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Gobble Gobble: Shaw Family Farm’s heritage turkeys show off their colors. |
CommentsHeritage Turkey Tasting
November Print Edition
Published: November 19, 2009
On Dec. 9, Shaw Family Farms is holding a heritage turkey tasting at Baxter’s Bistro & Lounge at the Village at Northstar. A fundraiser for Slow Food Lake Tahoe, the event will let guests sample five different breeds of heritage turkeys. Barbara Shaw dishes up the scoop on the event.Published: November 19, 2009
Moonshine Ink: What exactly is a heritage turkey?
Barbara Shaw: There are a couple designations. The most important is that the birds can mate naturally. Commercial turkeys are bred to have such large breasts and short legs that the males can’t mount the females; they have to be artificially inseminated.
People want large turkey breasts, but they don’t understand the consequences of having what they want.
MI: What’s another designation?
BS: The growth rate is slow. It takes two times as long to grow heritage turkeys to market size as broad-breasted turkeys. Our turkeys are ready at six months, versus three months for commercial birds. The main reason is the way they are bred. Commercial turkeys are bred to grow fast and develop a lot of breast meat.
MI: Why did you decide to hold the turkey tasting?
BS: We wanted to see if the five breeds tasted different, but how could we tell that unless we cooked them at the same time and tasted them side by side? I can’t cook them all at home, and having five carcasses for four people is crazy.
MI: What will you do with the breed that proves the most popular?
BS: It’s information for us, to help us decide which turkey to raise.
MI: What are the details of the event?
There are 60 seats available. The five turkeys will be on a buffet with voting cards. All the side dishes will be provided by Mark Estee (Baxter’s co-owner and executive chef). The $60 price (plus tax and tip) includes wine, soda, coffee and tea. There will also be a no-host bar and live music by the Dynamic Strings Duo – my sons on cello and violin.
To make a reservation, call Baxter’s at 530-562-3200.
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