What is free-range chicken?

In our youth homemakers and cooks referred to one specific breed of chicken as “native” or “Tagalog.” Per our recollection, these were those that were bred naturally – allowed to roam freely without chemical feeds. A couple of years ago, we became acquainted with what is now called free-range chicken, sold sparingly at gourmet shops. We used to surmise they were the same as our old “native” chickens. 

But what exactly is free-range chicken? Our culinary book defines this as the “elite” of the poultry world, because they are extra-pampered, provided double the space indoors, allowed to roam around and fed a vegetarian diet free of antibiotics, animal by-products, hormones and growth enhancers. Their “freedom” makes them fuller and more flavorful. They are not mass-bred and therefore more pricey.

Two weeks ago, Gerard and Tina (Morados) Papillon, who own the Pamora Farm, Inc. in Abra where they started raising free-range chicken 11 years ago, hosted a lunch at Cicou in Makati and enlightened us some more on the breed. Pamora, the brand, is a combination of their respective surnames. We remember visiting a chicken farm in Cavite, where hundreds of chickens are kept in closed, dark breeding areas, exposed to electric lights to get the proper heat temperature.

Pamora gets their flock of day-old chicks from France, which are let out to feed on organic food they find, including grass and insects. They are given lemon juice. They are brought to brooding (heating) houses where they stay for 21 days during which they are given herbal medicine, oregano, garlic, kakawate leaves, etc. In contrast to the more popular 45 day chicken, the free-range takes a minimum of 81 days to fully grow.

Demand for free-range chicken was about 200 each month when Pamora started, but today they average about 3,000. The company is certified by the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) and the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD). Their whole dressed inventory includes: spring, with a weight of about 400 to 800 gms; regular, 1 kg or more; special, 2 kgs or more, bred for a minimum of 120 days and fed with corn and milk. They also raise capon up to 3 kgs each which are ideal for special occasions.       

The company also produces traditional French homemade patés – liver, breast and liver, and chicken liver and gizzard (between P60 and P110 a bottle). They sell a limited supply of free-range eggs. They grow organic fruits and vegetables and plant quality wood trees like narra, mahogany and teak. They have recently started planting coffee and cacao, and soon mangosteen.

Pamora free-range products are available in various supermarket chains and food outlets in Metro Manila. The chicken is sold at about P300 per kilo, depending on the outlet. Five-star hotels serve them as well. To taste it is to relish its special flavor and texture. The company’s telephone numbers are 759-2678 and 811-1580.

We have been rather curious about a coffee shop that calls itself 18 Days. One of them is in the South Supermarket in Alabang. On the day we went to Cash and Carry Mall on EDSA to get some vitamins and visit our suki at Trading Post of Ana and Jose, we found 18 Days and the gracious lady behind the counter. She clarified that the name signifies that within 18 days of roasting, the coffee attains its full flavor and aroma. We ordered iced coffee and found it a bit weak, maybe due to the ice. It costs P50 for a medium glass. They offer Coffee Alamid, which comes from civets inhabiting the Philippine mountains at around P200 a cup. A small bottle of the ground alamid coffee goes for P500 while the big one costs P1,500.

Another little store that we discovered is Nikki’s, selling baked goodies that were hard to resist because the lady, Edna, was such a convincing person. We went home with a box of brownies which were actually delicious – soft and chewey, a good buy indeed.

Have a happy day!     

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