“Quail is one of my favorite birds,” Rozzi said. If you do want to tack toward a more adventurous Thanksgiving, quail, a tiny game bird that is often served medium, can be an excellent choice, too. They run about 6 to 8 pounds in weight, so if you’re planning a small-to-medium gathering, you may need several in order to feed a crowd. Capons can be sourced from high-end online distributors, like D’Artagnan and Schlitz Foods. “he best part of capon is that it’s still neutral enough that you’re not trying to pass goose or venison or any of those choices off on maybe some members of your family that maybe won’t be in tune with that stuff,” Rozzi said, acknowledging that certain game birds can be a challenge for some finicky family members. They’re a really gorgeous choice,” he said. “hey have a fuller flavor than chicken or turkey would. Capons, which are fed milk and other dairy products, are fattened far more than turkeys and chickens, causing them to grow large and juicy. “Capon is a castrated male chicken,” he said. In a year when families may not be congregating en masse, it’s worth considering options that fall outside of the classic boundaries of the American Thanksgiving.Ĭhef Michael Rozzi of East Hampton’s 1770 House offered several suggestions for bypassing turkey this holiday season, starting with capon.
Game birds can provide different flavors, different textures, and even different portion sizes.
While the American commitment to turkey in November cannot be questioned, there are plenty of reasons to venture out of one’s comfort zone at the holidays. If any year requires a change to the traditional order of things, this might be The One. Like everything about 2020, this year’s Thanksgiving might look a little bit different.