Turkey roast - the toast of Christmas feast table

​Hyderabad: It gives a sense of pride in treating friends and relatives with turkey roast for Christmas. What sheer korma is for Ramzan and an array of sweets for Diwali, turkey roast is for Christmas.

Celebrations are incomplete if there is no turkey on the table for the Christians all over the world. A few Christians, mostly Anglo-Indians in Hyderabad, find it difficult to get this elusive bird on to the table with a very few shops selling it in limited quantities; and at a premium.

But for one turkey farm in Mongol village in Siddipet, most of the birds are brought in from Bangalore or Coimbatore, which are sold in a few elite super markets.

Traditionally they are available in Murgi Chowk, Monda Market and a few chicken shops. Turkey for most of the Hyderabad markets comes from the Mongol village in Kondapaka mandal.

Even if one gets the turkey home, it is a big task to handle the bird for it takes the traditional wisdom to cook it. “On previous three occasions, we spoilt the dish.

My mother used to do it with much ease. She used firewood to cook it that too on slow fire. This time we are planning to get it cooked by my friend who has this expertise,” said Boney Hessings of Marredpally.

With so much of fuss in cooking it, the choice for Christians is chicken or turkey. “There’s reasonable demand for turkey this week. I get it from a Siddipet farm. Most of my customers after seeing the live bird which I display, decide to go for it. I give them a competitive price in the entire Hyderabad,” said Oliver Davies of Hi-Protein near Sangeet crossroads.

The pricing of turkey varies like firecrackers for Diwali. While super markets sell the dressed turkey for Rs 600, in local markets it begins from Rs 360. Turkey may weigh from two-and-a-half to 8 kg. “Depending on the family size, customers go for the bird,” said Davies.

Star hotels spread a lavish buffet for Christmas with roast turkey being the prima donna on the table. “Most of our customers are star hotels, corporate caterers and a few customers who visit us,” said Sunder Naidu, Manager,

Buying and Merchandising at German retail giant Metro Cash and Carry. The demand for turkey is consistently growing for Lagishetti Bhoopathi, who runs the Telangana Turkey Farm in Mongol village since 2007.

Bhoopathi prepares the birds for Christmas, which he imports from Bangalore or Coimbatore, from June. “I need to protect the chicks by acclimatising them to our weather conditions,” said Bhoopathi.

Most of the wholesalers from Hyderabad source turkey from Bhoopathi, who ensures that there are around 800 to 1,000 birds for this festive season.

With all the difficulties that one goes through in getting the delicacy on to the table, it will surely be a great festive celebration for family and friends.

By: Y V Vijay Kumar