What is a good Thanksgiving without a plentiful meal? The American holiday of Thanksgiving is a day of gratitude towards those in our lives and communities; that gratitude is often mediated by a hearty meal. The holiday’s origins lie in giving thanks for the harvest that the early pilgrims were able to achieve after colonizing and settling in what is now the United States. While there is controversy behind the colonial origins of the holiday, it is still celebrated across the U.S., grounded in its connection to food.
The traditional meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and pumpkin pie, usually accompanied by a variety of other foods such as roasted vegetables, green beans, mac and cheese or rolls, is typically shared among families and friends. In recent years, the concept of a “Friendsgiving” has become very popular, where a group of friends will gather to prepare a similar meal in the form of a potluck.
In New York City, the holiday has another layer to it: the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It is broadcast nationwide, but in the city where the parade actually takes place, many people go out to see the variety of inflated balloons and various floats that travel from Central Park West and down 6th Ave, all the way to the Macy’s on 34th street next to Harold Square. Many spectators bring out stepstools and children sit on their parents’ shoulders to get a glimpse of their favorite characters, larger than life, floating down Manhattan streets.
Walking around, there were some places with prices that were not as high as these fine dining establishments, but there was very little to be seen under the $40 range.
And for such an occasion, there must be a way to get some good food in the city to celebrate, even if you are not participating in a family dinner or a Friendsgiving potluck. But on a day when many stores are closed and supermarkets are on reduced hours, what options does one have to get a good meal in this city?
One easy option, if you want to eat at home, is taking a trip to the supermarket in the morning and checking out their hot bar. Whole Foods, in particular, has many of the classic dishes on top of their usual selection. Turkey, mac and cheese, and mashed potatoes are all available, and individual pieces of pumpkin pie, as well as whole pies, are also sold. However, due to its popularity, they tend to run low, but if you are alright trading out birds, they always have their rotisserie chicken for only $8.99.
But of course, it’s Thanksgiving, and most people look for a hearty dinner; considering Whole Foods closes at 1 p.m. on Thanksgiving day, it might not be the most convenient option. Luckily, while many restaurants close for the holiday, others take the opportunity to stay open and serve a Thanksgiving dinner.
Many restaurants have special menus just for Thanksgiving when they serve many dishes of the classic holiday dinner. Popular restaurant chain The Smith offered a Thanksgiving meal at their establishments for the price of $88 per person. Other restaurants such as Café Carmellini, The Corner Store and Altair offered Thanksgiving meals, according to an article from Eater.
One issue with all of these meals, however, is the price tag. Most of these restaurants had prices above that of The Smith, and many even in the $200 range. Walking around, there were some places with prices that were not as high as these fine dining establishments, but there was very little to be seen under the $40 range. The Westway Diner in Hell’s Kitchen also had a Thanksgiving meal on their menu, but it came at a cost of $42.99, which is not bad comparatively speaking, but nonetheless comes at a barrier for many people who are on a tight budget.
For college students who couldn’t fly home or people who just ended up spending Thanksgiving alone in the city, these prices may be way out of the range of affordability. When the city is facing an affordability crisis, is it possible to find a way to enjoy a meal out without breaking the bank?
Chinatown, in Lower Manhattan, had a plethora of restaurants open and continuing to serve affordable meals for those who didn’t mind skipping the traditional turkey and cranberry sauce.
Well, while all of America celebrated Thanksgiving, there were many communities who did not partake as seriously. Immigrants, people from international backgrounds and people whose families don’t have the cultural connection to Thanksgiving, might not celebrate as heavily or with the usual traditions. Those who are traveling or working and find themselves in a random city alone on Thanksgiving might also not want to figure out a usual Thanksgiving meal. Chinatown, in Lower Manhattan, had a plethora of restaurants open and continuing to serve affordable meals for those who didn’t mind skipping the traditional turkey and cranberry sauce.
Many popular (typically cash only) establishments such as North Dumpling, Fried Dumpling and 1915 Lanzhou Hand Pulled Noodles & Dumplings were operating business as usual with lines out the door. It may not be your typical Thanksgiving dinner, but compared to the prices one has to pay for a typical Thanksgiving meal, it all becomes worth it. At North Dumpling, their pan fried dumplings — which come in a batch of 10 — are only $4, and their signature chive pancakes were only $3.
However, for many in the city, even that can be out of reach. For those who are less fortunate and are without means to pay for food, there were several places in the city providing free Thanksgiving meals.
One of the oldest food drives in the city is the Bowery Mission which has been in operation at 227 Bowery since the 1870s. Their operation was well organized with both indoor and outdoor seating options, many volunteers and even hired security personnel were on site.
Among other food drives in the city were Xavier Mission on 15th Street, serving food from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. The Church of the Holy Apostle on 9th Ave also had a food drive serving from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on both Thanksgiving and the following Friday. On Thanksgiving, despite their operating hours, by 12 p.m., they had already distributed all their food and had begun cleaning up. The food drives at these various locations were supported by many volunteers from the community, who perhaps embodied the spirit of giving the best of all.
