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Foie Gras Research Paper

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For the general population, cooking comes naturally. At least that is what they think. In reality, cooking is not simply following directions. Some recipes are extremely precise in how they are made, such as Foie Gras. “Connoisseurs have no hesitation in preferring goose foie gras, which they say has more finesse and delicacy” (Strang para. 11). The French dish Foie Gras is one of the most difficult dishes any chef can make.
Overview
Foie gras is a famous French delicacy. Usually, foie gras is goose liver, but chefs use the livers of ducks as well. When making foie gras, there is a specific way to prepare it. “Gourmet foods are characterized by high-quality or exotic ingredients and typically require a fancy, specialized, or highly skilled …show more content…

It is essential that a chef knows what s/he is looking for in their recipe. The initial entity to consider is the grade they want: A, B, or C. Each grade is determined by size, shape, texture, and appearance. Grade A goose liver is one to three pounds, rounded, firm to the touch, and is a creamy off-white color with a minimal number of veins. Meanwhile, Grade B is 0.8 to one and a half pounds, flatter or less compact, softer than grade A, and looks darker with more veins than grade A. Lastly, Grade C is merely everything else. A chef also needs to acknowledge how much liver is needed for their recipe because there will be a significant weight loss in the goose liver due to fat being burned off throughout the cooking process. “Goose liver loses approximately 35 to 45 percent of its original weight” (Ginor 89). To elaborate, if a chef wishes to serve a pound of foie gras, they should purchase a liver that is approximately one and a half …show more content…

First, one must rid the liver of all veins, nerves, membranes, or discolorations. These parts are edible, but it is removed anyway because it is deemed unattractive and it may affect what the flavor is supposed to be. While cleaning, it is also crucial that you keep the lobes intact as much as possible. Keeping the lobes together will ensure the foie gras turns out correctly. It is also recommended to perform this step at room temperature, because it gives the foie gras the right texture of soft clay. If the foie gras is in the refrigerator, the chef needs to remove the foie gras from the refrigerator and leave it in its package for one and a half to three hours to allow it to warm up. To increase the temperature in a shorter amount of time, a chef can remove the foie gras from the package, rinse it, and immerse it into a hot water bath of 95 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately one hour. After all is said and done, “you should be left with two flattened lobes of liver that are largely intact, a few small scraps of liver that have broken off, and the membranes and veins. Discard the membranes and veins [because they are not necessary]” (Ginor 93). Once the liver is ridded of all its flaws, what is left is a beautiful French

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