Where can I go out to purchase a great fresh Turkey today.

[Porto]

Thank you

[pinstripeprincess]

thought i'd bump this... would like some fresh thoughts on where to get a fresh turkey for thanksgiving or be told i'm SOL at this time before i head out searching for one!

[LovesToEat]

Is it possible to buy just small portions of fresh turkey like just breasts or drumsticks? We are only two people...I'd like to have some turkey but there's no sense in making a whole one for just us.

[pinstripeprincess]

i've seen just drumsticks at t&t during the year and so can't imagine that it's not available more regularly at other grocery stores as turkey is atypical for chinese cuisine. give them a call to confirm though. can't recall if there were just breasts.

[Teep]

There are poultry shops in Kensington Market (downtown) that should have those, if you can't find them in supermarkets. I've seen breasts and drumsticks (no thighs though) at Loblaws and Solbeys before.

[foodyDudey]

Pape IGA often has turkey breasts or legs available.

I buy my turkeys from Fresh From the Farm.

[panko]

Saw fresh free range turkeys at the Loblaws at Dundas and Bloor just yesterday actually. Don't think you are SOL...

I'm sure lots of butchers have fresh ones around town too...

[Yongeman]

St. Andrews Poultry on (surprise) St. Andrew's in Kensington is where I usually go for fresh birds at Christmas. They'll have a good selection if you go early on Saturday am. This year, I'm looking for organic and/or free-range. Thanks, panko, for the Loblaws tip.

[garlicandwingnut]

Any Bruno's will have fresh turkeys and turkey bits (rolled breasts etc.) and are usually open 'til 8 every day.

[JamieK]

and you can get jars of homemade turkey gravy at Bruno's too!

[Yongeman]

I just bought an organic, 8 and something pounder at The Butchers on Yonge. $4.99/lb.

[Kagemusha]

Fresh from Costco. Excellent quality, good prices, and a selection of sizes. Boutique birds are money down the drain.

[foodcoveter]

Try The Healthy Butcher. Fresh turkeys from southern ontario, free of everything that's bad, 2 locations. Go to www.thehealthybutcher.com for their 2 locations. I've been going there for 3 years now and all their meat rocks.

[pinstripeprincess]

ordered two birds from whitehouse for convenience's sake (dear lord is it a pain to be lugging 10+ lbs of meat around the city without a car!) and it's around $3.30/lb if i recall.

bird 1 so far was nothing exceptional. it was seasoned with a fair amount of salt and butter but ended up overcooked according to their card instructions. this is based solely on time/weight instructions. i was distracted and neglected to use the thermometer.

bird 2 will be done tonight, will report if it's any better tasting!

i wish i had thought of costco! my friend has a membership but it probably would have been more of an economical pick. some other year.... working on convincing said friend to do a pig roast next year! loving the weather. happy thanksgiving guys!

[Kagemusha]

FWIW, Costco meats+poultry are good value: better quality and pricing than supermarkets. I can't see the point of paying boutique prices for everyday cuts and roasting chickens. Shopping for a Winter Solstice feast pig now--sort of a pagan roots thing, I guess...Good luck with the turkey.

[pinstripeprincess]

did you settle on a pig? i know that the north farmer's slm market can get me a small one for somewhere between 75-125 (though i can't recall what weights exactly to expect) but am not entirely aware of other better options short of perhaps seeing if o nosso talho has something whole.

[Kagemusha]

Getting in touch with these guys. Have eaten their "goods" and can say "it's worth the drive to Acton" and not for a crappy leather couch!

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servle...?

[jayt90]

You may be able to get a heritage pig from Robert Huber, at http://www.beefconnections.ca/Product...
for December if he has one the right size. It should work out to $3/lb or less. The farm is north of Guelph, but there is a very reasonable delivery service.

[Kagemusha]

Thx jayt90. Huber's pigs are on our "porker posse" list, too.

[pinstripeprincess]

bird 2 - i neglected to realize i needed tripleA batteries and still did not use thermometer. did not tent either but estimated quite well and ended up with some beautiful dark meat and pretty good white though a touch over cooked, should have tented but the skin just wasn't browning as quickly as the first.

overall.. still nothing exceptional in flavour about this turkey that made it any more worthwhile than any other turkey i've ever eaten. i thought that it was butchered really nicely and loved that the leg ends were tucked into the bird conveniently for me. the gravy was fantastic though i think it had little to do with the bird and more to do with a super silky roux infused with some heavy home made chicken stock and draining off zero fat.

[Kagemusha]

Had a nice fresh 16 pounder from Costco that struck me as good any I've had recently. Even with a bit more oven time than needed--I blame too much Hockley Valley Stout--it was moist but not swimming in fat. Agreed that pricier birds are often better dressed but not always, since I've had "fresh" from places like Whitehouse that were sloppily processed.

[Chester Eleganté]

I got mine from Reesors Chicken & Deli at the Farmers Market on Yonge just north of Clark in Thornhill. They sell good quality turkey in all fashions year round, and this one was no exception. Put an eight pounder in the convection oven at 375F for about an hour and forty five minutes (breast-side down for the first forty five, lemons in the cavity) and it came out great.

[jayt90]

I got a 13lb fresh turkey at Costco today for $19. as it was reduced by $10 . I'll brine and smoke it.
It is always wise to look over major stores fresh turkeys after a holiday. At best they are half price, and can easily be frozen until the next holiday.

[Kagemusha]

Those are steals, aren't they! Got one last year and froze it for the "real" Thanksgiving in November. Still think Costco's hard to beat for everyday meat and poultry.

[diesta]

With all due respect to any and all vendors in the TO area, I would without reservation point you to Olliffe at Yonge/Summerhill.

For a dozen years, several times a year, I get a turkey and have never been more satisfied.

[Yongeman]

St. Andrews Poultry in Kensington would have fresh turkeys, I think.

[pescatarian]

What area are you in? If you are in the east end, you could try and give Fresh from the Farm a call and see if they have any available. Normally you have to order them in advance, but you never know. Could be worth a shot. I got one from them last year that was great.

[bigos70]

One of the vendors at St. Lawrence Market is bound to have one. I got one last year at Whitehouse meats on a non-Easter-Christmas-Thanksgiving weekend, though I did call ahead to have them put one aside.

[mlukan]

I'm gonna second Whitehouse. I go there every year for my turkey. The best!