California overturns foie gras ban; restaurants rejoice

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- California's ban on the sale of foie gras has been overturned, and restaurants are quickly gearing up to return the French delicacy to their menus.

A federal judge ruled on Wednesday that the state's ban, which went into effect in 2012, is unconstitutional because it interferes with a federal law that regulates poultry.

Chef Holly Jivin, a culinary chef at the Bazaar Restaurant in Beverly Hills, says foie gras was on the menu Thursday night.

"Foie gras has this delicious, buttery, whipped texture. When made properly, there's not really anything you can compare it to," Jivin said.

In Hermosa Beach, animal rights advocates protested outside Hots Kitchen, which also planned to serve the dish.

PETA activist Matt Bruce said goose or duck livers in foie gras comes from animals that are "still having pipes rammed down their throats and they're force fed three times daily."

Steve Grandjean runs Gourmet Imports out of Alhambra. He says he will once again start supplying Los Angeles' top restaurants with foie gras.

"It's an easy target and it's easy to vilify a product you don't really understand," Grandjean said.