Restaurant serves lion burgers despite protests
By MICHELLE PRICE (AP) – 1 day ago
PHOENIX — A restaurant owner who put lion burgers on the menu in honor of the World Cup has felt a roar of anger from outraged animal rights activists.
Cameron Selogie, owner of the Il Vinaio restaurant in Mesa, served burgers made with African lion this week as a nod to the tournament in South Africa. Reservations sold out, with a waiting list 100 long.
But the burgers also attracted international attention and the scorn of animal rights activists, who picketed outside the restaurant. Selogie has even received some death threats.
And now Selogie himself is questioning whether the meat was fair game.
"I was led to believe they were not hunted, they were not shot, they were not abused," Selogie said. "I feel I was misled by this."
Serving African lion meat is perfectly legal, said Michael Herndon, a spokesman for the Food and Drug Administration. Game meat such as lion can be sold as long as the species isn't endangered, and the CDC hasn't prohibited importation of African lion, although its Asiatic cousin is on the endangered list.
Selogie described the meat as tasting slightly "gamey," almost like a savory beef jerky. About 20 percent of Il Vinaio's patty is ground beef, because the lion meat was so lean, Selogie said.
The Associated Press: Restaurant serves lion burgers despite protests
