Nov 12 2008
So you thought you could pass up Thanksgiving dinner to take advantage of a great travel deal and you're already getting homesick for sweet potatoes and Mom's chestnut stuffing. Or maybe you're in the UK to study or for work, you can't justify flying home for one dinner, but you really, really wish you could.Not to worry. Help - in the form of Thanksgiving in the UK - is at hand.
A Pilgrims' UK Thanksgiving in Plymouth, England
In what looks suspiciously like an attack of "Come back, all is forgiven", the people of Plymouth, in Devon, England, lay on a major Thanksgiving celebration to commemorate their Mayflower and Transatlantic heritage. It lasts the whole weekend. Events include:- Thanksgiving reception and traditional Thanksgiving lunch on Thursday
- A celebration dinner and dance on Friday
- Raising the Stars and Stripes on Plymouth Hoe with the Royal Marine Band playing patriotic American tunes
- A Thanksgiving Parade on The Barbican - The Mayflower's departure point, now called the Mayflower Steps.
- Basketball games, American football, themed nights at local clubs, concerts.
Find a place to stay in Plymouth and get a good rate
Thanksgiving in the UK
A surprising number of restaurants around the UK serve special Thanksgiving menus on that all important 4th Thursday in November. Most - but not all - are in London. If you aren't near any of the restaurants on this list, ask at the better hotels near where you are staying and you've got a good chance of finding a Thanksgiving dinner.Don't be surprised, however, if that dinner includes a few rather non-traditional items. At one hotel in London they serve butternut squash with ginger foam and turkey with cranberry "jus". Elsewhere, roast pork belly and grill sea bass are on "Thanksgiving" menus. Actually the less expensive the meal is, the less pretentious and the more like the real thing it is likely to be. But Hey, Dorothy, you're not in Kansas anymore. Chin up and enjoy your dinner. Happy Thanksgiving!
Where to find Thanksgiving in 2008
- Momma Cherri's Soul Food Shak in Brighton is the kind of place that makes me want to head for Brighton just to sample her Thanksgiving menu. It's huge, served family style and the evening looks like a big party. For £24 it looks like real value - kids under ten cost £12 and under five's eat free.
- Automat in Mayfair, London. Shares only the name with the famous New York original (I know because I remember). A pricey set menu for large groups and Thanksgivingish specials for smaller parties.
- The Royal Garden Hotel, London - Thanksgiving the French Director's cut.
- Annual American Expat Meet-up at The Green Man Pub in London then off to a secret location - Macy's Parade and Football too.
- Missouri Angel, London - Celebrating its first birthday on Thanksgiving Day 2008 (it morphed from last year's Missouri Grill. The traditional menu costs £35.
- Edinburgh Expat American Meet-up (Someone's) Home for the holidays.
- PJ's Grill A 1930s ambience in Covent Garden. About £19.95 for three courses. Ring +44 (0)207 240 7529 to check the current menu.
- PJ's Bar and Grill in South Kensington. Clubby, pubby atmosphere, for an upmarket crowd. About £35 for 3 courses. Ring +44 (0)207 581 0025 for more info.
- Christophers, Covent Garden - Authentic but expensive.
- Bodeans BBQ Smokehouse - Casual, football on TV, Several locations in London. Great gumbo starters but the turkey is smoked!
- Hard Rock Cafes Gather for the Feast in:
