As a young recent college grad with my own apartment, Thanksgiving was the first big holiday meal that I took off my mother's hands. My recipes were basic, and my pride at pulling it off palable. I've made a lot of turkeys since then. The images below show my 2008 turkey, a 24-pound heavyweight from Wisdom's Natural Poultry ready to be trussed and then ready to be carved. Over the years, I have developed these traditions:
- Always appetizers in the living room.
- Always a sitdown dinner, never a buffet, and always with fine china, sterling flatware and fine glassware.
- Always soup.
- Always a naturally raised turkey.
- Always stuffing -- but always a different stuffing.
- Always a green vegetable -- except this year when I might do a root vegetable medley or some sort.
- Always two kinds of fresh cranberries -- one from the Ocean Spray package and one other.
- Always a sweet potato dish (our friend Laura usually brings that) and mashed potatoes with gravy.
- Always desserts (pies and other wonders made by our friend Vivian).
- Always people we care about around the table -- the more the merrier (our record was 20, and we don't have a huge dining room; we moved out a lot of furniture, so the room was "all table"). And that the most important "always" of them all.
- Second Home, Denver - Thanksgiving Take Out, an a la carte selection of rotisserie turkey breast ($35) and also mashed potatoes, pan gravy, traditional stuffing, Parker House rolls, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, candied sweet potatoes, dozen deviled eggs, pumpkin pie and rustic apple pie ($15 each). Each dish is enough for about five people. Order by 12:00 noon, Monday, November 23 and pick up on Thanksgiving morning. Also, if you are cooking at home but find yourself short of something (because of extra guests, perhaps?), you can declare a "turkey emergency" and put in a last-minute order. 303-253-3000.
- Tony's Market, Denver and southern suburbs - While not a restaurant, the chefs at Tony's four markets and their affiliated catering company put out classic Thanksgiving dinners with three turkey choices: oven-roasted turkey serving 8+ ($159.99), a Cajun fried turkey also for 8+ for ($179.99) or turkey breast for 4 ($97.99) Included sides are turkey gravy, brandied cranberries, sage stuffing with sautéed celery and onions, Chantilly whipped potatoes, praline sweet potatoes, roasted baby winter vegetables with garlic butter and pull-apart rolls. For dessert, pumpkin or pecan pie with whipped cream. Order in person or online by Monday, November. 23, and pick up Tuesday after 2:00 p.m. or all day Wednesday at the store where you ordered.
- Flagstaff House, Boulder - Chef Mark Monette's acclaimed Thanksgiving dinner with all-natural turkey and seven chef-prepared accompanying dishes, sauces, trimmings and desserts plus the Flagstaff House’s after-dinner coffee and tea is $178 for six people. See menu details here, and order (online if you wish) by Friday, November 20. Pick up Monday through Wednesday after 1:00 p.m. 303-442-4640.
- Restaurant 4580, Boulder - Entire "Take and Heat" Thanksgiving dinner ($20 per person) or just part of it (call for pricing) They'll prepare; you pick up on Thanksgiving morning. 303-448-1500.
- Trattoria on Pearl, Boulder - Complete dinners for 6 people with turkey and all the trimmings for $100. They'll even deliver the meal to your door on November 25. Reserve by Monday, November 23. Call 303-544-0008.
- Rick and Kelley's American Bistro, Edwards - Thanksgiving feast to go to serve 8-10 people for $80 including side dishes, just the turkey for $45. 970-926-3423.