Need to find specific kind of turkey in Brooklyn

November 25, 2008 6:54 AM

I'm a little late to the party on this one, but I need recommendations on where I can buy a heritage turkey tomorrow in NYC, hopefully Brooklyn. I would prefer it be kosher, and thus, brined and hopefully raised humanely, but it is not a requirement. Will Wednesday be too late to find this specific thing?
posted by josher71 to food & drink (7 comments total)

a little late

Dude, you're a lot late. I do know that The Park Slope Food Coop got a batch of American Bronzes in yesterday. Hitch is, you've got to join and work there. They do have an orientation tomorrow at 10 a.m. if you're willing to commit, though bear in mind you're making a long(ish)-term commitment there. They may not even have any left- you can go to orientation, check the turkeys during the tour, and bail if they're out, I suppose.

FWIW, heritage birds are not already brined- they're generally regarded as more inherently flavorful so they don't need it. We made one a couple years ago and, honestly, it's not all that, IMO. The difference between a water-bloated, industrially produced turkey and a pasture-raised one is much more dramatic than the difference between a good pasture-raised turkey and a heritage one.
posted by mkultra at 7:28 AM on November 25, 2008

Trader Joe's has fresh kosher turkeys, though likely not heritage birds. In Chicago, at least, they put shipments out in the morning and they're gone fairly quickly.

We had one of their turkeys last Thanksgiving and it was lovely.
posted by sugarfish at 7:31 AM on November 25, 2008

If you get there at like 6AM, the turkey guys at Union Square Greenmarket will probably have birds. I don't think they're heritage, but they are free-range and not pumped full of drugs.
posted by youcancallmeal at 8:08 AM on November 25, 2008

The Trader Joes in Brooklyn (between the Bergen Street and Borough Hall subway stops) was advertising that they had turkeys in stock as of Sunday. You could call and find out if they still have 'em. They also had stuffed Tofurkies for $9.99.

In the day time the place is almost empty, and even at it's worst I've never had to wait more than 5 min in line.
posted by abirae at 8:44 AM on November 25, 2008

Great. This what I needed to know. I will try Union Square, then Trader Joe's, and then the Co-op in that order. I actually have been considering joining the co-op anyway, so good to know there is an orientation tomorrow.
posted by josher71 at 8:44 AM on November 25, 2008

Please, if you do get a heritage bird, try not to brine. I beg you. And good luck. I am visiting friends this holiday and we will be having a bird that... a turkey that I am happy to share with loved ones. Let's leave it at that.
posted by Lesser Shrew at 1:23 PM on November 25, 2008

FWIW, I just got back from the PSFC. Slim pickings amongst the turkeys, no heritage birds.
posted by mkultra at 2:55 PM on November 25, 2008