Would You Order a Bowl of Shark�s Fin Soup?

If you've ever attended a Chinese banquet, chances are you've tried this prized delicacy consisting of gelatinous strands of shark's fin in a gourmet stock. However, Shark's Fin Soup has taken a lot of heat from the public and conservation groups in recent years, particularly since the release of the film Sharkwater. The issue is dividing California's Chinese-American community - a bill banning the possession and sale of shark fins has run into difficulties in the State Senate, and is unlikely to pass without amendments.

Some restaurants have taken Shark's Fin Soup off the menu, and it's not often found in more recent Chinese cookbooks. Still, Shark's Fin Soup remains very popular in China and among some Asian communities, due to its cultural significance and perceived health benefits. What do you think? Would you order a bowl of Shark's Fin Soup?

Don't know what it is? Here is a recipe for Shark's Fin Soup, published in 1982 in the New York Times.