Lindy & Grundy Prepare for Their First Thanksgiving

In Pinon Hills, California, more than 150 heritage breed turkeys are enjoying the warm sunshine and fresh breezes at Rainbow Ranch Farms. These turkeys eat fresh grasses, seeds, nuts and wildflowers and drink clean filtered water. Down on Fairfax Avenue in L.A., butcher shop Lindy & Grundy sells only local, pastured, organic meats, as owners Erika Nakamura and Amelia Posada believe strongly in the importance of humane care for animals. So while planning for their store's first Thanksgiving, they realized they needed a reliable source for turkeys - happy turkeys.

In the search for a source, Posada researched dozens of farms and toured more than twelve. Rainbow Ranch Farms came out the clear winner. With their commitment to humanely raising their certified organic, 100% pastured poultry with farming protocol that include bio-dynamic, permaculture and sustainable practices, Posada felt it was the obvious choice. Since 1991 this artisan, CSA and wholesale food co-op has been raising meat and eggs from free range, grass fed and pastured heritage livestock.

At Rainbow Ranch the animals are raised by Xenia (one name only), who Posada and Nakamura call "the chicken goddess." She attends to their feeding and daily care. When Posada and Nakamura met Xenia, they were impressed to find she had developed her own formula for grass pellets. Posada admits, "I even ate one of the pellets, too." In March, Lindy & Grundy placed their order with Rainbow Ranch Farms for 150 turkeys. The farm raises nine heritage turkey breeds, all of which will be under 19 pounds.
Now that Thanksgiving is around the corner, customers can place their orders for turkeys plain or brined, which, as Nakamura explains, "breaks down the connective tissues and makes the turkey tender, juicier, and more flavorful."

Her brine recipe consists of salt, sugar, tea, herbs, lemon peel and rosemary. For their own celebration, Nakamura smokes the turkey in a Big Green Egg smoker at 230 degrees for about 6 hours. Of last year she said, "Our family loved it so much, they were wigging out."

This year, to help customers' families wig out too, Lindy & Grundy will be sharing recipes, offering a carving class and listings safety tips. (A doctor in their family reminded them that Thanksgiving is the number one holidays for cooking-related emergency room visits.)

With their motto "Do things simply and well," Lindy & Grundy teaming up with Rainbow Ranch Farms is a match made in poultry heaven. Next up: Christmas geese.

Lindy & Grundy
801 N. Fairfax Ave., 323-951-0804

[Turkey photo via Green Life in SoCal]
[Farm photo via Real Time Farms]

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