultural thing. It might offend English Roses, but obviously French people just think of it as something they have been doing for 2500 years!

Swedishmum and LLapin - sorry, I hadn't meant that you shouldn't post your question on mn at all. I was commenting that, knowing how threads about something as innocent as a loo roll can kick off, I was surprised you were prepared to face a possible pasting! Luckily no fight was had!
Carmenere - I understand your point. I am not vegan either, I am vegetarian and this is due to my concerns for animal welfare. I take an interest in where my food is sourced and how it is produced but, as you say, it is not always possible in the real world and I must admit I am probably niave as to what goes on behind the scenes in some cases. However, when I do have the knowledge of a particular practice such as this then I will do my utmost to ensure I do not contribute to those animals suffering.

Oh I get you now! Yes, good point, especially as it has been quite "fighty" around here of late.

My god, Im not an animal lover or activist by any means but Ive just googled this and its made me feel sick

I could never eat something KNOWING that an animal has been through that ammount of suffering - not just in death but also what amounts to daily torture throughout its life

Do you eat chicken?}