Howard Kaufman Turkey Farm (aka Ho-Ka) - Waterman, IL

Made the much anticipted trip to the turkey farm today, and I was amazed at all the turkeys they had in the pens, Fresh birds were available from 12 lbs., and up. I already have a whole turky for t-giving, but i did buy a breast, and some thighs. the breast to be smoked on t-giving, and the thighs for some gumbo i am doing tomorrow. This place will be at least a yearly stop for turkey items.

they had wings, thighs, gizzards, and other parts available in addition to the fresh birds, cant beat going right to the source.













Howard Kaufman Farms
8519 Leland Road
Waterman, IL.

http://www.hokaturkeys.com

here are the thighs I got for the smoked turkey gumbo:


pre rub:



rubbed w/ tony c's creole seasoning:



they went in the fridge overnight with the rub, and were smoked @ 250-260 for about3 hours.





brined and smoked breast:

Drove out to Waterman on Sunday morning to pick up 2-19.5lb birds along with 10lbs of turkey legs. All this for a tad over $100.

Can't wait to throw them on the grill for dinner on Thursday.

They still had a few of the turkey houses with birds in them...

I need to stock up on some turkey parts, so a visit to the turkey farm in Waterman this weekend is in the cards.

Cant wait to either smoke a Ho-Ka breast on the WSM, and or do a whole bird from them this year in the oven. Ill go pick those up in a few weeks as T-giving approaches.

These folks have special hours this weekend. Open til' 5:00 p.m. today, and open tomorrow(usually not open on Sunday's).

We are heading up in an hour or so to grab this years bird, probably 17 lbs) and maybe some other items.

Then its over to Hinkley to try out a new place for supper called "The Welcome Matt"... another fried chicken spot, tonight is also crab leg night...

there is something special and rewarding about going to the place where your food is raised vs a flourescent lighted grocery store.

Rolled 45 mins north of my crib to Waterman to grab the Turkeyday bird. A beutiful 18# fresh turkey. Also grabbed about 4 #'s of turkey wings for a future snack. Bird was $2.49/lb, wings were $.99/lb.

Pens were pretty empty, white turkey feathers blowing in the cold wind...





family tradition....

Jim, our paths cross again HoKa!

dan

I don't think I showed you the pics from Halloween >>>off to the farming forum>>>

gonefishin wrote:Jim, our paths cross again HoKa!

dan

I don't think I showed you the pics from Halloween >>>off to the farming forum>>>

lol, folks in the know, know where to go for the good shiznit...

This years price at the source: $2.59/lb. ---- ** up 10 cents from last year for reference **

99% sure I am going this route again for my bird.

Annual visit been on my mind for a few weeks now, doing one of their whole birds traditional style and one of their turkey breast for a pastrami again this time around.

whole birds, $2.79/lb. @ the farm this year.

Do they sell only whole birds or parts as well? If so, is there a price list anywhere? I couldn't find it on their site.

jimswside wrote:
whole birds, $2.79/lb. @ the farm this year.

That's the same price I see in Shop & Save Market flyers for this week.

http://shopandsavemarket.com/weekly-ads/bridgeview.html (for one)

Is there an advantage to instead going to the farm?

Pick your own live bird maybe?

Ron

---
When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I've never tried before.
-Mae West

farms probably closer to me than a shop-n-save

kind of a yearly family tradition for us.

There are parts available(whole breasts, thighs, wings, gizzards), cant remember a price, figure maybe $.40/lb more than a whole bird

$2.89/Lb at the farm this year.

I might be going a different route if I am not too late/can arrange a pickup day from a farm near Peoria.

http://www.yordyturkey.com/

If not Ill be up in Waterman on Sat. Sun. grabbing a HoKa.

You can save on Gas/Time-
and go
to Fresh Farms in Niles- where if you call in to pre-order a Bird of a certain weight profile-
(Ask for The Ho-Ka Man in The Meat Dept.)
they will be @ Fresh Farms in Niles on Saturday the 23rd- and they'll
hold your Reserved Bird until you pick it up.
Their refrigerator is held at optimal temperature too!
(and won't hog up space in your home refrig./warm up every time you open the door to look
at your birdie)

Fresh Farms
5740 Touhy Avenue
Niles,IL
847.779.7343

At various locations in the Southland you can pre-order them from Walts Food Centers until Friday 11/22 for $2.89lb

Hombre de Acero wrote:You can save on Gas/Time-
and go
to Fresh Farms in Niles- where if you call in to pre-order a Bird of a certain weight profile-
(Ask for The Ho-Ka Man in The Meat Dept.)
they will be @ Fresh Farms in Niles on Saturday the 23rd- and they'll
hold your Reserved Bird until you pick it up.
Their refrigerator is held at optimal temperature too!
(and won't hog up space in your home refrig./warm up every time you open the door to look
at your birdie)

Fresh Farms
5740 Touhy Avenue
Niles,IL
847.779.7343

I've done this the past 4 or 5 years and have been very happy with the Ho-Ka turkeys. We like to drive back from Iowa, where our son is in college, on US 30, and we pass the sign for the Howard Kaufman turkey farm around Waterman. It always makes us smile and look forward to Thanksgiving.

I've ordered fresh Ho-Ka turkeys from Treasure Island in previous years. For jimswide, it's easier and closer for him to go to the Ho-Ka farm than most of us.

Hombre de Acero wrote:You can save on Gas/Time-
and go
to Fresh Farms in Niles- where if you call in to pre-order a Bird of a certain weight profile-
(Ask for The Ho-Ka Man in The Meat Dept.)
they will be @ Fresh Farms in Niles on Saturday the 23rd- and they'll
hold your Reserved Bird until you pick it up.
Their refrigerator is held at optimal temperature too!
(and won't hog up space in your home refrig./warm up every time you open the door to look
at your birdie)

Fresh Farms
5740 Touhy Avenue
Niles,IL
847.779.7343

The GP wrote:I've ordered fresh Ho-Ka turkeys from Treasure Island in previous years. For jimswide, it's easier and closer for him to go to the Ho-Ka farm than most of us.

true,

Im just glad folks buy are buying HoKa's(or some other family run turkey farms bird) wherever they are picking them up vs a Butterball, etc..

of course with a moniker like "GrubSeeker" gas and time rarely enter my thought process when it comes to sourcing food.

Joseph's on Addison has Ho-Ka turkeys. mine was ordered last week. I have been getting them there for years. Skipped last year and got a Butterball. First thing my wife said was it aint a Ho-ka. So we are back.