$80.00 for a Goose?

[OffWithTheirHeads]

Before Thanksgiving, I called the local meat market and asked them if they would be having Goose available and, if so, how much would it cost? I had never had Goose before, nor had my family who will be coming to "Our Winter Solstice Eve " dinner so I had entertained the idea of presenting the classic "Christmas Goose". Race Street Fish and Poultry quoted me a price of a little under $30.00 for a 12 pound bird. I thought that was a little high but, what the fuck. It's Christmas and none of us have ever had a Christmas Goose before. So today, I went to buy it and they wanted $80.00. Are they insane? I can buy a Turkey at Safeway on Thanksgiving day for about $7.00 which will provide at least as many meals as a 12# Goose and they want 80 bucks for it? Do Geese come from Sturgeon on the Caspian Sea?

So the guy says to me, they must have been talking about Duck . $30.00 to $40.00 per. What the fuck? $40.00 for a duck? Seems to me that a 20 ga. over and under would pay for itself pretty quick.

We won't be having Goose this X-mas.

[janx]

1. It may sound romantic to have goose on X-mas, but it is both

expensive and greasy.

Keep that in mind. ;-)

[OffWithTheirHeads]

2. Well, the expensive part did it for me

I have been out of work since July and there is no way I can spend almost $80.00 0n the main course.

[janx]

4. I spent $5.50 on a turkey at Thanksgiving

and made many sandwiches and a lot of soup after that.

I am an omnivore and like beef, fruits, bread, and vegetables at Christmas. You don't need a huge quantity of roast beef or steak. Can you look into that? Grill a steak and divvy it up! A few choice slices for each person, with potatoes, fruits, and veggies.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

6. I know. I can get several weeks of meals out of a Turkey

After stripping the carcass I boil it and strain it and cook White Beans in the stock. You can't buy this at Safeway! It's too good.

One of the things I am learning from this great depression is to not waste anything. Thus, I have discovered Beet Greens. The leafy part of the Beet plant sauteed in a little Bacon, Garlic, red Wine and vinegar is way better than chard and most people throw it away.

[janx]

12. I don't know about beet greens, but I do know that celery leaves

are the best when it comes to cooking. I don't buy celery unless it has the leaves attached.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

16. So what do you do with them?

I have heard that Celery has NO calories. So what can you do with Celery leaves? I'm really interested. I think Americans throw away too much food and am always looking for ways to use what we think of as garbage buy isn't.

[janx]

18. Celery and celery leaves are great when it comes to snacking

and salads.

The leaves are the best part of celery because that's where the flavor is in a good bird dressing or a soup. These are also great on a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich--even if you eliminate the bacon.

There is processed stuff that you can buy called celery salt (I use it). It is composed of dried celery leaves and salt. You can sprinkle it on a good tomato sandwich with mayo, lettuce, and onion. VERY GOOD!

[Kali]

3. They aren't raised in the quantities (or conditions) of turkeys

but 80 is damn high, Safeway has frozen ones sometimes - ask at a regular store. I haven't ever cooked one, but some German friends of mine made two at my house one year - it was a different process and came out really good. She slow cooked it right on the oven rack with a big pan below to catch the grease which she periodically emptied - the skin was 10 times better than turkey skin (eat right out of the oven while hot and crispy) and they used the room temp grease as a spread on crackers and hard bread - I couldn't quite do that as much as I love greasy food, but it smelled good - almost bacon grease-like. I guess you could cook with it too.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

9. I've been told that potato in Goose grease is to die for

But it will take a good economic spike before I will ever find out at the price I have been quoted.

[bluesbassman]

5. $80 is cheap for a Goose. They cost $2.6 mil to train!

:)

[OffWithTheirHeads]

7. I'm sorry, you may have different predilictions than me

But that does not look edible.

[DarkTirade]

8. If you find the right time of year for whatever latitute you live in

you can just drive around in circles near retention ponds and eventually you'll get a free one.

You'll have to pluck and prepare it yourself though. And you'll have to try and hide the tire marks so your family doesn't see them when its cooked.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

11. I know. We have a plethora of lakes/ponds around here with

major Goose populations. I don't get it. It's not like they are scarce or endangered. Hell, I can go get Abalone for less money and that is real work.

[musette_sf]

10. Seeing as you live in San Jo, neighbor,

you could take matters into your own hands. Literally.

I mean, there's a surfeit of Canadian geese Rat Cheer. Just a few exits up the old 880:



I wish I were joking when I tell you that at the last apartment building I lived in, I came home one day and walked up the stairs, looked out the window, and was confronted by two deceased and denuded geese hanging on the neighbor's balcony.

Somehow I just did not think that these had been procured from Andronico's, nor from the local meat market.

I confess that I called various state and local agencies and busted the dude. My secondary concern was possible contamination and/or other health issues. But my primary concern was EEEEWWWWWWWW, Oh No You Din't.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

13. No! Sorry! I feed those ones. I don't eat them.

Looks like the Lake Vasona lake. You don't harvest wildlife at Vasona.

[musette_sf]

15. Lake Elizabeth

aka Kite Runner territory :-)

I've seen people do messed up things, but offing a few geese from the local park, well, that was a first for me to see.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

17. Well, I have been unemployed for about six months but...

I have not come close to that point yet.

Who knows what another six months will bring.

[musette_sf]

24. You have my sincerest sympathies.

Where were you working? If you say NUMMI I will cry. :cry:

[Incitatus]

14. They go for about $5 a pound here and duck a little over $2.

Orlando, Fl

[OffWithTheirHeads]

19. Sounds more like it.

+$10.00 per pound seems excessive

[Incitatus]

20. $10/lb for geese is ridiculous.

I would call other stores in your ares and find a better deal.

[Jamastiene]

21. That goose had better be covered in chocolate,

marijuana, and vodka to cost that much.

[JVS]

22. Why pay for what nature offers provides for free?

[rcrush]

23. Do you think we can get Obama to bring back Arrested Development?

I've been watching them on DVD and I want it back.

[JonLP24]

25. I thought this was a Grey Goose post

That stuff is kinda expensive!