What is ‘foie gras,’ and why is Denver voting on it? A quick explainer

Denver’s ballot this year has taxes, natural gas, and one French word most of us have never had to pronounce out loud. On Tuesday, Denver voters will decide Initiated Ordinance 311, the foie gras question. And yes, it’s pronounced “fwah GRAH.” We’ve all been saying it wrong in our heads.

If you’re not sure what foie gras is, you’re in good company in a city that runs on green chile and breakfast burritos. It’s a French delicacy made from the fattened liver of a duck or goose, usually pan-seared until crispy or spread like a fancy pâté. It shows up now and then on upscale Denver menus, which makes it different from most things on a Colorado ballot. Most of us have never ordered it, and probably couldn’t find it if we tried.

Ordinance 311 asks whether Denver should ban the sale and production of foie gras made by force-feeding birds. Supporters, led by the group Pro-Animal Colorado, say the force-feeding process is cruel. The Colorado Restaurant Association opposes the measure. It points out that no one in Denver, or anywhere in Colorado, produces foie gras. If voters approve it, the city’s health department would enforce the ban starting in July 2027. Denver isn’t the only place deciding this week. Washington, D.C., voters will weigh a similar question on the same ballot day.

How you vote is up to you. We’re a country station, not a French bistro. But if you haven’t returned your ballot, you have until 7 p.m. Tuesday to drop it off. And whatever happens, you can now pronounce foie gras at dinner parties. Bon appétit, Denver.