D'Artagnan, Inc. founded in 1985 by Ariane Daguin and George Faison, is the leading purveyor of foie gras, pâtés, sausages, smoked delicacies, organic game and poultry in the nation.

Established on the principles of procuring the freshest, cleanest and most natural products, D'Artagnan currently provides a range of over 300 items to the world's top restaurants, hotels, retailers, cruise ships and airlines. From free range and organic meats to preservative free charcuterie, D'Artagnan continues to set the trend in the natural and organic market. D'Artagnan is also a frequent sponsor of charity events such as Share Our Strength, March of Dimes, AMFAR, and City Harvest.

Some people must search for their destiny, others it seems, are born into it. So it was that Ariane Daguin was born with foie gras nearly coursing through her veins. Her father, André Daguin, chef-owner of Hotel de France in Auch, Gascony, hails a reputation across France for his artistry with foie gras and other regional products. Ariane was deboning ducks, melting duck fat and cooking terrines before she was 10 years old.

However, the adventuresome nature of this woman could not be contained in France. During schooling at Columbia University, she landed a job at a Manhattan-based producer of pâtés. The enterprising Ariane saw the opportunity knocking when one day a New York State farmer dropped a one and a half-pound fresh foie gras on the counter. Seeing quality equal to anything she might find in France, she envisioned the potential of an exclusive distribution arrangement. Ariane and George Faison, college friend and colleague, pooled their funds and know-how to start D'Artagnan, the first purveyor of foie gras in the U.S. in 1985. Ariane is a member of various culinary organizations, among them Les Dames d'Escoffier, American Institute of Wine & Food, Women Chefs and Restaurateurs, and Conseil du Commerce Exterieur de la France, Round Table for Women in Food Service, La chaîne des rôtisseurs.

George Faison has turned his love of good food, game and hunting into a booming $20-million-dollar-a-year business. Faison grew up eating a variety of foods and cuisine from the rich ethnic diversity of Houston, Texas. During college, a semester in Spain with a final stop in Paris convinced him to add French to his Spanish major. While pursuing an M.B.A from Columbia University, he realized banking was not the career for him and met Ariane Daguin, who would be his future business partner. Faison has been inducted into Who's Who of Food and Wine by the James Beard Foundation. He is an active member of the Institute for Wine & Food founded by Julia Child as well as the initiator of the André and Simone Soltner Scholarship for Food Education.

Contact Information