Duck promo at Loblaws this week

[lagatta]

I don't usually post weekly supermarket specials on this board, but Loblaws has frozen Brome Lake ducks for 1,99lb/4,39kg from Thursday the 20th to Monday the 24th. Although chowhounds may well prefer to roast a fresh fowl, at that price this is great for making tourtière, pâtés, rillettes etc and of course the obligatory Duck Soup!

[davidpg]

Bought 3 yesterday, $11.00 each or so. Marked as grade A, and all good!

Thanks!

[nextguy]

They had the same sale a few weeks ago. Be careful they aren't utility ducks that are missing parts. I didn't notice this when I bought 2 and both were missing a whole thigh and leg.

[SnackHappy]

I've never seen a utility duck at Loblaws. They're easy to spot, though, since the packaging has blue print instead of the usual Brome Lake colour scheme.

And they're a much better deal if you're doing anything like what lagatta mentioned above. I've even found some that looked good enough to be roasted whole.

[nextguy]

Actually I just realized I bought my utility ducks at a Maxi that used to be a Loblaws, hence my confusion.

[lagatta]

Which former Loblaws has become a Maxi? Yes, Maxi would be more likely to carry utility grade.

Here is an easy duck braise that could be tweaked: http://rasamalaysia.com/teochew-brais...

[nextguy]

This is the one in Laval on St. Martin. I thought they were all being converted though.

I think these ducks are actually quite good roasted. After thawing I wash and hang them in the fridge for 7 days. The amount of blood that drips out is crazy. And as with beef, the aging helps break down the muscle fibers and yields a tender bird. The skin also gets very dry which helps in crisping. Downside is that it starts to smell a bit funky and I won't pick too much at the meat closest to the cavity. But still a quality duck.