Thanksgiving duck
We're planning to have duck at Thanksgiving. Originally, the plan was just dinner for the two of us. Now, I think we'll be making dinner for 8-10. I'm really excited about the big dinner, but I'd still like to make duck. How much would a free-range duck *generally* serve? Should I be making three ducks? Goose is another option, though I think it'd be more difficult to find around here. I plan on speaking to our butcher, but I wouldn't mind your input if you've got any.
By littlegreenpea
on Oct 1, 2007 11:04 AM
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We usually figure on a maximum of three people per duck, though if everyone ate lots of side dishes and just a taste of duck you could stretch each one over four. Three ducks should be enough, assuming that your TG feasts are as lavish with the side dishes as most. I think two would be inadequate.
Goose is wonderful, but even worse in the meat-per-pound category than duck. However, it's so rich that when we have that for our Christmas feast, one goose easily feeds eight of us. Ten people might be a little underfed, though.
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You could line up 10 magrets of duck and roast that way. Two rows of 5 would fit in any oven.
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You'd get the rich taste but not that spectacular Thanksgiving vision of a roasted fowl. I always make turkey on Thanksgiving because it's that New World native - and it's cheap and delicious! I'd save duck for intimate dinners.
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I understand about the TG vision of a whole roasted bird; I don't want to lose that either.
Duck and goose are traditional roasts in my culture, and I prefer it to turkey, so I'd like to stick with it if I can.
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I have to agree with Amanita. Thanksgiving is all about seeing that roasted fowl on the table.
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Thanks everyone for your replies! I'll talk to the butcher soon and let you know what route we'll go.
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Those magrets sound wonderful. (I looked it up) But as rich as duck is, I wonder if you wouldn't need to offer a braised chuck roast or something else along with the duck. Maybe some lasagna. Isn't that traditional?
I have previously called around to see if I could find duck or duck confit locally with no luck. I just came upon this place while checking on magrets of duck.
http://www.gourmetfoodstore.com/speci...
Maybe you'll have better luck finding duck in your part of the world.
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Great thought on the lasagna! Looks like we'll have less than ten ppl, so two ducks and a lasagna should be more than enough!!
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I started a new thread about the lasagna here:
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/446957
Thanks for all of your help everyone!!
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