Thanksgiving in Prague 2009

Cooking is fun!

Benefit from the educated Expats.cz community by trolling the forums for posts on this very topic. Tips on where to buy turkey, cranberries, canned pumpkin and more are offered from the eagle-eyed shoppers. If you have the patience, many items can be found at your local supermarket. Frozen turkeys are occasionally spotted; look for celý krocan or krůta. Unfortunately, selection varies heavily by location; however Billa and Kaufland are often good bets, as well as Lidl and certain Alberts.

There are a couple specialty stores in town that should have everything you need. For many people, Robertson´s (www.robertson.cz) is the go-to place for turkeys. They´ll have fresh whole turkeys (6-7kg) for 99 CZK/kg, as well as turkey breast, turkey crown and turkey roll stuffed with sausage stuffing. You can also ordered a pre-cooked ham (8kg) for 159 CZK/kg. Other needed goodies include turkey gravy granules, sage and onion stuffing, and Ocean Spray cranberry sauce and cranberry jelly. They´ll have fresh turkeys available on November 25 and 26, as well as the 27th and 28th for those who´ll be celebrating at the weekend. Order early!

Culinaria (www.culinaria.cz) is another foodie favorite, and again pulls out all the stops. If you are planning to cook, they´ll have lots of hard to find items; browse their shelves (or their website) for what you are missing. They also cater, so whether you are planning a big shin-dig, or would just like help preparing a couple special dishes, Culinaria may be the place to go. Their Thanksgiving menu will be available for pick-up in the store from November 26-28. They recommend placing orders at least seven days in advance, especially if you are ordering a whole turkey. Yummies here included roast turkey with gravy, pumpkin soup, Waldorf salad, wild rice with hazelnuts and dried cranberries, homemade mashed potatoes and pecan pie. Their entire list is much more extensive and you can mix and match a variety of dishes to create your own special meal.

If you want a nice at-home family Thanksgiving dinner, but your oven won´t fit a turkey and really who has that many pots anyway – try Fusion Catering (www.fusion-catering.cz). For a 9kg turkey (suitable to feed 20 adults) cooked and delivered to your door, prices start at 3850 CZK. This includes gravy and stuffing; and you can add on lots of fixings like cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, grilled vegetables and apple pie. You can order a complete meal or just the turkey depending on your needs. General manager and owner Idan Peled said about half of his customers order just the turkey and half order an entire meal. Place your order a minimum five working days in advance, and Peled warns: “You may find our turkey the best you ever had, so keep your expectations high and fast a day or two in advance.”

Serve me, please!

The Marriott Prague (www.marriottprague.com) will be hosting two Thanksgiving dinners on November 26. The more casual affair is in their Brasserie Praha restaurant. For 595 CZK you can enjoy a three course meal of pumpkin soup, turkey, stuffing and pecan pie. The hotel´s Bohemia Ballroom will offer a more intense menu of pumpkin soup, roast turkey with sage and onion stuffing, honey-glazed ham, pepper roast beef, sweet potatoes, candied yams, potato wedges, pecan maple syrup pie, buttermilk pancakes with orange and pistachio sauce and pumpkin pie. Wine, beer and soft drinks are included and the price is 895 CZK. Dinner at both venues runs from 6pm-11pm.

The Hilton Prague´s CzecHouse (www.hiltonprague.com) will also offer a special Thanksgiving dinner on November 26. Here you can enjoy a five course dinner for 990 CZK which offers a variety of choices including pumpkin bisque, roast turkey breast with dried fruit and sausage stuffing, Brussels sprouts and cranberry sauce and chestnut and pecan nut tart with caramelized fig ice cream. Over at the Hilton Prague Old Town (www.hiltonpragueoldtown.com), their usual Sunday Roast will be enhanced with roast turkey on November 29. All you can eat for 990 CZK.

The Essensia at the Mandarin Oriental (www.mandarinoriental.com) isn´t actively promoting a Thanksgiving menu, but if you are dying to eat there on November 26, you can pre-order (at least 3 days in advance) dinner which includes tiger prawns cocktail with avocado, pumpkin soup with spinach and coconut milk, chestnut stuffed turkey with mashed potatoes and sautéed mushrooms and crumbled apple pie for 1400 CZK.

For a more casual Thanksgiving, the Bohemia Bagel (www.bohemiabagel.cz) locations in Prague 7 and Prague 1 will be celebrating on November 26. In Holešovice, an all you can eat menu includes an eclectic mix of Swedish Christmas ham, venison stew, turkey and pumpkin cheesecake for 595 CZK. A self-serve all you can eat buffet will be found at the Old Town location. For 495 CZK you can feast on turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, veggie and meat gravies, pumpkin pie, etc.

Both T.G.I. Friday´s (www.tgifridays.cz) locations will also have a special meal all day on November 26. Their three course dinner costs 495 CZK and includes an appetizer of house soup or salad, grilled turkey breast with stuffing and gravy as well as pumpkin pie.

Hard Rock Cafe (www.hardrock.com) will also be celebrating Thanksgiving, with a traditional Thanksgiving dinner served all day from 11:30. A two course menu is 525 CZK, and a three course is 650 CZK.