Hot dog eatery offers illicit foie gras

CHICAGO, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Chicago officials have fined a hot dog eatery $250 for offering its customers a chance to eat the banned delicacy, foie gras.

Hot Doug's chose to break the city's ban on foie gras, fattened duck liver, and offer it to customers in sausage form Friday, the Chicago Sun-Times said.

The restaurant's owner, Doug Sohn, had posted news about his foie gras special on his eatery's Web site and before he could open his doors for business on Friday, he was ticketed for his planned culinary treat.

The $250 fine represented Sohn's third violation of the city's ordinance, which went into effect last August amid animal abuse concerns. Ducks producing foie gras are force fed to fatten their livers.

While Sohn maintained his stance that foie gras should be enjoyed by all, he was nonchalant when talking to the Sun-Times about the fine.

"It's sort of at the point where I don't really care," he said. "If we don't serve it, we don't serve it. I hope people opposed to it are leading ethical and moral lives. And they better not be wearing leather shoes."