Comments on: Zuni Café Roast Chicken

By: Desiree

Desiree — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 01:59:03 +0000

I buy the cheapest whole chickens I can find- 88 cents per pound at Fareway (a cheap grocery store in Iowa) and my chicken isn’t dry or tasteless at all. I scald it before putting it in the oven- I pour not-quite-boiling hot water all over and I find that this makes a VERY moist chicken. I also put half a lemon in the cavity.

By: Jessamyn

Jessamyn — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 20:56:40 +0000

It really works great, doesn’t it? And using a small chicken makes a huge difference in how tender and juicy the meat turns out – I wish I could get 2 1/2 pound organic chickens, but they always seem to be at least 5.

And I’ve raised chickens, too, and they certainly do not stop eating at any time. But hey, as long as it was a good chicken, so what?

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 04:34:43 +0000

He may or may not have been telling the truth regarding whether or not chickens stop eating. He was actually telling someone else that and I overheard it. It was mainly to explain why their chickens were smaller (they seemed to top out at 2 1/2 lbs.). I don’t think it had anything to do with the price.

As to a taste difference, I’ve personally noticed quite a taste difference between the Trader Joe’s All-Natural Free-Range chickens and Foster Farm’s chickens. The Trader Joe’s chickens are significantly better. The Foster Farm breasts in particular are rather dry and tasteless.

I shop at Trader Joe’s because they tend to be cheaper for certain items (dairy products in particular) or have a bit higher quality. In no way am I obsessive about the place.

By: DocChuck

DocChuck — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:56:35 +0000

Great post and super photos. I roast chicken much the same way as you did, and have usually been very satisfied with the results.

On the other hand, your fries looked much better than mine usually do.

My problem is however, that I think that you may have been a bit “hoodwinked” by the person who sold you the chicken, particularly since you said that it was “pretty expensive.”

As one who has raised chickens for my own use, the vendor’s remarks “chickens stop eating for about a month when the weather changes” is pure hogwash. Chickens NEVER stop eating, and the person who told you this nonsense is a liar.

Trader Joe’s chickens, when cooked, taste no different than any supermarket major brand (Tyson’s or Pilgrim’s Pride).

Now, I am a regular Trader Joe’s shopper, but I pretty well know how to cut through the hype . . . and MUCH of their product selection is pure HYPE, marketed so as to justify their higher prices.

BOTTOM LINE is, however, if you were happy with the taste of the chicken . . . that is what’s important.

Thanks for a great post.