Thanksgiving: Not Just Turkey (and Football) Day

For the foodie, there is perhaps no greater day of the year than Thanksgiving, when it seems like the entire country cares about food for once. Everyone, young and old, dreams of a wonderful roasted turkey (some deep-fry, but this is heresy), luscious mashed potatoes and gravy, tart cranberry sauce (canned stuff is an abomination), sweet pumpkin pie. But there's a simple thing we overlook: it's called Thanksgiving, not Turkey Day. We might call it the latter name, but really, the day is about giving thanks.

Thanks for what, you might say? Well, first off that we can even eat. Millions, if not billions of people around the world cannot say this with confidence. Their meals are uncertain or at best, sparse. A bowl of rice or a loaf of bread, maybe some beans or porridge. We should be thankful that we have such abundance, even during this economic downturn. Secondly, we should be thankful that we have families and people with whom to share our turkeys and meals. I always say that meals are made of the people sharing it, not just the object(s) of consumption.

Thirdly, we should be thankful that we have a bright future instead of a bleak one. America has always been about this dream, that we can better ourselves and the people around us. We seem to think that making our own lives better at the expense of others is the only way to do so, but when you lift everyone up, your fellow neighbor or friend, then the world is a better place.

Lastly, we should be thankful because while food is at the core of this day, ultimately we blessed to have the opportunity to feast. Feasting isn't just an ordinary activity, something we do on a whim. It's a planned event where we decide to celebrate instead of just eat. A feast is perhaps one of the greatest delights of mankind, when we fulfill our appetites with delicious succor and gaiety, when we can safely and confidently say that all is well with the world. Of course, these feasts eventually end, and we realize that all isn't well with the world. There's still people that are hungry, needy and starving. There are still broken families and hurting individuals because of any number of circumstances. We should reach out and bring these people in our lives and around us to be in the place of feasting, to be able to say that their world is "good" and at peace.

This Thanksgiving, don't take that roasted bird on your table for granted. It came from somewhere, it was raised by someone, it was mercifully brought to your table and it sacrified its life for your sake, so that you could eat. Not that the turkey is holy is any way, but in essence the art of bringing food from farm to table demonstrates the sacrifice and care that we should have for the things around us, to treasure them, and to value them. When we do that, Thanksgiving is a worthwhile holiday.


On the my Thanksgiving Day Menu:

Whole Roasted Turkey, simply roasted. No brine, foil on breast for a part of a time to prevent overdrying. No basting, just salt and pepper. Cook until thigh is 165 degrees. (pick a bird between 12-14 pounds).

Green Beans and Pancetta with hazelnuts

Mashed Potatoes with Celery Root

Roasted cranberry sauce with spices

Sweet potato casserole

(if I have time), Homemade pumpkin pie

(yes, I'm basically copying Saveur Magazine's spread this year...we'll see how it goes)

Oh, last and not least, be an American and watch some football!