Thanksgiving is supposed to be a once-a-year FEAST, right? So why do so many people who have the means to do otherwise still spend $.69/lb to buy a genetically mutated, vacuum-packed, frozen chunk of tasteless supermarket garbage as the centerpiece of their feast? I finally asked myself that question this year, and purchased a D'Artagnan Heritage Turkey. I ordered the largest size, but unfortunately I got a call from customer service a few weeks before Thanksgiving, saying the farm would not be able to supply turkeys that large this year. This did not bum me out too badly for two reasons: first, it reminded me that these turkeys are indeed natural animals raised on a farm, not "manufactured" by science, and second because it meant we would have to get a supermarket turkey to make sure we had enough for everyone, which meant we would be able to do a side-by-side comparison! When the turkeys came out of the oven, the difference in proportions was staggering- it really made me realize how much the supermarket turkeys have been changed from their natural size/body proportions. Even more difference was noted during carving. My mother is a fantastic cook, and my brother-in-law is great with a carving knife, but every Thanksgiving we would still wind up with a platter full of semi-dry turkey bits that crumbled into small pieces. This turkey, however, sliced PERFECTLY. Next came the taste. The white meat tasted great and was far more moist than any turkey I had ever had, but I don't know if I was completely convinced that this was a $200 bird. That is, until I tasted the dark meat. Imagine the first time you tasted an heirloom tomato in August, and realized that the thing you had come to know as a tomato your whole life was an imposter! This is the feeling I got with this turkey. The dark meat was moist, tender, dense, and actually tasted like something (something delicious, in fact!) So, long story short, you can keep your supermarket turkey- I'll happily spend $200-250 for the centerpiece of my once-a-year feast from now on! This is far from the average boring turkey. It is far more flavorful. The skin gets nice and crispy. Our family loves it!