Duck Breast

[panko]

Does anyone know where I can get duck breast in downtown Toronto?

Thanks!

[gastronom]

Try Cirque de Poulet in Kensigton, it's frozen but good quality. Pretty cheap, 5-6 bucks per breast.

[childofthestorm]

There is a vendor in North St. Lawrence Market, hit him up late in the day, like 3:30 or so. I told him "Whitehouse just said $14 a pound" and he said "Well, I'll do $11 then." It was delicious...he has all kinds of game meats.

North SLM seems to be my answer for about everything in the summer.

[jayt90]

I buy whole fresh ducks at Soon Lee, Markham and Lawrence at $2.29/lb. (complete with head and feet). From one $10 duck, I get two breasts, legs, thighs, a carcass for broth, and rendered duck fat. Does the breed of duck (none mentioned in this thread) really matter?

[robgm]

It sure can! Especially when you cooking specifically the breast and then to cook it properly to a nice medium rare.....

Here is some more info on King Cole Duck availability

Azzarello's Market
Dave 416-699-0165

Butcher by Nature
Mirella 416-241-8187

Bloor Meats
Bob 416-767-2105

Nicholas
Gerry 416-485-4429

St Jamestown Steak and Chops
Mark 416-925-7665

Summerhill Market
Frank 416-921-2714

The Butcher Block
Ken 416-544-1729

[Scary Bill]

Try a Chinatown grocer. Buy a a couple of fresh ducks and you'll end up with four fresh breasts, legs, and enough fat to confit the four legs.

It'll be much cheaper, and I've always found Chinese grocers to have the freshest ducks since they sell a lot of them.

[estufarian]

The Chinatown ducks are usually a different variety (? the white duck?) - there was a recent thread on this.

[Scary Bill]

Chinese grocers almost all buy King Cole Ducks. So do many other grocers and reputable (at least to some on this board) The breed is White Pekin.

The Muscovy is the breed used by most higher end restaurants and is produced by smaller operations.

Here's more info re the differences.

http://www.agpub.on.ca/text/sept98/po...

also see the King Cole website mainly for their customer list.

At the end of the day, based on my experience, it's all in the chef's hands. I've had truly horrible hockey-puck-tender duck breast at a high end restaurant, and spectacular duck breast in my kitchen. I'll continue to shop for duck at Chinese grocers.

[robgm]

I agree that even the best product can pale in the hands of someone inept at cooking the product. I remember cooking duck breasts for a chef for his birthday in January then we had duck in his restaurant 4 months later as a special (he had tried to recreate what I had cooked for him). His sous chef had overcooked the breasts and it was truly awful-the chef/friend had said that he hadn't had great duck since his birthday. I felt good, but I worried that his restaurants reputation was tarnished as a result of the work of his sous....

[diesta]

athelier thuet... best duck breast i have purchased in Toronto...also most expensive

[robgm]

how much were yours? i bought mine at pusateris and they were about $10 each and were about 7 ounces each

[warlock]

which Pusateri did you go to? ..the one on Avenue Rd.???....If yes,do they always have duck breasts???

[robgm]

yes the one on avenue road, and yes they always have duck breasts-at least everytime i have ever gone....

[Splendid Wine Snob]

The Healthy Butcher or Cumbrae's

[Vise]

Whitehouse Meats at St Lawrence Market. Picked one up on the weekend and cooked it yesterday, was mighty delicious as usual.