Sonoma County Poultry Liberty Ducks – OLIVETO RESTAURANT AND CAFE

This Just In: Duck two ways

Liberty Farms duck two ways: pan-roasted breast and Bing cherry-sausage-stuffed neck with arancini neri, parsnip puree, and sugo

It’s a classic, and in Chef Rhodehamel’s words, “old school” preparation where the neck of the duck is used as the sausage casing. It’s hard to get ducks with the neck skin intact, but due to our close relationship with Liberty Farms, we were able to put in a special request for this particular dish. Not only is this a great way to use the whole bird but…hello, crispy duck skin on the outside and that extra layer of fat on the inside makes for an outrageously tasty sausage.

ON THE MENU: NOW

Sonoma County Poultry Liberty Ducks – Profile

Established 1992

Sonoma County Poultry was founded in 1992 by Jim Reichardt, a fourth-generation duck farmer, in response to chef demands for a larger, meatier, more flavorful duck.

Owner Jim Reichardt

Practices

Liberty Ducks are a strain of Pekin Duck that was developed in Denmark and is suited to a slower, less stressful style of rearing. This results in a market age of about 9 weeks as opposed to six weeks for other commercially grown birds.

Normally, birds are in close quarters. There is a big fear of disease. Jim raises ducks at a relative low density and does NOT administer any antibiotics.

The temperate climate of Sonoma County allows for raising Liberty Ducks year-round, on straw litter, in an open environment with minimum intrusion. They are fed a diet that consists largely of corn and other grains.

Length of relationship with Oliveto

15 years

Location

15 acres in Two Rock, Sonoma County

Products

Ducks

Distribution

Many restaurants in the Bay Area and across the nation