Posted on 03/20/2010 1:42:52 PM PDT by JoeProBono
SANTA MONICA, Calif.- A Santa Monica, Calif., sushi restaurant says it is closing its doors voluntarily after serving endangered whale meat.
But The Hump restaurant at the Santa Monica Airport also faces federal charges, The Los Angeles Times reported.
On its Web site, the restaurant said, "The Hump hopes that by closing its doors, it will help bring awareness to the detrimental effect that illegal whaling has on the preservation of our ocean ecosystems and species."
The newspaper report said the restaurant took responsibility once charges were lodged, the charges themselves came only after an undercover sting operation by animal activists and the associate producer of the Oscar-winning documentary, "The Cove."
The $600 "chef's choice" included eight pieces of whale, the activists said. The Times said the activists bagged the meat and sent it off to the Marine Mammal Institute, where it was found to be the endangered Sei whale.
The Times said U.S. prosecutors last week charged the owner and chef of the restaurant with the illegal sale of whale meat, a violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act that carries a maximum one year in prison and a maximum fine of $200,000.
I work right by it and never went.
"Hump" restaurant SANTA MONICA, Calif. — It is sport among black belt sushi eaters here to see just how daring one’s palate can be. But even among the squid-chomping, roe-eating and uni-nibbling fans, whale is almost unheard of on the plate. It also happens to be illegal.
Well so much for going there for lunch now...
taste like chicken?
So Michael Moore eats sushi!
It depends on the species and the cut of meat. Whale meat is also usually deep frozen for several months or even years before it enters the market, so tasting fresh whale meat is probably quite rare. Lean whale meat is probably best described as tasting most like horse, which for those who have not tasted it is like a dense and sweet beef. The serving of whale meat under Japanese quisine is varied. Served as sashimi (thin slices of raw meat) it comes with a powerful wasabe sauce made out of horseradish, which reminds the western pallete of traditional beef dinners. When I tasted whale meat, I was unaware of what it was (I assumed it was beef) - it was not an aquired taste and was very pleasant - and like most Japanese quisine, gave the impression that it was very good for you. Because of the ethical and conservation issues surrounding its consumption, however, I would not recommend it
Good thing you posted that so I didn’t have to. It seems the animal I large enough, they should be able to serve core samples rather than killing the whole whale! ;-)
Who knew whale meat looked like beef?
Oh yeah, and this reminds me of that movie with Matthew Broderick and Marlon Brando where these rich idiots paid like $100,000 to eat rare endangered species like Komodo Dragon and some rare monkey. Matthew is terrified of being killed for telling the “secret” of the group and is also horrified by what they are doing.
Come to find out, they were serving them chicken the whole time and charging the bozos unGodly money to eat “rare” animals. Loved it!
Ummmm... go for it!
It defintely ain’t the other white meat...
How many waiters does it take to carry out a plate?
I don’t remember the chicken part but that was a great movie. Just hilarious.
The Norwegian Whale Meat association website. Tasty recipes and mouthwatering photos!
“Whale served at sushi restaurant”
Who knew whales were cannibalistic?
Do whales eat at sushi restaurants?
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