Thanksgiving dinner is a ritual: most Americans would say one incomplete without turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and gravy. Other commonly-served dishes include sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, corn-on-the-cob, green beans, and of course pumpkin pie. You don’t have to be American to enjoy a Thanksgiving feast, and Beijing has everything you need to enjoy it homemade or catered.
Do-It-Yourself
The majority of Beijing’s international supermarkets and butchers will have turkeys for sale over the coming months. Be sure to order super early, as fowl will fly off the shelves as the big day approaches. Most turkeys are sold frozen, so allow plenty of time for them to defrost before cooking.
April Gourmet sells imported turkeys from RMB 65/kg as well as a selection of hams. Some branches have ready-made pumpkin and apple pies at the deli counter.
BHG Market Place has frozen imported turkeys from RMB 60/kg.
Boucherie Michel sell imported US turkeys for around RMB 70/kg. They also have cooked turkeys from RMB 108/kg.
City Shop sells frozen US Norbest turkeys from RMB 78/kg with sizes ranging from 5.5kg to a whopping 22kg. You’ll also find stove-top stuffing, cranberry sauce, and canned pumpkin.
DDs Supermarket stocks pie crusts, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie filling.
Jenny Lou’s and Jenny Wang’s sell most of the things you need for Thanksgiving, including frozen imported turkeys for RMB 68/kg, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and pumpkin pie filling.
Schindler’s Food Center sells frozen imported turkey from RMB 58/kg and local Chinese turkey for RMB 45-48/kg. It also stocks a range of hams, both boned and bone-in.
TooToo Organic Farm sells frozen turkeys for RMB 680 per 5kg bird. Get RMB 100 off if you order before November 23. They also stock frozen cranberries at RMB 23.80 for a 200g box.
Catering
For those who want to enjoy Thanksgiving at home without having to cook the whole shebang, there are several places that will happily do all the hard work for you. Some caterers deliver while others offer a pick-up option only.
Culinary Capers offers grain-fed turkey, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, stuffing, gravy, and pumpkin pie. They also provide whole turkeys to roast at home. Early reservations needed. Call 6431 7199 or 6432 3899.
Lily’s American Diner delivers whole roasted US imported turkeys for RMB 109/kg. Sides are RMB 25 per person, and include homemade stuffing, mashed potato, sweet potato, vegetables, cranberry sauce, and gravy. From November 26-29, you can also have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner at all three Lily’s locations for RMB 159 per adult (including glass of wine) and RMB 119 per child (including soft drink or juice). Contact 131 4642 7090 or 136 8152 4886 for details or visit www.LilysAmericanDiner.com.
Village Café at The Opposite House has a bunch of Thanksgiving goodies that are either oven-ready or ready to serve, including ready to roast turkeys (ranging in size from 5-9 kg) at RMB 68/kg, smoked gammon ham for RMB 118/kg (approximately 4kg), hot roasted free-range chicken RMB 138/kg, smoked salmon and salmon gravlax (RMB 190/kg and RMB 198/kg respectively), roasted vegetables, stuffing, sauce, and plenty of pies. Orders must be placed four working days in advance, contact 6410 5210 or villagecafe@theoppositehouse.com
Don’t Forget the Pies
Thanksgiving would not be complete without pumpkin pie, that sweet dessert we love to indulge in, especially during the fall and early winter. Bakery pies are usually nine inches in diameter, which should feed 10-12 people. If you want to do it yourself, most supermarkets stock cans of pie filling and ready-made pie crust.
Bread of Life has a pumpkin pie for RMB 90, with all profits going towards supporting orphans and children in China. www.breadoflifebakery.org
Pantry’s Best makes a pumpkin pie priced at RMB 199. Delivery is free within Fourth Ring Road. www.pantrysbest.com
Rager Pie makes a “smashed” rather than pureed pie. If you like your pumpkin chunky, get one delivered for RMB 125. www.ragerpie.com
Two Guys and a Pie will deliver a tasty 8” family pie for RMB 150. www.twoguysandapie.com
Photos: Courtesy of Liz West, Laura, and Teo (Flickr)