MAIL-ORDER TURKEY

We generally refrain from simply re-posting articles from others, but we cannot improve on this one.

The winner, from ButcherBox.

Want a GREAT turkey for Thanksgiving and maybe Christmas? You'll find much better turkeys online than in your local store. But which one to buy? The folks at SERIOUS EATS have done the research so we don't have to. Simply click HERE for their in-depth analysis and reviews.

We DO, of course, feel compelled to add a few thoughts of our own--

Why spend $90 (or more) for a freaking turkey when the Big Box stores and giant chain supermarkets sell them for 99¢/lb. or even less? Because one still generally gets what one pays for.

"ALL NATURAL??" Scientifically bred for massiveness of breast, raised in miserable conditions,

and shot full of chemicals (those "natural flavors") to enhance flavor and moistness.

The mail-order turkeys mentioned in the SERIOUS EATS piece occupy a whole different universe than those big-box Butterballs, and run the gamut from "free range" to "pasture-raised" to "heritage breed."

Our take on Thanksgiving (and turkey) from a year ago has aged sufficiently well to to re-post here-- see THANKSGIVING 2024. A year later we still maintain that turkeys are ill-suited for roasting whole, but for 2025 we couldn't resist ordering a slow-growth, dry-aged heritage bird from KellyBronze just to give it a try. We'll post our results.

And finally, we cannot hit the "publish" button without including a wine recommendation or two. Californian Pinot Noir remains our top choice for a red to pair with turkey. MEIOMI Pinot Noir, a mass-produced crowd-pleaser, is now retailing for as little as $14.99 in numerous outlets, down a few dollars from last year. 5-10 bucks more will get you a Pinot that will impress the family wine snob. Rosé of Pinot Noir is a worthy turkey match as well; look for one at a store tasting so you know what you are buying.