I'll be cooking for my mother, the kids and the grandkids, four generations of us at the table.

I agree, though, it's the family and friends that are the most important to me, food is important but it's secondary. I'd rather eat peanut butter and crackers with people I love than prime rib with people who don't mean anything to me.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Annie

We often go to a restaurant for Thanksgiving. I am always amazed at the number of large groups - generations from Great gramps to newborns. Everyone always seems festive and enjoys. Enjoy the company and your kitchen will remain clean.

Our family went once with Mom and Dad...and we all loved it. Especially Mom who did everything back then.
We did a very nice hotel buffet and I would love to go again- since I'm the matriarch now doing everything.

Nope. Mom and I are going to a local restaurant, the same one we ate at last year.

I was kind of bummed (first holiday not doing it ourselves), but the food turned out to be pretty spectacular -- all home made, no pre packaged turkey or anything like that.

I am not going to a restaurant, but the way things are going this year I wish I was!

Ah well....It'll be fine.

Linda

I've done it twice. Hotel buffets. Wonderful. A little bit of this, a little bit if that. A little more of that. One more small piece of that! LOL. Where else ya gonna get prawns and lobsters for Thanksgiving?

Yep, we are going to eat at one of our favorite restaurants this year. Special menu with my little special family. Two of our 3 children will not be here for Thanksgiving. So I only do it for Christmas and Easter when we are all together!

Karen, tell me it's the restaurant you and Charles took us too. I loved it there and still get emails from them...... but alas I have still not squeezed the sausage stuffed date recipe out of them!

I plan on going to a neighborhood restaurant, the Buggy Whip, which is only a few blocks from my house. It's mainly a steak and seafood restaurant (a bit expensive), but they will be having a Thanksgiving menu this year for $19.95 in addition to their dinner menu being served at noon. A couple of years ago we went to The Warehouse Restaurant in Marina Del Rey (a few blocks from where we lived in Venice), and that was a good experience as well, and we had views of the marina. Some years we go to the desert and eat in restaurants there. I generally don't cook for holidays unless there is a group - I don't do it just for two people.

Lars

It would be a lot cheaper for the two of us, but .... I love doing it!

Going down the road 1 mile to my sisters we cook together for 24 of the immediate family then neighbors come across for cocktails and some Jerry Vale,Tony Bennett and Englebert Humperdink on the cd player and we usually talk of days gone by...good times!

We have gone out a few years, it really is cheaper, and sometimes better when you figure everything in, plus no cleanup which is a priceless extra. But this year we are going to my dads/sisters who are doing all the cooking. Not bad. I don't even feel guilty since I bought their birthday dinner at a restaurant a week ago for 16 people. Now I get a free pass to Turkey day. Works for me, although I may bring a dish or two depending on my schedule.

Duane

Maybe. There's a very slight chance DH may get home Thursday. If he does, we'll take that route.

I'll be doing it for the first time ever. I decided to make a turkey this weekend so I may go for Italian or Chinese on Thursday just for the heck of it. I guess it will depend what I can find near Busch Gardens. I found decent Thai here in Orlando tonight.

We used to live in a very historic area of the country. We did occasionally take guests to historic inns for Thanksgiving or Easter dinner. We went occasionally by ourselves as well. They were wonderful experiences and I would not hesitate to treat guests or ourselves again in the future.
Annie1971

DH's aunt, who has Alzheimer's, told us she wants to go to a diner for Thanksgiving. We have great diners, so I'm okay with that. Frankly, we'll do whatever the heck she wants!

DH and I ordered a prepared turkey dinner for Friday from a personal chef we know who's a fantastic cook. Life has been overwhelming due to elderly relatives, work, school, etc. so I'm really looking forward to easy meals :)

Sue

We did that once due to circumstances beyond our control. No fun at all and it really wigged my DD out. Hope we don't have to do it again.

I'm with you, goldgirl. It's not about how or where the food comes from. It's about being with the ones you love and giving thanks with them.
Annie1971

When I first began working in the restaurant biz, I was shocked to find that Thanksgiving was the busiest day of the year...we had always had Thanksgiving at home, and it would never have occurred to me that people go out. But, as I realized from the guests we served, there are many reasons to do so.

Sometimes we'd get a whole family because Mom just got sick to death of cooking, or more sadly, because Mom or Grandma (whoever had always done it) had passed away and the family couldn't face doing the whole thing at home without their loved one. We had lots of couples of all ages, who for one reason or another couldn't be with family...often the family was out of State and they had to choose one or the other in terms of holidays to be with family, and cooking for just the two of them was impractical. Some people don't like to cook and don't do it well.

My husband and I will be having Thanksgiving by ourselves this year, but I will still cook all the favorites because we both think we like the leftovers even better than the initial meal! We just can't do without turkey sandwiches and turkey soup!

Even though we are eating at my dads/sisters we bought a turkey to cook later too. The sandwiches after the fact I like better than the meal! (well...maybe not..but very close!)

Duane

Chase, Yep, that's where we are going. I'll try to get the recipe. Better yet, I'll order some to take home and then try to decipher what the heck they are made of.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

We are going out also. This will be our first Thanksgiving ever going out to a rest. but due to people having to be other places, our first Thanks. without my Mom, etc. we decided to go this route and we are looking forward to it. As others have said, it's about being with the people you love. I know the food will be good because we have eaten at this quaint rest. numerous times throughout the years. It was a favorite to take the Mom's to for a special Mother's Day meal.

Happy Thanksgiving!

For years, when the kids were younger, my husband, the chef, worked on Thanksgiving. We could either go to where he was cooking, or wait or try to get invited someplace. Now, I'm thrilled he cooks at home.

My DH and I are going out to a restaurant for Thanksgiving for the first time. It is a nice restaurant and is doing a $20 fixed menu (three courses).

We usually either cook and host or cook and bring some along.

I think when the stress of doing it outweighs the enjoyment you get out of it, going to a nice restaurant is a good option.

My SIL says she doesn't like to go to restaurants on holidays because she feels bad for the staff that has to work on a holiday. I told her not to feel too bad because when I waited tables I would volunteer to work holidays. Killer tips.

We did it once and will never do it again. Full of people that couldn't be bother to watch their screaming maniac kids, staff that wanted the tips and move them out for the next batch. I was more stressed by not cooking.

Sharon, take a ride, stop at Annies, and then come by for more. I will have plenty.

I love cooking our special menu, we eat all day. We would be lost without the leftovers. We usually buy the biggest turkey we can find. When I cut up all the turkey and get the carcass ready to make soup, I package up all the turkey meat into nice packages to put in the freezer for later. We really love turkey all year round and I cook 3-4 turkeys every year. I love the way the house smells while the turkey is cooking.
Donna

"Killer tips."

Yep, I tip like mad on Holidays if the service is even halfways competent.

Last year Mom and I ate at a local restauran for T-giving. We were the only people there, everyone else had been in earlier.

The food was absolutely fantastic. All home made, no turkey roll, canned gravy, and instant mashed potatos.

I think I tipped 40% I was so pleased with the food and the service.

As it turns out, I'm not going to a restaurant after all, and just after I accepted an invitation to a party, I got a call from another friend (who keeps in touch via facebook) who wanted to join me at the Buggy Whip Restaurant. I don't even remember mentioning that I was going there on facebook, but I guess I did. I feel very bad that I couldn't keep that date with her, but I expect that we can go there at some time in the future. She used to be the HR person where I work and had lunch with me every day until she got laid off last year. She's still struggling but at least was able to move in with her mother in Verdugo Hills (where there were devastating fires this year) while she goes back to school for a degree that will help her get better employment.

Anyway, I'm now torn between not going to a restaurant and not being able to go to a restaurant!

Lars

See, KFrame, that's the secret, to give service good enough that the customer remembers it as a good experience! I always figured that the person I was waiting on was, in effect, my guest, and the least I could do was make the meal as pleasant as possible.

I guess I was weird in that I actually enjoyed waitressing. Even after I moved into the kitchen, I would sometimes take a wait shift from someone who wanted a night off just for fun.

Well, it turns out we're not going to a restaurant either. DH will be in SoCal working. He'll probably be back home around Christmas. I'm going to make something decadent for myself, still mulling what that might be.

We don't have Thanksgiving here, and Christmas is usually in the high 90s-over 100F temp wise, but I still like to do the roast turkey lunch. One year they were predicting a scorcher (about 115F) and DH offered to take us to a restaurent. After consideration I declined with thanks, as it would cost more than making the meal myself with NO LEFTOVERS!!! THE BEST PART!!! Turkey sandwiches, turkey burritos, turkey tetrazzini, mmm. This year I'm cooking the family dinner as well as our own at home dinner so, two turkeys. I had said to DH, "Well, since DD isn't coming home for Christmas this year there's no point in doing a turkey just for the two of us," and without a second's hesitation he replied, "Yes there is!" LOL I'm inviting some friends over who are also "orphans" on the day :-)

For those who are eating out, don't forget to post on the thread "when it's over". I must say, it's nice to sit here this morning and just watch the Macy's parade...

Have a great day whatever you eat and whoever you are with, and if you aren't with anyone, check here because you won't be alone.

Colleen,
I thought Australia had a Thanksgiving of sorts in March.
Or do I have that all mixed up with something else?

Colleen my daughter is still in Australia and threatening never to return! Mind you she is getting a bit ansy about Christmas, she hasn't got her head around laying on a beach and not having the whole turkey spread.

I told her I'd trade places in a heart beat!

PS: January she leaves Sydney and travel up the Gold Coast to Cairns and then over to Darwin. From there to Bali and Indonesia then home.

No, we don't have anything even vaguely like Thanksgiving. Only holiday I can think of in March is Easter. Australia Day is in late January, Anzac Day (think Veteran's Day) is in late April.

OMG! Our dinner was so good. I had a Chopped salad, petite filet mignon with 2 pods of roasted garlic, a reduction of cognac and green peppercorn sauce and the best asparugus I've had in a long time. My DH had, baked oysters, Lamb t-bones with garlic mashed potatoes, our DD had the same as I and my SIL had the bone in ribeye, reduction sauce of some kind and baked potato. My little Maggie had the Turkey special with mac and cheese on the side. We then each had a dessert...but passed them all around the table so everyone could have a bite of each. Fried Apple crisp with vanilla ice cream, chocolate skillet cake with ice cream, bourbon creme brulee and croissant bread pudding with rum sauce.

Chase, I got a surcie for you!

LOL! Colleen, I think a friend was pulling a fast one on me! When I called her on it just now, she broke up laughing. When will I learn? :)

LOL Bean! Ask your friend about drop bears :-)

Colleen, I'm afraid to! She's already tried to convine me that the reason she (a vegetarian) won't eat Vegemite is because it contains koala fat. Fortunately, you educated me on Vegemite years ago. :D

We golfed somewhere that had a dining room serving a special tday dinner, it was packed but they found us a small table for 2 in the back, they offered the prime rib or turkey dinner, 4 courses for $24.95. The desserts were great
as well as the home cooked dinner so we lucked out in not having to search for a place to eat, it was right there.

I have to lovingly agree that Oz does NOT know it's @$$ from a paper bag where it comes to Thanksgiving. When I studied abroad there they tried to make us Thanksgiving dinner. The stuffing was this hard, dry log which they sliced into cylinders. (It was so sweet that they tried though . . .)

Karen you tease! Did you get that recipe!? If not maybe you got me that waiter..... I could live with that!

Sounds like a fabulous dinner, great restaurant that I will never forget.

Hugs to Maggie from Miss Sharon and Mr Clive

Jessica, I must admit I'm a little offended that you have maligned a whole country because of one group of poor cooks. I can assure you that although we do not celebrate Thanksgiving, I have never had a turkey at Christmas with horrible stuffing as you describe.
If I visited the US and was served cremains from the grill, I wouldn't go around saying, "Jeez, Americans are crap at barbecues".

Ate out at a hotel restaurant. Not a buffet. Wonderful 3-course dinner. The offered turkey, prime rib, lamb, or fish. We opted for the wine pairings which was really fun as well.

Colleen, I happen to know that you are an exceptional cook, your chocolate cake is delicious and your lemon curd is still the recipe I use.

I'd eat turkey at your table any time,but I'll pass on the Vegemite.

Annie

Colleen as you know Meredith is in Australia and I must say loving every moment!

It's true she missed our Canadian Thanksgiving and Halloween too but she has learned so much about the diversity of our world. Australia has been such a welcoming country to our young people, an experience she will never forget. My worse fear is that she won't come home!

She is a wee bit uptight about not having snow and a Christmas tree for Christmas but she promises me that she'll be over it in a flash as she lays on the beach with all her new found friends!

PS: I make your chocolate cake too, it's the best!