Victories

In February 2008, Grape Vine Market co-founder Chuck Huffaker informed Central Texas Animal Defense, "Foie Gras has been taken off GrapeVine Market's shelves. Gourmet buyers have been instructed not to order Foie Gras any longer. Not even for special orders." Grape Vine shows what high-class really means—quality products and responsible purchasing.

http://www.grapevinemarket.com

Hilton Executive Vice President Ken Smith announced that Finn & Porter would remove foie gras from its menu in Austin as of March 2008, and that Hilton is "currently engaged in a comprehensive review" of foie gras sales at all of its hotels.

With this announcement by Hilton, foie gras is no longer being sold at any hotel in the city of Austin.

http://www.finnandporter.com

After discussing the horrifying facts about foie gras production with Central Texas Animal Defense, Hyatt Regency General Manager Steve Dewire stated, "We do not plan on offering anything with foie gras going forward." Here's hoping that Hyatt's other first-class resorts follow the lead of Lost Pines!

http://lostpines.hyatt.com

In October 2007, Lakeway Resort & Spa announced that it would no longer sell foie gras at its restaurant. Assistant General Manager Michelle Felton thanked Central Texas Animal Defense for showing Lakeway the truth about foie gras, and reported "... we have discontinued the sale of foie gras at Lakeway Resort and Spa and we are already in the process of re-printing our restaurant menus." Bravo Lakeway!

http://lakeway.dolce.com

After reading the words "foie gras" on the online menu for the Barton Creek Resort & Spa, Central Texas Animal Defense immediately wrote to Barton Creek's parent company KSL Resorts and asked that they remove the cruel dish. KLS Vice President and Managing Director Paul McCormick confirmed that the menu was an out-of-date sample, and confirmed that "Barton Creek Resorts and Spa does not have any items on any menus with Foie Gras as a feature or ingredient." The menu has since been updated, and foie gras is nowhere to be found.

http://www.bartoncreek.com

Shortly after Central Texas Animal Defense wrote to the well-known Driskill Hotel about the sale of foie gras at its restaurants, General Manager Sergio Ortiz announced that the hotel would be phasing out foe gras, noting that the Driskill strives "sensitive to our environment and endeavor to always do the right thing in this regard." Executive Chef Josh Watkins told the Austin-American Statesman, "Upon further review I'm seeing it in a different light ... I've seen the videos and how they're being raised. I don't want anyone to come into the restaurant and have negative feelings because of something on the menu. I think it's the right thing to do."

http://www.driskillhotel.com

In an email to Central Texas Animal Defense, Mansion at Judges' Hill owner and general manager Lisa Wiedemann stated, "I too agree with you about the cruelty the poor ducks and geese are subjected to." The Judges' Hill Restauant removed foie gras from its menu in 2004, setting a compassionate and responsible example for other restaurants in the area.

http://www.mansionatjudgeshill.com

Whole Foods Market does not sell foie gras in any of its 163 natural-food stores. When represenatives from Whole Foods were given a tour of a foie gras farm by the facility's owners, they called this industry "tragic," and promised that they would never carry any such product in their inventory. As a leader in animal welfare concerns, Whole Foods took it one step further—the chain also refuses to do business with companies that slaughter animals for the foie gras industry.

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com