Best places to buy fresh duck in Chicago

Any suggestion on best places to buy fresh duck in the city? I've only purchased at Paulina Meat Market , Gepperth's and Whole Foods, all good but seemed overpriced.

Thanks

Those are the three places that I have found that consistently have fresh duck. Most other places either don't carry it or sell frozen duck.

I would try John's Poultry on Fullerton near Austin. If they don't have the fresh duck, you can at least pick-up a nice chicken and some fresh eggs.

John's Live Poultry
(773) 622-2813
5955 W Fullerton Ave
Chicago, IL 60639

stevez wrote:Those are the three places that I have found that consistently have fresh duck. Most other places either don't carry it or sell frozen duck.

Also, Fox & Obel.

A little farther out, Harrison's Poultry in Glenview is an institution, and even supplies poultry to local restaurants. Great, fresh birds -- chicken, turkey, duck, quail, sometimes other birds -- and fresh eggs.

Harrison's Poultry
1201 Waukegan Rd
Glenview, IL 60025
(847) 724-0132

Cynthia wrote:A little farther out, Harrison's Poultry in Glenview is an institution,

I've only seen frozen duck at Harrison's.

From my experience, anything can be ordered fresh, even if it isn't normally kept on hand fresh -- you just need to give them a couple of days. That may have changed, as it has been a couple of years since I visited, but I never had a problem in the past. It might be worth asking.

I was shocked to find out Whole Foods in River Forest does not carry duck breast, fresh or frozen. I asked the meat guy and he showed me a package of frozen duck tenders or some damn thing which are sliced up pieces of frozen duck breast. The guy shelving the frozen chicken told me they never carry whole breasts but sometimes they have whole frozen duck around the holidays. Who knew duck breast was such an oddity?

teatpuller wrote:Who knew duck breast was such an oddity?

Harrison's usually has frozen duck breasts.

teatpuller wrote:Who knew duck breast was such an oddity?

I did.

teatpuller wrote:I was shocked to find out Whole Foods in River Forest does not carry duck breast, fresh or frozen. I asked the meat guy and he showed me a package of frozen duck tenders or some damn thing which are sliced up pieces of frozen duck breast. The guy shelving the frozen chicken told me they never carry whole breasts but sometimes they have whole frozen duck around the holidays. Who knew duck breast was such an oddity?

That Bell & Evans frozen duck breast product is NOT sliced up. It's a whole duck breast. The picture is just a serving suggestion.

I happen to think it's pretty stupid packaging - it really looks like they already sliced it up, but they haven't.

I have a chef friend at Whole Foods who cooked this up at home and told me about the product - she thought it was very good - and not pre-sliced.

If you knew how FEW people inquite about fresh duck breast, you'd be pretty sad, and understand why one can only find it frozen in the suburbs.

Nancy

Thanks for the info. I will examine the package. The frozen food guy told me they were "tenderloins" and was pretty adamant that they did not sell duck breast.

For very fresh duck, you could try a live poultry store. Germuska mapped the outlets in the area. Not sure all would have duck, but Chicago LIve Poultry lists it on their website.

I believe I remember seeing fresh duck last time I was at H Mart. I didn't get a close look. I was there a half hour before closing and had too much ground to cover. Definitely was duck, pretty sure it was fresh. I can only assume that it is reasonably priced and I would hope the quality is good.

Super H Mart
801 Civic Center Dr
Niles, IL 60714
(218) 744-2075

eatchicago wrote:

stevez wrote:Those are the three places that I have found that consistently have fresh duck. Most other places either don't carry it or sell frozen duck.

Also, Fox & Obel.

don't know what the history is, but at least today all the duck sold at F&O has been previously frozen, according to the gentleman at the meat counter.

La Petite Bulle wrote:Any suggestion on best places to buy fresh duck in the city? I've only purchased at Paulina Meat Market , Gepperth's and Whole Foods, all good but seemed overpriced.

Thanks

I live around the corner from Paulina and, accordingly, buy a lot of my meat and duck there. For what it's worth, Paulina's duck isn't fresh, it's actually pre-frozen. They usually have one duck defrosted out front on the weekdays and maybe two or three on the weekends. I learned this when I asked for 3 ducks on a Thursday and got 2 frozen ones to go with the thawed one on display.

The whole frozen things doesn't really bother me as the ducks they have are flash frozen well and stored equally well. I figure since (from what I've read in the NYT and elsewhere) a large percentage of even the best sushi is flash frozen, I don't have that much of a reason to turn my nose up at flash frozen duck I'm actually going to cook.

For those looking for the real deal, though, it's worth knowing.

Hello,

I am looking to make a whole roasted duck for thanksgiving and I was just wondering if anyone knew of a good place in chicago (or a good farm?) to order/ buy one?

Thanks,
MB

While I'm at it... I'm also planning on serving lamb (either leg or rack) and rabbit. Suggestions for where to purchase those also??

Thanks!

You can get very fresh duck and rabbit at Chicago Live Poultry. There's a 10% off coupon on their website. And you get to pick out your own critter!

If you don't mind frozen, Marketplace on Oakton usually has all three (you can get the lamb fresh, but the duck and rabbit will be frozen) I'd call to double-check the availability of frozen duck/rabbit.

Are you planning to make a Dammit?

Whole Foods in Northbrook had ducks last weekend. I did not get close enough to the case to see if they were frozen or not.

You should look for Asian markets or go to the Chinatown in your area. Guaranteed to find fresh whole ducks.

La Petite Bulle wrote:Any suggestion on best places to buy fresh duck in the city?

La,

Previous lengthy fresh duck thread may be found --> here.

Fox and Obel, Viet Hoa and Harrison's Poultry carry fresh duck.

Enjoy,
Gary

Harrison's Poultry
1201 Waukegan Rd
Glenview, IL 60025
847-724-0132

Fox & Obel
401 E Illinois
Chicago IL 60611
312-410-7301

Viet Hoa Plaza
1051 W Argyle St
Chicago, IL 60640
773-334-1028

dippy-do-da-egg wrote:Hello,

I am looking to make a whole roasted duck for thanksgiving and I was just wondering if anyone knew of a good place in chicago (or a good farm?) to order/ buy one?

Thanks,
MB

Dippy-do:

I think your post was merged into another thread as your quest for whole roasted duck has not been fulfilled. Sun Wah does excellent roasted duck. There are probably other options on Argyle or in Chinatown. Hopefully others with more knowledge will respond.

Sun Wah
1134 W. Argyle St.
Chicago, IL 60640
773-769-1254

-Mary

edited for spelling

Treasure Island sometimes carries fresh ducks with higher probability around holidays. They were in this week's ad at $3.19/pound. Today the Clybourn store had a good supply.

rickster wrote:Whole Foods in Northbrook had ducks last weekend. I did not get close enough to the case to see if they were frozen or not.

I saw both fresh and frozen whole ducks at Whole Foods today -- River North (Huron) location. Did not see the price.

For future reference, Super Low on Grand Ave in Elmwood Park seems to always have fresh "Ducklings" available.
$2.99/lb.

Went to Gepperth's today and all their duck was frozen. Still tasty though, but definitely not super tender. I've only cooked duck twice and both times it has been chewy, am I doing something wrong?

jeanpoutine wrote:Went to Gepperth's today and all their duck was frozen. Still tasty though, but definitely not super tender. I've only cooked duck twice and both times it has been chewy, am I doing something wrong?

What part of the duck, how are you cooking it, and what temperature are you cooking it to?

For the last year I have been buying fresh (vacuum packed I believe) duck breasts from a Canadian source at Fox & Obel. Problem is they have become very expensive ( $16.99 a pound). Does anyone knows of another source for fresh duck breasts?