For a while now my parents have been going on and on about
how wonderful Foie Gras is. As far as I can work out, Foie Gras is the liver of
a duck that has been overfed to the point where it is about to explode. As you
can imagine, this has all you green, ‘animals have emotions,’ ‘I’ll support any
cause’ type people up in a huff because of the inhuman treatment of the
animals. I imagine however that all of those people who are against it have
never tried Foie Gras because I tried it today for the first time ever and I am
now firmly camped in team kill-the-stupid-ducks.
It all started a couple weeks ago when my mum and I were on
Google, looking for places that sell truffle oil, and we stumbled across the
Wild Peacock Emporium in Stellenbosch. According to their website they not only
stocked a wide range of exotic treats and indeed the truffle oil that I was
looking for but they also stocked Foie Gras.
Immediately my mum and I were excited and we decided that if
I could find any, we had to buy it. So off I went in search of Foie Gras and
Truffle Oil. And when I got to the Wild Peacock I could not have been more
delighted. The staff were friendly, happy and helpful and ensured that my every
desire was immediately attended to. I couldn’t help laughing however when I saw
the shock on their faces as I asked for what I am sure were the two most
expensive items in the shop.
They obliged me though and soon I was standing at the
freezer with the Foie Gras in my hands. Due to my complete ignorance, I had no
idea what I was actually looking for and it wasn’t long before I was
on the phone to mom asking for her advice. It was now the shop attendants turn
to laugh at me but he assured me that I had the right thing and that it was
going to be absolutely wonderful.
I was then put in charge of finding the perfect wine with
which to pair the Foie Gras, and my mom insisted that we needed Klein
Constantia’s Vin De Constance which is a sweet wine with a very interesting
history and many rave reviews. So off I went to Klein Constantia in pursuit of
the correct wine.
Again I was greeted by a friendly salesman who looked at me
as if I was crazy when I marched in and asked for the most expensive wine on
the list. The couple who had been speaking to the salesman before me were intrigued
by my order and it didn’t take long for me to strike up a conversation with the
couple while the salesman packaged the beautiful bottle up for me. By the time
I left the beautiful farm I felt positively buoyant, filled with excitement and
happy about the friends that I had made along the way.
So, in lieu of the upcoming Bastille Day, my mum made us a
French feast worth dying for and after my first mouthful I must admit that I am
completely in love. The Foie Gras literally melts in your mouth and the red
wine reduction added just the right combination of sweet and fruity to the
meal. This, and the perfect wine pairing led to a meal which I will no doubt
never be able to forget. And I urge all you wannabe hippies to get over your
need for a cause, empty out your bank accounts and spoil yourself with this
exquisite delicacy.
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