Unseasoned meat to buy

malachi_north · Post by **malachi_north** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 9:44 am

I am really hoping this is a case of not looking in the right place, but I thought I'd ask anyway.

I love to cook. I do most of the cooking at home, and I like to experiment with things. That being said, I find it *really* frustrating to go to the store here and find chicken bits and bites, breasts, and wings, that are either honey mustard or sweet and sour seasoning. Yes, I can find one or two packages of non-seasoned chicken, but it's usually a euro or two more expensive than the seasoned stuff. Why is this? I thought some of the fun for cooking was creating your own spice mixes and knowing what you're eating.

Yesterday I was craving nice fall off the bone roasted chicken, and so this morning I set out to buy a whole chicken. K-Citymarket had ONE, and it was preseaoned and a bit sad looking. Ack. This will not do (I bought 2 packs of plain chicken legs instead). Is there a butcher I can go to to get plain whole chickens? Another store that has more of a selection?

I will gladly share my recipe for roasted chicken goodness if anyone can help!

*not meant particularly to be a rant, I am just very confused as to where the regular chicken is.

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carolinemaher · Post by **carolinemaher** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 10:17 am

Unfortunately most of the chicken sold in Finland are of the honey mustard/covered in sauce variety. Only the bigger K-Markets (CityMarket) sell whole chickens. Stockmann also sell whole chickens and cost around EUR 8 and they usually look a bit better, they are also selling corn fed chickens on offer at the moment. I find Hakaniemi market is the best place though, I buy from Reinin Liha, they are the only place in Helsinki where I have found a regular supply of corn fed/free range and sometimes organic chicken, not something I can buy every time I want chicken as its expensive but its to be found there if you want it.

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 10:24 am

Nearly all the chicken in Finland is pretty tasteless which is one reason why it gets the atomic coating and neon marinades. Yes, I agree they are truly disgusting and I have also been annoyed when the supermarkets sell out of the unseasoned stuff. The reason seasoned meat is cheaper is simply because you get less meat per kilo for your money.

In Helsinki there are other options: Chef Wotkins has a "factory" shop in Sornainen and sells everything, Stockmann has a good choice (fresh and frozen), and there are market halls (such as Hakaniemi and the Wanha Kauppahalli).

As for Joensuu, I have no idea. I guess Lidl is one possibility. They sometimes do specials (they had frozen goose at Christmas, and I have seen duck on several occasions). Otherwise you need to find an independent butcher operating inside a supermarket and order. Down here my local Citymarket will get me things to order (eg pork fat if I am making sausages). You could also look for ethnic stores. I sometimes use a halal butcher in Leppävaara (Espoo) who has a decent selection of fresh meat. Last option might be the local farms. You would have to google a bit, but there are a couple of farms near our mökki (Raasepori area) that sell direct and I can get fresh and frozen meat from them (mostly beef and pork though).

Good luck!

malachi_north · Post by **malachi_north** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 10:38 am

Aha, the farms. I have no idea why I never thought of that. Thank you! I'll also ask my partner to inquire if there are any butchers around that could also help.

I may try Lidl after, but it's a 35 min walk from our flat and I'll look a bit odd dragging whatever chicken I can find back home on a toboggan. LOL. Not that it bothers me, actually.

But thanks you two, I'll let you know what I find!

enk · Post by **enk** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 12:36 pm

BTW penelope, those whole frozen gooses are getting cheaper at Sello Lidl

If I remember correctly, they were down to 25€/goose.

For others in Espoo, I second the halal butcher in Leppävaara. It's a royal pain in
the rear to find, but it's got a decent selection and if you ask for somethign in
specific, they can tell you when and if they're going to get some more. Plus when
they have merguez, they're delicious!

And Hakaniemi Hall is probably the best place for meats and cuts of meat that
Finns consider weird.

-enk

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 1:51 pm

enk wrote:BTW penelope, those whole frozen gooses are getting cheaper at Sello Lidl
If I remember correctly, they were down to 25€/goose.

-enk

Yes I saw that (I think all the Lidls had reduced them in price). I meant to ask what they were like (we got three brace of pheasant just before Xmas, so I didn't bother with the Lidl geese). Were they good?

malachi_north · Post by **malachi_north** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 2:38 pm

Because I'm an idiot, I'd probably cook the goose and make a nice dinner of it, and then tell tales of old Mother Goose as we sat and ate it.

malachi_north · Post by **malachi_north** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 7:32 pm

Cory wrote: Try the kauppahalli in the centre. There is a butcher there who will be able to answer the questions you have about where to buy a whole chicken if he himself doesn't have any in.

Hey, thanks! I'll try there tomorrow or the day after.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 8:20 pm

enk wrote: For others in Espoo, I second the halal butcher in Leppävaara. It's a royal pain in
the rear to find,

Not if you drive, as you can see it off the ring I whizzing past - but then figuring out where to park and dare walk through the old shopping centre

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 9:42 pm

well he needs to learn Finnish to ax the locals then, innit? thats what they say you learn better Finnish in the boonies - hunger pangs as an incentive.

enk · Post by **enk** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 10:13 pm

penelope wrote:
enk wrote:BTW penelope, those whole frozen gooses are getting cheaper at Sello Lidl
If I remember correctly, they were down to 25€/goose.

-enk
Yes I saw that (I think all the Lidls had reduced them in price). I meant to ask what they were like (we got three brace of pheasant just before Xmas, so I didn't bother with the Lidl geese). Were they good?

No idea as I haven't had enough room in my freezer in a while so
that I would've bought one

Lidl's duck a la orange was nasty though.

-enk

hanj · Post by **hanj** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 11:08 pm

if you want tastier chicken...you'd need to get frozen chicken..usually from France...maissikana (corn fed chicken) or helmikana (pearl chicken)...the latter is rarer. these are usually available only as breast 'linked' the with upper part of the wing.

i was in stockholm few weeks ago in the market hall...they have whole corn fed chicken.....wish we have them here too.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 11:56 pm

helmikana is a ... ptarmigan... anyways a wild fowl they probably farm...

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 11:58 pm

enk wrote:Lidl's duck a la orange was nasty though.

you mean the barbarian duck in sauce frozen into the pan... yes no rather take some of the tv dinners, I know what the barbarians can do with that duck...

raamv · Post by **raamv** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:34 am

hmm and I thought that it was all in the cooking!!

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