I got a book from the library called Sam The Cooking Guy: Just a Bunch of Recipes. The title made me laugh. Sam is Canadian (edit: I’m not sure if he’s Canadian or what, but he lives in San Diego), and the book is a little perplexing. For example:
> Ever wonder why chicken is so darned expensive to buy in the supermarket?
He’s not talking about organic or pastured chicken, as far as I can tell. Is chicken expensive in Canada or something?
I think he’s here in san diego, I dont know whether its expensive, people always talk about it being cheap…
Sam the Cooking Guy is definitely down in San Diego. I love watching him on our public television station!
I believe “But chicken is cheaper than steak” is the title of a chapter on budget cooking in The Beany Malone Cookbook, as well as a bit of wisdom that Beany Malone herself gives to a newly-married friend when she and her husband move into the apartment above the Malones’ garage. I could go on, but–well, there are ALL KINDS of interesting food tidbits in the Beany Malone series (make up a song about THAT) and it’s too bad you wouldn’t enjoy slogging through the rest of it to find the food.
Hmm, you’re right, why did I think he was Canadian?
Well, looking at the book, he does talk about Canadian slang and Canadian bloody marys.
AHA! He grew up in Vancouver.
… because if you’re buying boneless skinless chicken breasts, they’re $6 or $7 per pound? Err, but that’s the most expensive part, whereas the most expensive part of cow is what, $15/pound for cheap grades up to $30+/pound for the top stuff?
Weird.
I bet it’s the boneless/skinless thing.
If chickens were raised properly, we’d be paying more. That’s why “a chicken in every pot” was actually a big deal.
I still want to raise chickens. But I don’t think I have time to get started this year. Maybe next year.
Chicken raising is fine and dandy (especially for those fresh eggs), but dealing with the chicken poop everywhere and then de-feathering a chicken whose neck has just been twisted in order to make dinner is not one of my treasured childhood memories. I remember I refused to eat chicken that day, and to this day I refuse to eat chicken that hasn’t parted ways with its feet or head (chinatown market style).
At one time chicken was the most expensive of the three major meats in this country.
“He’s not talking about organic or pastured chicken, as far as I can tell”
Let alone the fact that there isn’t any evidence as compared to what…
‘Ever wonder why chicken is so darned expensive to buy in the supermarket?’ As opposed to? Going out and stealing one from a farm yard? Hunting and stalking wild grouse?
I think the proper response to the question is ‘But it’s hella cheap to steal!’
Chicken is cheaper in the States (at least in the LA area) than in Canada (at least in the Vancouver area).
In the Vancouver area, a “grocery” bird runs for $3.50-$4.50 per pound for a whole bird, and an organic chicken is $4.95-$6.95 per pound for a whole bird.
For the parts, organic boneless, skinless birds run anywhere from $17.90-$19.90 per pound.
Chicken was indeed a “special occasion” meat for many before the advent of factory-farmed chicken.