| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? 11:14 - Dec 22 with 3838 views | Mullet |
I'm cooking beef this year thanks to democracy in our house, also means we can have batter puddings without the weirdos getting upset. Plus Turkey only seems to work if you have loads of people / want to eat it for weeks after.
However, if it was my choice we'd get something like venison or goose from the local farms up here. Apparently the December cull for deer is the best due to all the acorns they eat making the meat fattier.
What's everyone else doing this year? Bonus points for recipes, basting brags and the like. |  |
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| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 11:17 - Dec 22 with 2489 views | SuperKieranMcKenna |
Roast chicken for me, turkey is for Americans and people that want a cheap holiday. |  | | |
| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 11:20 - Dec 22 with 2481 views | Mullet |
| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 11:17 - Dec 22 by SuperKieranMcKenna |
Roast chicken for me, turkey is for Americans and people that want a cheap holiday. |
Being topical I see Turkey has just been put on some sort of watchlist due to the dodgy medical procedures.
Had a capon the other year and that was superb, but I'd never know the difference between one and a regular chicken had I not been told. | |
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| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 11:21 - Dec 22 with 2472 views | Keno |
Turkey here.
20 mins a lbs plus 30 plus a bit on about 180 after 15 mins higher. Turkey has to be covered streaky bacon and butter and stuffed with sausage meat one end and sage/onion the other |  |
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| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 11:23 - Dec 22 with 2446 views | SuperKieranMcKenna |
| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 11:20 - Dec 22 by Mullet |
Being topical I see Turkey has just been put on some sort of watchlist due to the dodgy medical procedures.
Had a capon the other year and that was superb, but I'd never know the difference between one and a regular chicken had I not been told. |
Can’t say I’ve ever had capon, doesn’t seem widely available where did you source it?
Just aside I’d like to see Istanbul but can’t bring myself to go whilst Erdogan is in charge - he takes incompetence, corruption and bigotry (Kurds) to a whole new level. | | | |
| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 11:23 - Dec 22 with 2437 views | TRUE_BLUE123 |
It will be Turkey this year.
But Beef is the best imo |  |
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| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 11:48 - Dec 22 with 2329 views | jaykay |
| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 11:20 - Dec 22 by Mullet |
Being topical I see Turkey has just been put on some sort of watchlist due to the dodgy medical procedures.
Had a capon the other year and that was superb, but I'd never know the difference between one and a regular chicken had I not been told. |
had capon for at least 30years or more. capon is a cockerel. some sites say they are banned and illegal but still see them for sale.
turkey is a no no |  |
| forensic experts say footers and spruces fingerprints were not found at the scene after the weekends rows |
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| Bernard Matthews.... on 11:49 - Dec 22 with 2329 views | Bloots |
....turkey roll for us. |  |
| "The sooner he comes back the better, this place has been a disaster without him" - TWTD User (July 2025) |
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| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 11:53 - Dec 22 with 2320 views | SaleAway |
| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 11:48 - Dec 22 by jaykay |
had capon for at least 30years or more. capon is a cockerel. some sites say they are banned and illegal but still see them for sale.
turkey is a no no |
Caponisation is illegal in the uk, but you can still import a capon. | |
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| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 11:54 - Dec 22 with 2315 views | Dubtractor |
I'm going to be eating Beetroot Wellington this year.
I'm the only meat eater out of the 5 of us going to a friends for dinner. Might stick some pigs in blankets in my pockets for sustenance. |  |
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| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 12:02 - Dec 22 with 2288 views | Lord_Lucan |
| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 11:54 - Dec 22 by Dubtractor |
I'm going to be eating Beetroot Wellington this year.
I'm the only meat eater out of the 5 of us going to a friends for dinner. Might stick some pigs in blankets in my pockets for sustenance. |
Hi Dubbers
That sounds blooming awful.
We will be having Turkey, Beef and Ham. |  |
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| Bernard Matthews.... on 12:05 - Dec 22 with 2283 views | catch74 |
| Bernard Matthews.... on 11:49 - Dec 22 by Bloots |
....turkey roll for us. |
Slice after slice after slice, it’s beautiful.
Apparently he started his whole empire buying five turkeys, he never had to invest any more
money. [Post edited 22 Dec 2022 12:06]
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| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 12:05 - Dec 22 with 2278 views | CBBlue |
| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 11:54 - Dec 22 by Dubtractor |
I'm going to be eating Beetroot Wellington this year.
I'm the only meat eater out of the 5 of us going to a friends for dinner. Might stick some pigs in blankets in my pockets for sustenance. |
Commiserations that sounds like disappointment on a plate. | |
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| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 12:09 - Dec 22 with 2252 views | Ryorry |
For those who haven't yet tried it, I recommend Guinea Fowl - a tastier, more succulent, juicy version of chicken - raised organically. |  |
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| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 12:11 - Dec 22 with 2250 views | Dubtractor |
| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 12:02 - Dec 22 by Lord_Lucan |
Hi Dubbers
That sounds blooming awful.
We will be having Turkey, Beef and Ham. |
I'm not someone that needs meat with every meal, and the beetroot wellington may even be quite nice, but Christmas dinner really needs turkey offset with the saltiness of pigs in blankets for me.
I'll make sure we host next year so I can give myself a meaty treat. | |
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| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 12:13 - Dec 22 with 2249 views | DanTheMan |
We had a three-bird roast and lamb this year. Both were very good.
The year before we did rib of beef and lamb.
Think the rib of beef was the best.
Not a lot in terms of recipes for anyone of them. The lamb we always do in the slow cooker with a mint rub and lamb stock.
The only really special thing I did this year was I made my own gravy from scratch which was quite fun, loosely based on the gravy recipe in here - https://www.greatbritishchefs.com/recipes/goose-christmas-dinner-recipe |  |
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| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 12:14 - Dec 22 with 2247 views | DanTheMan |
| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 12:11 - Dec 22 by Dubtractor |
I'm not someone that needs meat with every meal, and the beetroot wellington may even be quite nice, but Christmas dinner really needs turkey offset with the saltiness of pigs in blankets for me.
I'll make sure we host next year so I can give myself a meaty treat. |
Just bring one of these along for yourself
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| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 12:15 - Dec 22 with 2242 views | Churchman |
| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 11:23 - Dec 22 by TRUE_BLUE123 |
It will be Turkey this year.
But Beef is the best imo |
Agreed, a good piece of topside is impossible to beat. However, it’s always Turkey at Christmas. Always has been, always will be. MrsC will be doing a Turkey crown, chipolatas, bacon, two types of stuffing, veg, including some sprouts, yorkshires, gravy, roasties. All good, especially as she’s a good cook!
As for Turkey itself, it’s ok but I actually prefer chicken. I’ve tried most things - pheasants, partridges, duck, quailes and they’re ok, though the little creatures are a faff.
Of the alternatives, I had venison the other month which was lovely. Big fan if it’s cooked right. Buffalo - that’s nice. Same as beef but no fat. Elk - see venison. Beef is the best, but not for Xmas dinner.
The worst turkey ever? Id have been about 12 and my dad decided we were going fresh. We went to a farm where he bought one from a farmer who he vaguely knew. Well, the farmer wrung it’s neck in front of us and handed it over still warm. Bit of a shock really but hey ho.
I asked my dad if he’d dealt with this sort of thing before. He said his uncles and grandfather were farmers so how hard could it be? Even at 12 I knew this wouldn’t end well. It didn’t. He had no idea how to pluck it so it wound up looking like the local cats had piled in and given him a hand. Gutting it? That’s when the fun really started. What a mess. Well, eventually the sorry remains were slapped together - and it was the worst tasting, toughest Turkey we ever had. Having watched its last moments hadn’t helped.
Moral of the tale? Butchers, supermarkets etc do a brilliant job! |  | | |
| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 12:20 - Dec 22 with 2210 views | solemio |
We shall have turkey, and I'm sure I'll enjoy it.
That doesn't mean I wouldn't prefer venison, goose or duck. I would. | | | |
| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 12:20 - Dec 22 with 2211 views | Mullet |
| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 11:23 - Dec 22 by SuperKieranMcKenna |
Can’t say I’ve ever had capon, doesn’t seem widely available where did you source it?
Just aside I’d like to see Istanbul but can’t bring myself to go whilst Erdogan is in charge - he takes incompetence, corruption and bigotry (Kurds) to a whole new level. |
Butcher just produced it on the day and asked "is that all right?" at Xmas Eve I wasn't going to say no. Usually we have chickens and pork from down the road in Cheshire, but he does sometimes have stuff from Holland etc come in.
Generally, I don't buy supermarket meat much at all and prefer to get stuff that's from an hour or so away at most.
Istanbul was beautiful when I went in 2010, possibly my favourite city and we saw other bits of Turkey too but I share the same reservations. Lots of Kurds here in Manchester too but I'm not sure how long the community has existed. | |
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| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 12:22 - Dec 22 with 2198 views | Mullet |
| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 12:11 - Dec 22 by Dubtractor |
I'm not someone that needs meat with every meal, and the beetroot wellington may even be quite nice, but Christmas dinner really needs turkey offset with the saltiness of pigs in blankets for me.
I'll make sure we host next year so I can give myself a meaty treat. |
Phil, can we change the TWTD appeal or is it too late now? We need to get Alex Griffin and Midge Ure together too perhaps. | |
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| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 12:25 - Dec 22 with 2174 views | ElephantintheRoom |
Pork by a country mile. It wouldn’t be Xmas dinner without sausages round the turkey (or goose) - and then there’s pork pie and gammon to go with the cheeses later.
The turkies in these parts are 3 or 3.5 kg. So if you’re feeding more than 4 you probably need two. The most popular Xmas dinner in France appears to be Capon. Or for a real treat a bleu de bresse chicken. Then chicken, then turkey - most of which are bought live and kicking at the local market on Xmas Eve.
And the Xmas Eve meal is more of a tradition than Xmas dinner - seafood and dozens of oysters | |
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| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 12:25 - Dec 22 with 2163 views | Mullet |
| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 12:13 - Dec 22 by DanTheMan |
We had a three-bird roast and lamb this year. Both were very good.
The year before we did rib of beef and lamb.
Think the rib of beef was the best.
Not a lot in terms of recipes for anyone of them. The lamb we always do in the slow cooker with a mint rub and lamb stock.
The only really special thing I did this year was I made my own gravy from scratch which was quite fun, loosely based on the gravy recipe in here - https://www.greatbritishchefs.com/recipes/goose-christmas-dinner-recipe |
Making your own gravy is the business, but it's one of life's disappointments when it just won't thicken.
Rarely get to have lamb due to management not liking it, but hoping I can bring it back as the kids get old enough for curries and the like. | |
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| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 12:49 - Dec 22 with 2048 views | Lord_Lucan |
| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 12:25 - Dec 22 by Mullet |
Making your own gravy is the business, but it's one of life's disappointments when it just won't thicken.
Rarely get to have lamb due to management not liking it, but hoping I can bring it back as the kids get old enough for curries and the like. |
Always start your gravy off in the meat pan with water and flour, the flour will thicken it, if it still won't play ball then just reduce it.
If all else fails sling some gravy granules in it (but don't tell anyone) | |
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| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 12:55 - Dec 22 with 2010 views | WestStanderLaLaLa |
| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 12:25 - Dec 22 by Mullet |
Making your own gravy is the business, but it's one of life's disappointments when it just won't thicken.
Rarely get to have lamb due to management not liking it, but hoping I can bring it back as the kids get old enough for curries and the like. |
Beurre manié is your thickening friend. Silky too. |  |
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| TWTD Roast survey: Best festive meat? on 13:10 - Dec 22 with 1971 views | GlasgowBlue |
Last year it was Beef on the bone. Took about six hours though.
No idea this year. |  |
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