Does anyone know how much I should be paying per kilo for a reasonable sized fresh turkey this Christmas.
I do not seem to be able to find anything much over 3kg.
We've got a gammon for 20 waiting for us in Lyon from Boucherie André at Rillieux, pre-ordered. Start tomorrow on the boiling then wednesday with the roasting :)
And I have a ton of roasted taties to spit out :)
It is 9.99 per kg in ATAC for a black turkey, but they are so small because Christmas is only the one day here in France.
You can almost buy a bigger capon, but again expensive.
Oops just twigged I’m about two years late answering this question, but hey.
I’m selling turkeys at 14.50 euro per kg, weights from 4kg to 8kg. Yep, more expensive than a British supermarket but reared completely outdoors (save the first few weeks in our kitchen hatching, mind), fed on certified organic crumb, slaughtered humanely by a chap w CE certification. Norfolk blacks. 71260 Cruzille. 0678276703. At time of posting I do have some left!
For our first Christmas here in France we bought a capon, but found it too fatty, last year I smuggled a turkey crown back from the UK in my suitcase but this year decided to buy local if I could find something big enough at a reasonable price. After much discussion yesterday evening as to what to do about the forthcoming Christmas lunch at a reasonable price, I decided to go to the market in our local town and see what was on offer. The supermarkets had sparrows at 10.90€/kg that wouldnt feed the hoards of hungry visitors over the Christmas break and cooking 3 chickens was not an option.
On arriving and jostling for a parking space, the make-shift tent in the village square housed small groups of farmers all trying to sell their wares. After much negotiation and hand gesticulations I finally came away with a live black turkey that weighed 9kg and cost of 45€. Its legs were tied together and it looked very sad, but I tried not to get sentimental and did not look into its eyes as I was worried that I would give it a reprieve and it would end up being a pet! I placed it in the boot of the car on a bag and drove quickly to a neighbour while the thing was squawking and flapping in the back. On asking for help they mobilised themselves with a knife, a bag and a wheelbarrow and went outside to find a tree to hang it from.
Sadly, it met its demise less than 5 minutes later, was then plunged into hot water for 30 seconds to make it easy to pluck, then plucked, gutted and washed ready to go in the freezer for a few days. All over in less than 30 minutes, you can't get fresher than that. Therefore, if you want turkey for Christmas here in France at a reasonable price, are not squeemish and know a farmer or neighbour who can do the deed, go for live everytime.
Good Luck and Bonnes Fetes!
Thanks Tracy, unfortunately I have to bite the bullet this Christmas as I have family coming and all want Turkey for Lunch. Thought I might go to the market in the morning and see what is on offer there, don't fancy killing and plucking it myself though!
Hi Allison, turkeys are tiny over here and hugely expensive. I seem to think that the last one we bought was about 25 euros for a measly specimen that did Christmas Dinner, a sandwich and a soup for a small family of four. Randomly, probably about 12 euros a kilo, so a 3kg is about 36 euros. Every year my husband says 'never again, it's too expensive'!