Where to order fresh turkeys in Chicago

I apologize if this topic already exists, I am really bad with the search tool.

This is my first actual Thanksgiving in Chicago and am trying to figure out where I can order a fresh turkey from that is recommended or not recommended.

My only criteria:

Fresh
Gluten Free
Naturally raised would be a huge bonus
Within the city of Chicago, I live in Bucktown

I am planning on visiting some butchers this weekend to ask around but thought this might be a good topic for discussion on here.

This is a little out of town but:

http://www.ziersprime.com/

Talk with Dave he will take good care of you. Dave told me the turkey are free range and grown in Illinois.

Dave Edwards

gjdad wrote:This is a little out of town but:

http://www.ziersprime.com/

Talk with Dave he will take good care of you. Dave told me the turkey are free range and grown in Illinois.

Dave Edwards

Almost certain Zier's carries the Hoka turkeys and I've ordered them from Dave in the past. They are very tasty. Last time I hosted Thanksgiving I got 3: oven-roasted one, deep-fried one and hot-smoked one. They all turned out great.

=R=

A couple of earlier threads hit upon this subject. As with many LTH threads, there is some wandering from the original topic, which is why they are relevant to this thread.

Fresh Heritage Turkey
and
Turkey: Fresh or Frozen?

The Chicago locations for Ho-Ka are located here (and there are quite a few):

http://www.hokaturkeys.com/where%20to%20buy.htm

Treasure Island. They always carry Ho-Ka, and usually at least one heritage variety. There's a TI not too far from you, I believe. (. . . .and pick up some of the brandied cranberries with walnuts to go with it from their deli. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.)

Two options not in link from earlier post:

Treasure Island stores consistently have been carrying Ho-Ka turkeys from mid-November through about Christmas. The stores at 2121 North Clybourn or 1639 North Wells would probably be the most convenient to Bucktown.

Farther out A&G at 5630 West Belmont has signs up about ordering Ho-Ka turkeys.

John's Live Poultry on Fullerton. simply the best.-Dick

budrichard wrote:John's Live Poultry on Fullerton. simply the best.-Dick

I have to say I picked up a couple chickens from them last week and they were really really good!

Zier's Prime Meats on Ridge just south of Lake in Wilmette has free range turkeys advertised.

Never had a bad product from Dave's shop.

I want a small turkey and for the life of me I can never find one year after year. I remember once watching the Barefoot Contessa, Ina had an 8lb turkey she made mid year. The smallest turkey I've been able to source has been 10lbs but since there are only 3 or 4 of us and I'm not that big a fan of turkey anyway, leftovers are out. What's the smallest turkey you guys have seen out there?!

Its just simply not economical for a large producer to sell small animals under market weight.
Just purchase a good sized bird, cut in half and freeze.-Dick

budrichard wrote:Its just simply not economical for a large producer to sell small animals under market weight.
Just purchase a good sized bird, cut in half and freeze.-Dick

I do this, but it is quite an endeavor-- I have a memory of a photo of Julia Child cutting a turkey with a mallette and a cleaver, but I cannot find it on the internet, so it may not exist. Simpler would be to buy parts if you want smaller bits of bird.

Jen

I do this regularly. It's fairly easy to cut a bird apart from dark meat to white (see the ginius method) and then it's not as difficult to halve the breast and the thighs.

Two ways to go about it.
First and simple is to breast out the bird and remove the leg thigh combination and wings.
The carcass is then used for stock and eventual soup.
Second and requiring more tools is actually cutting the bird in half. Turkeys do have a heavy bone structure and the use of a heavy duty poultry shears, cleaver and bone saw are used. Simplest is to ask your butcher to cut the bird in half for you on his power meat saw.-Dick

sundevilpeg wrote:Treasure Island. They always carry Ho-Ka, and usually at least one heritage variety. There's a TI not too far from you, I believe. (. . . .and pick up some of the brandied cranberries with walnuts to go with it from their deli. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.)

anyone know when they start letting you reserve them? I got one there last year and it was great!

I just placed my order for a Ho-Ka at the A&G today. $10 nonrefundable deposit and the bird is $2.49 a pound. Orders must be in by Nov 18th and bird pickup is Nov 22nd.

A&G Fresh Market
5630 Belmont Ave
Chicago, IL
773-777-4480

i'm doing my friends Thanksgiving the 13th, so I hope the ho-ka birds are around then.

edit: contacted Mary at Treasure Island, and they won't be getting them in until the 16th. I assume it's the same everywhere else.

However, I know there are a few places you can get them year round, so maybe I'll do that.

Shaggywillis wrote:I apologize if this topic already exists, I am really bad with the search tool.

This is my first actual Thanksgiving in Chicago and am trying to figure out where I can order a fresh turkey from that is recommended or not recommended.

My only criteria:

Fresh
Gluten Free
Naturally raised would be a huge bonus
Within the city of Chicago, I live in Bucktown

I am planning on visiting some butchers this weekend to ask around but thought this might be a good topic for discussion on here.

One last thought. What is your definition of 'Fresh'?

"“Fresh” turkeys may be over 2 months old. The USDA definition of “fresh” refers to turkeys whose internal temperature has never been below 26°F. “Hard-chilled” means the turkey was kept between 0°F and 26°F. “Frozen” means the turkey was kept at or below 0°F. The surprising thing about this standard is that it only mentions temperature, not time. Most Thanksgiving turkeys are processed in September and October, but are still labeled “fresh” in November."

The turkey I get from John's Live Poultry is butchered while I wait.
That is my definition of 'fresh'.-Dick

Hi Shaggy,
In your neighborhood, at Bucktown's own Sterling & Goss butchers, you can get a fresh, Illinois raised turkey.

The Fish Guy just sent their annual email about Ho-Ka turkeys. They offer:

fresh dressed,whole smoked,smoked breasts.
frozen trimmed breasts and thighs

To be picked up the 20th, 22nd, 23rd or 24th.

budrichard wrote:One last thought. What is your definition of 'Fresh'?

Likely a bit different than Harrison's.

-Dan

What is your definition of 'Fresh'?

Not frozen.

In your neighborhood, at Bucktown's own Sterling & Goss butchers, you can get a fresh, Illinois raised turkey.

Thanks Anak, I actually called them and they sell Ho-ka turkey's as well and placed an order. I didn't even know this place existed, awesome.

anyone ever get a Ho-Ka from Sunset Foods? Says they have them year-round.

Chitown B wrote:anyone ever get a Ho-Ka from Sunset Foods? Says they have them year-round.

Pretty much anywhere with a butcher dept. can get them year round. All you have to do is place an order. I generally buy 3 - 4 fresh turkeys every year at different times. More often than not, they are Ho-Ka's. You just need to give the butcher a minimum of a couple days notice.

thanks a lot for the tips!

FYI called Sunset Foods in Northbrook and reserved a 20-24lb turkey for next Friday no problem. He said in the system the Ho-Ka is $2.99 a pound right now, which is a little pricey but may change by next Fri. Either way I know I'm going to pay more to get it earlier than Thanksgiving time.

The Libertyville Sunset usually has a decent supply of frozen Ho-Ka turkeys out the week or so before Thanksgiving. Personally, I don't see a need to reserve one in advance unless I want to pick up up an unfrozen one the day before Thanksgiving.

Fresh Farms, Niles has a sign up for Ho-Ka turkeys.