Turkey, turkey, turkey! I love turkey and I love Thanksgiving, but once in a while it’s nice to switch things up. Besides, traditions are meant to be broken, and to be honest, we broke Thanksgiving traditions long time ago anyway.
When we think of Thanksgiving we think of a spread of roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. But it’s actually not what the Pilgrims ate during the festival holiday.
Instead they would rejoice in the local harvest, which the Native Americans helped gather.
There is no official documentation, but carrots, beans, peas and cranberries were likely, as well as corn and sunchokes, which the Native Americans were growing. The corn would be served as porridge and there were no potatoes, which are originally from the Andes.
As for the turkey? What turkey? If hunting was successful, whole deer would be roasted over campfires and venison would be the protein, along with seafood. Yes, seafood.
Apparently seafood was common since it was easily harvested along the shoreline in New England.
Needless to say, back then it wasn’t quite about what you were craving, but what was available during the season.
See! “Eating local” and “farm-to-table” is nothing new.
Thanksgiving wasn’t even a one-day event, but a three-day festival of eating, hunting and celebrations of a three-day harvest. So while traditions are made to be broken, I think we broke the wrong ones because frankly, I’d like to revisit this three-day idea.
The beauty of living in Vancouver is the multiculturalism, and if venison has already been replaced with turkey, then let’s also try something else.
Call me old-fashioned, but I still enjoy the “family-style” tradition, and if you want to try something new this holiday, consider pre-ordering the braised duck stuffed with wild mushrooms in a sweet soy sauce at Dynasty Seafood Restaurant in Vancouver.
If you would rather revert back to old traditions and celebrate with venison and a three-day escape, then consider the Grill & Vine at The Westin Resort & Spa in Whistler.
It might sound like an unexpected option, but the grilled venison chop with cassis glaze is delicious, and the crispy quail with multigrain waffle and maple grapes is worth the trip alone. The latter doesn’t have anything to do with Thanksgiving, although grapes were likely at the original feast, but I am just thankful this dish exists.
Another excellent venison dish is found just an hour south of the border in a special place called The Willows Inn on Lummi Island in Bellingham. This not-so-secret “secret resort” features a 17-course tasting menu which usually includes an excellent venison course.
This year chef and co-owner of The Willows Inn, Blaine Wetzel, won the prestigious James Beard Award for Rising Star Chef of the Year.
And there you have it. Three dining adventures for your three-day Thanksgiving celebration. Much more exciting than turkey three ways huh?
Find Mijuneat Une Soirée à Paris with Faubourg Paris and A Fashion Love Affair and The Lazy Gourmet’s 35th Anniversary party on Oct. 7, and at The Dirty Apron cookbook launch on Oct. 9.
Find out more about Mijune at FollowMeFoodie.comor follow her on Twitter and Instagram @followmefoodie.
