Christmas Turkey!

[Geordiehandbag]

So, its our first Christmas in Cyprus - where do you normally get your turkey from (if at all)? We'd order fresh in advance in the Uk but quite happy to try the frozen route. Haven't seen anything in Alpha Mega, Paps or Lidl but perhaps its too soon.

[Happy in Cyprus]

The Fruit Market on the Polis Rd is where we get ours from, and we've tried most places over the years. In previous years they've had fresh, free range; we're going in to order ours tomorrow. Kolios (on the Polis Rd) and Butcher Boy also stock turkeys, as do most supermarkets. Ah, just noticed, you're in Limassol.

[DavidinKarmi]

Lidl's turkeys have been and gone, I think!

At your end of the island, you'll no doubt have small shops specialising in chickens, hens eggs (which are usually delicious) etc., as we do here in the west. They usually sell frozen and fresh turkeys, but these normally have to be ordered in advance, so don't leave it too late!

[Geordiehandbag]

Thanks Guys - wonder if we've left it too late? Looks like we needed to be braver and venture into the smaller independent shops rather than the bigger supermarkets.

[Devil]

Why turkey? Duck and goose, if roasted correctly, have much finer flesh and are tastier than turkey. The Lidl 3 kg ducks are superb but, of course, are only good for 4 generous servings. We have had one every year since Lidl opened, for the two of us for Christmas and Boxing Days. Haven't tried the goose, though (too big for the 2 of us). For us, turkey, like chicken, is almost tasteless.

What wrong with pheasant? Can you get them in Paphos if so you are a little late. They should be tuning green & crawling with magotts by now Wife gave up fresh turkey a few years ago & buys turkey crown. To us it tastes just as good but not so much fun to see or carve

[juliesewell]

Georgie - you could try Karseras supermarket (the one that's on the left as you start to go up the Troodos road from the roundabout).

Other than that there's the meat market - up from Ay. Athanasios (Jumbo's) roundabout on the highway. Head towards the village after you leave the highway and it's on your right hand side.

Also, the local butcher shops don't bite Don't be frightened to ask them for what you want...

[holly1]

Fresh turkey 4.99kilo from next thursday 22/12 3 days only. H.
Forgot to add, Lidls.

[darrow]

Fresh turkey 4.99kilo from next thursday 22/12 3 days only. H.

where?

[Jim]

Kolios butchers bottom of the Polis road, they WILL have Turkey, and great wine too.

Worth the Short drive...

[DavidinKarmi]

Bit of a trek from Limassol, Jim, just for a turkey.....

[DavidinKarmi]

Fresh turkey 4.99kilo from next thursday 22/12 3 days only. H.

where?

Lidl. Seems like leaving it to the last minute, though!

[DavidinKarmi]

Why turkey? Duck and goose, if roasted correctly, have much finer flesh and are tastier than turkey. The Lidl 3 kg ducks are superb but, of course, are only good for 4 generous servings. We have had one every year since Lidl opened, for the two of us for Christmas and Boxing Days. Haven't tried the goose, though (too big for the 2 of us). For us, turkey, like chicken, is almost tasteless.

Each to their own, of course, Devil. I agree that plain roast chicken can be uninspiring, but turkey is one of my favourites! WRT goose, I've cooked this twice on the kettle BBQ, in the UK, and each time have been terribly disappointed with the resulting taste. Much ado about nothing, IMO. Lidl - thoroughly agree with your comment.

[Happy in Cyprus]

With regard to turkey, I'm a legs and wings man...and they're anything but tasteless! Fortunately wife and most of the others prefer breast. Either way we all love turkey in our household!

Wife tells me that they're not called "free range" in the Fruit Market, but rather "village turkeys".

[Austin 7]

I'm a breast man ............ but do prefer turkey leg!

[Pickles]

With regard to turkey, I'm a legs and wings man...and they're anything but tasteless! Fortunately wife and most of the others prefer breast. Either way we all love turkey in our household!

Wife tells me that they're not called "free range" in the Fruit Market, but rather "village turkeys".

They also tend to be the male birds Lloyd according to the guys at Shukrou Butchers, just as Village chickens are roosters!

[Happy in Cyprus]

Whatever, they taste excellent; been buying them there for 2-3 years. Not sure there's a lot of difference. From http://www.berkeleywellness.com/healthy ... pes-turkey

Hens: These female turkeys, 5 to 7 months old, weigh between 8 and 18 pounds. Some cooks believe that hens have a larger proportion of white to dark meat. Hens can be roasted, broiled, or grilled.

Toms: There are those cooks who believe that the only relevant difference between a male tom turkey and a hen is size. Young tom turkeys weigh up to 24 pounds. Others, however, insist that toms have tastier meat. Like hens, toms can be roasted, broiled, or grilled.

[olly]

Frozen turkey in Paps today , 15.98 euro for 4kg bird from France
! euro a kg cheaper than Lidl !!

[holly1]

[quote="darrow"][quote="holly1"]Fresh turkey 4.99kilo from next thursday 22/12 3 days only. H.[/quote]
where?[/quote]
Doh, Lidls

[WilliamMorris]

Why turkey when there is so much better on offer?

Turkey is not a traditional British or, indeed, Cypriot xmas fare anyway.

Rib of beef, pheasant, leg of lamb or pork.

So much nicer than dry, tough and tasteless turkey.

Media hype, IMO

[Jeffbinin]

Why turkey when there is so much better on offer?

Turkey is not a traditional British or, indeed, Cypriot xmas fare anyway.

Rib of beef, pheasant, leg of lamb or pork.

So much nicer than dry, tough and tasteless turkey.

Media hype, IMO

Again, all a matter of choice, but lamb and pork have never been traditional Christmas fayre, anywhere:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_C ... nd_Ireland

The turkey we cook on the kettle barbeque has never been dry, tough or tasteless! Suggest you get a new chef!

[Happy in Cyprus]

Why turkey when there is so much better on offer?

Because that's what we've eaten for the past 7 decades at Christmas and it happens to be what we like - indeed love! Wife and I can eat turkey for weeks after Christmas; we never tire of it.

So much nicer than dry, tough and tasteless turkey.

Suggest you read a Jamie Oliver cookbook Our turkeys are never dry, tough and tasteless.

[DavidinKarmi]

HappyinCyprus is right - turkey is never boring - great meat!

A few years ago, Paps were selling their frozen turkeys - and good they were -for half price after Christmas. I think we had one a month until April!

The point about meats like turkey is that, cooked right, they are consistently good. Beef can be good, bad or indifferent. Tough and tasty one minute, tender and tasteless another, no matter how you cook it.

[WilliamMorris]

I did read a Jammy Oliver book once.

I fought it wus PUKKA.

[Happy in Cyprus]

Much of the beef bought in Cyprus can be very tough and un-appetising. We don't buy beef often, when when we do we try and buy Black Angus from Kolios - guaranteed quality. I would almost never ever buy a fillet steak in a restaurant in Cyprus, it invariably leads to disappointment.

[Austin 7]

I would almost never ever buy a fillet steak in a restaurant in Cyprus

Nor would I because it probably isn't!

[Hiraeth]

There are Tavernas/ Restaurants in Paphos who have great fillets steaks Ficado, Happy Island and Tweedies never been disappointed........

[LouiseCastricum]

Don't forget the great steaks at La Vigna in Coral Bay.

[juliesewell]

It's the families' first Christmas in Cyprus since they left UK.... They want to know where they can buy a turkey in Limassol not a recipe or how to cook it

[Happy in Cyprus]

That question was answered long ago Julie, by the poster who observed that most supermarkets stock them. Also, to ask your butcher. There is a limit to how much help a Paphos-based forum can assist someone in Limassol. This topic has drifted like they all do. Thank goodness for that, it makes threads more interesting.

[Austin 7]

Lots of posts drift off their original subject - I've particularly noticed how many of them seem to drift towards KNOTT END ON SEA

[Geordiehandbag]

Thank you for all the replies! I know this forum is more biased towards paphos but I always still get useful responses and I would have driven out to Paphos to purchase if necessary.

Re: meat options - I only eat white meat, dont like the taste of red meat. We have a sort of routine with turkey and know what other meals we can get from it. Turkey sandwiches for supper, turkey and leek pie for Boxing day and the next day turkey curry. Its always delicious but my husband is the cook so I can't take any credit.

Merry Christmas!
Jo

[olly]

I notice Papantoniou have already dropped the price of frozen turkey to below 14 euro for 4kg 3.50 a kilo !

[ScattyAnnie]

I would almost never ever buy a fillet steak in a restaurant in Cyprus, it invariably leads to disappointment.

As everyone else seems to have digressed! Being as I eat steak blue, it has to be decent otherwise it is not worth even attempting to eat. For a restaurant steak, when it's back open, I can thoroughly recommend Duomo. They have the best fillet I have ever eaten, in Cyprus or elsewhere and I defy anyone to eat the huge portion they dish up.

[Happy in Cyprus]

Thanks for the heads-up Annie, interesting. Who'd have thought an Italian restaurant would be where it's at?