Thanksgiving [2011]

This is the 1st year that I am without Thanksgiving plans - never go to visit family out of state and usually have a friend's family to join. Where are some of the best Thanksgiving dinners I can attned? Open in price range and have no desire to leave the city - unless you tell me that it's REALLY worth disregarding all the other city options.

I love food, and am mid grade foodie but I do love a traditional meal as well.

Also if it makes a difference I am 29 so I'd rather not be overrun with running kids and loud senior citizens...

I'm sure I'll get a lot of crap for my last comment, oh well!

Help, thanks and thanksgiving,

You could be the envy of this LTHer and take part in smunderground's Thanksgiving dinner.

incite wrote:You could be the envy of this LTHer and take part in smunderground's Thanksgiving dinner.

I couldn't agree more!

65 Chicago places to eat Thanksgiving dinner, 2011 By Leah A. Zeldes

Can't say I've encountered too many loud seniors in restaurants, even on this rowdiest of holidays. Do they shout grace?

If A Taste of Heaven is open, sounds like you would enjoy the please-use-your-indoor-voices policy.

You're right - I guess i just want to be around more of those that are in similiar situations in the 20-49.5 range P It's not that I mind noise - I just want to be judgmental about the noise I hear, my own loud guffaws are fine.

In all seriousness, I just don't want to feel like I am at the Sizzler at 6pm on a Saturday, okay?!

PortPkPaul wrote:Can't say I've encountered too many loud seniors in restaurants, even on this rowdiest of holidays. Do they shout grace?

If A Taste of Heaven is open, sounds like you would enjoy the please-use-your-indoor-voices policy.

I hope you're not suggesting that seniors start at 49.6 lol.

No way! Sr Citizen ship startz at 45 or 60 - I 4get.

PortPkPaul wrote:I hope you're not suggesting that seniors start at 49.6 lol.

The Longman and Eagle dinner sounds good....

Thinking the same - anyone have any tried and true Chicago restaurant experiences?

leek wrote:The Longman and Eagle dinner sounds good....

ll982 wrote:Thinking the same - anyone have any tried and true Chicago restaurant experiences?

leek wrote:The Longman and Eagle dinner sounds good....

I've had many tried and true restaurant experiences, but now I'm too old to remember most of them, and I'd have to shout the ones I still remember to you, so I guess you wouldn't be interested in anything I have to say, you young whippersnapper.

Deleece on Southport (next to the Music Box) is serving Thanksgiving dinner. Having been to Deleece on any number of non-Thanksgiving occasions, I would trust them to prepare a nice Thanksgiving, and I think you'll find the "vibe" to your liking. (It's number 20 on Leah's excellent alphabetical list, linked to above.)

Here's their Thanksgiving menu.

Deleece
3747 N. Southport
Chicago
773 325 1710
http://www.deleece.com

I think I got this from Gaper's Block, not 100% sure... This might fit your young criterion.

Lonely? Hungry? Far from Home?
Ease the sting of missing family Thanksgiving at Jack’s Bar & Grill and the adjacent 404 Wine Bar (2856 N. Southport Ave.; 773-404-8400), where stranded students with a college ID nab a 50 percent discount on food and drinks November 23 and 25. (The restaurants are closed on Thanksgiving Day.) http://www.404winebarchicago.com/ http://www.jackschicago.com/

Stevez!

It would be an honor to dine in your company - do you really blame me that I have no interest in being surrounded by a crowd a la Maggianos on a Saturday night?!

My request was poorly worded but I think you get what I mean. I'll sit next to two 70 year olds - as long as they dont have' 3 loud obnoxious kids, 2 bickering sister in laws and 3 annoyed men. Capiche?

I appreciate everyone's responses and was just wondering if there were any thanksgivings those have attended in any Chicago restaurants that they could vouch for.

Thank you, my apologies, gracias por todo.

stevez wrote:

ll982 wrote:Thinking the same - anyone have any tried and true Chicago restaurant experiences?

leek wrote:The Longman and Eagle dinner sounds good....

I've had many tried and true restaurant experiences, but now I'm too old to remember most of them, and I'd have to shout the ones I still remember to you, so I guess you wouldn't be interested in anything I have to say, you young whippersnapper.

We enjoyed our Thanksgiving experience at Mercat la Planxa so much last year that we are returning again this year. Here is last year's menu:

First Course - Serrano Ham & Fig Salad
Truita De Patata (Spanish-Style Omelette)
Aragones (Raw Cow's Milk Cheese with Sherry-Bacon Caramel)

Second Course - Costillas De Ternera (Braised Short Rib Flatbread)
Datiles con Almedras (Bacon-Wrapped Dates Stuffed w/ Almonds)
Gambas al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp)
Pelotas de Calabaza con Cordero (Butternut Squash Dumplings with Lamb Ragout)

Third Course - Pavo Ahumado con Jerez (Smoke Roasted Turkey)
Cordero a la Planxa (Grilled Lamb Chops with Romesco & Guindilla Aioli)
Vieiras a la Planxa (Diver Scallops, Lemon Garlic & Parsley)
Coliflor y Almendras (Cauliflower Gratin with Marcona Almonds & Black Truffle)
Pure de Patatas (Whipped Yukon Gold Potatoes w/Roasted Mushrooms)
Relleno de Castana (Rosemary-Chestnut Stuffing w/Foie Gras & Celery Root)

Dessert - Croquetas de Xocolata (Chocolate Croquettes w/Banana Marshmallow, Rosemary
Caramel, and Arbequina Olive Oil

$20 per person extra to add wine pairings. More details on their website under "events." http://www.mercatchicago.com


This year they are offering their a la carte menu or w/ 72 hours notice you can order their "Thanksgiving Menu for Four" for $140.

Last year, service was great, room was about 3/4 full and lively. Definately not sedate - there was a mix of all ages.

You could be the envy of this LTHer and take part in smunderground's Thanksgiving dinner.

Envy is ugly but go ahead because that is exactly what we're doing for Thanksgiving.

We enjoyed our Thanksgiving experience at Mercat la Planxa so much last year that we are returning again this year.

this dovetails nicely with what I was going to suggest, which is to find a good restaurant that you already want to try that's in a hotel. nearly all hotel restaurants will have some kind of thanksgiving-themed price fixe thing happening, and there are so many newer, great-quality restaurants in hotels, such as Mercat, or Sable, or Sixteen, or Ria/Balsan, or David Burke's Primehouse, or C-House, etc, etc...

I recall in previous years Sun Wah would cook a turkey for you if you bring it in. BYOT. I have always thought that sounded really fun, but I'm always out of town for holidays so never got a chance to try it out.

Funny you should mention Sun Wah. Thanksgiving is traditionally at my brother's house in Rogers Park, and that wonderful hacked-up duck is part of the appetizer spread every year. Then, after a couple hours, we graduate to the John Kass-brined recipe for the bird.

We have been going to David Burke's each year. We're a small group and my mom can't do stairs (we have a standing invite to a few friends' places, but they all have stairs and bathrooms without handrails).

Best suggestion I've heard for general holiday dining - thank you!

Thanks to all respondents and please keep them coming!

elakin wrote:

We enjoyed our Thanksgiving experience at Mercat la Planxa so much last year that we are returning again this year.

this dovetails nicely with what I was going to suggest, which is to find a good restaurant that you already want to try that's in a hotel. nearly all hotel restaurants will have some kind of thanksgiving-themed price fixe thing happening, and there are so many newer, great-quality restaurants in hotels, such as Mercat, or Sable, or Sixteen, or Ria/Balsan, or David Burke's Primehouse, or C-House, etc, etc...

https://ditkasrestaurants.com/downloads ... k.2011.pdf
out of chicago, but we have gone the last 3 years, and they do a great job!!!

A new holiday ritual is born.

Dr. Barenese [pointing to wreath-like object which has hung on our dining room wall for a long time]: What is that thing?
Me: I dunno. A wreath. You don't like it?
Dr. Barenese: No.
Me [grabbing chair, climbing up, and retrieving objet]: Then let's burn it!

I asked fashion wunderkind Tavi Gevinson (who since a tyke has helped me tend the fire) to toss the newly despised object into the fireplace.



Dr. Gevinson (English prof, not a real doctor, but really smart), Tavi, and Dr. Barense (a real doctor) look on as The Wife tries to forestall the inevitable by explaining the rich history behind the gift we are about to ceremonially immolate. It's good to have aged scholards present to speculate on the pagan implications of the ritual and physicians to tend the wounded.

And so we inaugurate a new holiday ritual, an instant Thanksgiving tradition, born of our desire to be good hosts. Is there a furnishing or crafty-type thing in our house that has troubled you for years? No worries...we'll BURN IT!

David Hammond wrote:A new holiday ritual is born.

Very cool.

Have you and Tavi ever talked hats?

Subject: Thanksgiving [2011]

happy_stomach wrote:

David Hammond wrote:A new holiday ritual is born.

Very cool.

Have you and Tavi ever talked hats?

No, though that'd be an obvious topic of common interest. Last serious discussion I had with her was about fashion models, who in their sameness seem to me to be like modern picture frames, vehicles without personality, mobile hangers. I don't believe we reached agreement.