Gizzards - where did they go?

[juliewong]

I enjoy gizzards and used to be able to pick them up at any supermarket. I have recently found that they are not available. My local shops tell me that they are not bringing them in due to low/no demand. I would have thought that they would have them after slicing up chickens for sale.

[lilith]

I usually go to Highland Farms on Kennedy x Ellesmere.

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Highland Farms
850 Ellesmere Rd, Toronto, ON M1P, CA

[Pizza Lover]

If you find yourself up north (in Thorhill) the supermarkets that carry kosher meat such as Sobey's on Clark, No Frills on Centre St. or No Frills at Bathurst & Wilson have a variety of chicken gizzards, hearts and livers.

[juliewong]

I do shop at the chinese markets in Mississauga - I am a little suspicious of the chicken at times and choose to purchase the bones for soup only as you can cook hot enough to ensure everything is killed off. I just wondered why regular stores don't carry but sounds like it might be a south Mississauga thing and most likely due to demand. Too bad. Thanks for the responses as it is good to know I am not the only one who enjoys these treats.

[graydyn]

The Longo's on highway 7 in Richmond Hill has an unusually well stocked guts section that carries gizzards most of the time. They also usually have some sweetbreads and often pig feet/brains.

[Davwud]

Same with Aurora.

DT

[waydowntown]

I've purchased gizzards recently at the ValuMart in the lower level of the Manulife building at Bloor and Bay, and less recently at the Metro on Front Street East.

Harder to find are chicken hearts, which at ValuMart are mentioned on the label ("chicken gizzards and hearts") but which are always, or virtually always, absent from the packages of gizzards. Of late, I haven't been able to find chicken hearts sold separately from gizzards anywhere except the St. Lawrence Market., and not always there. I'll have to try the T & T near the Distillery District.

Chicken livers still seem to be in relatively good supply at supermarkets, but I find that (as with all offal) I have to pay very careful attention to the "best before" dates.

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Distillery District
55 Mill St, Toronto, ON M5A, CA

St. Lawrence Market
92 Front St E, Toronto, ON M5E, CA

[Whats_For_Dinner]

I see them at Real Canadian Superstore about once every couple of weeks. Food Basics has them occasionally, too.

Thing is that many places don`t fabricate their own chicken parts anymore. I know where I used to work, all the poultry came in more or less precut, and the meat guys just repackaged it from the 20kg cases into the little trays.
Maple Leaf Prime stuff even comes from the plant already prepackaged in those shiny white Styrofoam trays. All they have to do is slap a price on it.

Surprisingly hard to find a grocery store butcher section who actually breaks down their own poultry anymore, apparently. I asked at Superstore the other week if they had any necks and backs or other scraps I could have (I needed to make stock, ASAP, and I didn't have enough stuff) and the butcher looked at me like I was crazy for asking if they cut their own birds.

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Maple Leaf Restaurant
1076 Cardiff Blvd, Mississauga, ON L5S1P3, CA

[juliewong]

I was wondering that - as my local store eluded to this but I thought it was just because it was a small store. Sad- there are still the ethic markets and will miss going to the local butcher and purchasing the good bits.

[jayt90]

Many Asian stores still break down chickens, and offer the carcasses for stock, $1/bag, and the offal separately. I know it's not Miss., but I get these parts at Soon Lee, Markham and Lawrence, or T.Phat, in the old Knob Hill, Pickering, Kingston Rd. east of Brock.

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Soon Lee
629 Markham Rd, Toronto, ON M1J, CA

[pouletsecret]

Jerry's (on Danforth) definitely has them.

[phoenikia]

Greek butcher shops on the Danforth or Pape should also sell them. I'd think you'd be able to also find gizzards in the St.Lawrence Mkt.

I've never had any problem finding them at Sobey's and Metro in London, ON, but haven't looked for them at supermarkets in TO. I usually stock up on a few packs when I find them, and keep them in the freezer.

[sbug206]

Definitely available at T&T. Now the bigger question, is which restaurants have them on the menu? Unfortunately I only know of Sushi on 7 which serves them skewered and grilled. Back in Vancouver, long time ago there used to be a restaurant that served them fried up in spicy salt. I would love to find another restaurant that did that.

[raebmv]

Just had deep fried chicken gizzards (karaage style) at Koyoi last night. It was very good.

[jlunar]

Probably any Chinese grocer will have them!