The Occidental

1475 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

Washington, DC 20004

202-783-1475

No e-mail

www.occidentaldc.com

Executive Chef:  Rodney Scruggs

 

 

Bebo Trattoria

2250-B Crystal Drive

Arlington, VA 22202

703-412-5076

Executive Chef:  Roberto Donna

info@robertodonna.com

www.robertodonna.com

"Bravo for Bebo" by Tom Sietsema 

...The menu also includes fried pigs’ feet and calf’s brains that he says have “proved to be strong sellers (and expose Washingtonians as more adventurous than we’re sometimes given credit for).  The sleeper on the standing script is rabbit, chopped into bite-size pieces, marinated in an herbed batter and fried so that the skin is crisp and the meat retains its juices. The entree is served as a golden heap with fried vegetables (artichokes in season, zucchini and red onions right now) and accompanied by an orange-brightened mayonnaise. The dip isn't traditional Italian, but who cares? It makes a nice match."

The full article is on-line but does not show the photo: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/NewsSearch?sb=-1&st=bravo%20for%20bebo&   This is not the first time Sietsema has raved on about rabbit meat.  If he has his way he will increase demand for rabbit meat in the Washington, DC area.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Tom Sietsema

c/o The Washington Post

1150 15^th St. NW

Washington, DC 20071

WHAT YOU CAN SAY

Go for the bad for business angle as opposed to the rabbits are fluffy and cute angle.  They don't care about cuteness.  They do care about what is bad for business.  Point out that according to the American Pet Products Manufacturing Association, rabbits are the third most popular pets in the USA after cats and dogs; point out that there are HUNDREDS of shelter and rescue organizations across the nation that rescue rabbits.  If you are from the DC area, mention that there are 17 organizations in this incredibly rabbit friendly area and that none of these rabbit people or their families will be eating at ANY restaurant who serves up their pet on a platter.  What if it were your cat or dog? 

To counter the inevitable "we're not  eating anyone's pet" response say that there are plenty of rabbit people who now live with rescued former "meat" rabbits who were clearly traumatized for life by their experience in rabbit mills.   Counter the "it's our cultural heritage" argument by stating that this was the same argument used to excuse slavery and other travesties and that the point of being civilized is to move forward in moral progress, not to be stuck in archaic practices.  Furthermore, you do not see where it is necessary to add more misery in the world by increasing the demand for the flesh of yet another species.  If you are vegan or vegetarian, all the better to point out that you do not eat any animal and hence can avoid the hypocritical and/or specieist argument.

Here's where you can get cute and cuddly:  remind them that you'll be happy to let everyone you come in contact with for the next one hundred years that they are frying up adorable little bunnies who are slaughtered before they even reach adolescence after being raised, transported, and slaughtered in horrific conditions.  It's like eating Thumper, the Easter Bunny, Rodger the Rabbit, or Bugs.  That's a lot of people to alienate and it's bad for business.  You can also mention that you'll be referring everyone you know to a rabbit farming video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rfYNEYLUxA so that they can see exactly what they are really participating in if they patronize restaurants and grocery stores who sell/serve rabbit.  If they watch that, they won't be going anywhere that serves or sells rabbit ever in their lives.

THE TREND FOR EATING RABBIT IS ON THE RISE.  LET'S DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT NOW!

RAISE A RUCKUS FOR THE RABBITS!

Here's the press release about the suit:

Reindeer, Group Sue President and USDA, Seeking Humane Treatment

 For immediate release (12-23-05)
 Contact: Jim Dougherty
 Office: 202-488-1140
 Cell: 202-607-7093

A lawsuit will be filed today against President George W. Bush and the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture seeking a court order requiring that Reindeer and six other types of animals be treated humanely when put to slaughter for food production.  The suit, filed in federal court in San Francisco, was filed on behalf of the Humane Farming Association, as well as "the American Bison" and "the Reindeer." 

In their suit the Plaintiffs seek expanded federal enforcement of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, 7 U.S.C. § 1902.  This law requires that when an animal is killed commercially at a federally inspected slaughterhouse, the killing must be done in a manner that first renders the animal immediately unconscious.  This is typically done with a quick, mechanized blow to the head or with an electric shock.

The Act applies to the slaughter of "cattle, calves, horses, mules, sheep, [and] swine," as well as all "other livestock."  While the USDA interprets the Act to apply to the listed animals specifically, it has never applied the law to any "other livestock."  As a result, Reindeer, the American Bison, Elk, Antelope, Rabbits and various kinds of birds are commonly killed without any assurance that their suffering is minimized.

This can increase consumers' risk of eating contaminated meat.  Research by HFA and studies by other organizations indicate that when animals are slaughtered inhumanely, they often thrash about, increasing meat contamination with feces and other adulterants.  Slaughterhouse workers are also at greater risk of injury when slaughter is not done in compliance with the law.

"All we're seeking is equal protection of the laws," said Jim Dougherty, lawyer for the plaintiffs.  "If they apply the Act to cows and pigs, there's no justification for cruelty to Reindeer and the Buffalo," he added.