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. Reservations sold out, with a waiting list 100 long.
The burgers also attracted the scorn of animal- rights activists, who picketed the restaurant. Selogie has received some death threats. Now he 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.
Selogie said the meat tasted “gamey,” like a savory beef jerky. He purchased the lion meat from Phoenix-based Gourmet Imports Wild Game.
Gourmet Imports, run by Rick Worrilow, said he purchased the meat from a shipper in Illinois, Czimer’s Game & Sea Foods.
