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What's the deal with chicken and turkey at Ralph's? [Moved from L.A. Board]

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I bought a rotisserie chicken from Ralph's the other day. It definitely tasted "off". I'm guessing that nowadays, if a chicken is not labelled as being "hormone-free", "free-range", etc., that it probably is loaded up with hormones, additives and weird fillers. IS THAT THE CASE WITH RALPH'S prepared turkey too? Or is mostly the chicken that is tampered with?

Also, what's the deal with California Chicken Cafe? Their food tastes good, but I've never heard them claim to use organic or free-range chicken.


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      1. re: Liquid Sky

        I don't t know this for a fact, but I've long suspected that grocery stores take the chickens that are at or near expiry from the meat cases and use them for their rotisserie chickens. I detect that off-taste from time to time in prepared chickens. And I have heard of restaurants rinsing old (read nearly spoiled) meat with a bleach or detergent solution to "cleanse" it so it can be cooked - one particular low-budget restaurant used to do this with brisket. The restaurant shall remain nameless, as it is no longer in business.

        So maybe Ralph's is rinsing expired chickens before roasting?

        1. re: janniecooks

          Jannie: Eek! Thanks for the warning. Okay, from now on: only free-range or organic for me.

          1. re: Liquid Sky

            Like I said, I am only speculating, no facts to back it up other than my observance from that long-ago closed resto.