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| A table set for a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner. Photo via iStockphoto.com |
When I was a child, my mother and father would ceremoniously gather our family of seven in the living room a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving Day. One by one, we were asked to name our favorite holiday dishes while my mother meticulously transcribed the menu onto a sheet of paper. My older brothers and sisters, who always seemed to go first, enthusiastically called out the star attractions: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. When my turn finally came, only the uninteresting dishes, like "relish plate" or "scalloped corn", seemed to be left. Nonetheless, Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. It's a day for families. A time when we pause to give thanks for all of our blessings.
If, like me, you're going to be far from your loved ones on Thanksgiving Day, here are some ideas for where to celebrate this American holiday in Paris.
Breakfast in America: This American diner is offering two seatings of a traditional dinner that includes an aperitif, a starter, turkey plate with gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, vegetable, cranberry sauce and a slice of pumpkin, apple or pecan pie for €32.95. Wine, alcohol and other drinks are not included in the price. Reservations via email required: bia.thanksgiving@gmail.com. Breakfast in America, 17, rue des Ecoles, 75005 Paris.
Ralph's: Ralph Lauren’s namesake restaurant in its flagship boutique in St Germain des Prés celebrates Thanksgiving in true American tradition with the season’s most festive dishes including turkey, stuffing, apple pie and more for €120 per person. Call Ralph's at +33 (0)1 44 77 76 00 to make reservations. The two seatings (6:30 and 9:00 pm) are sure to fill up fast.
Blues-Bar-B-Q: My favorite barbecue joint in Paris will be serving a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for €35 per person. There will be two seatings (6:30 and 9:00 pm). Reservations are required. Blues Bar-B-Q, 1 rue Sedaine, 75011 Paris. Phone: +33 (0)1 48 06 79 53
The Moose: This Canadian sports bar and grill is organizing a Thanksgiving party with a traditional menu. If you would like to follow the NFL football games direct from the United States, this is the place for you. Call for more information and to make reservations. The Moose, 16 rue des 4 Vents, Paris 75006. Tel: + 33 (0) 1 46 33 77 00
La Cuisine de l’E7: The restaurant of the 4-star Hôtel Édourd 7 is offering a fixed price menu with pumpkin soup, cornbread, stuffed poultry, sweet potato purée, cranberry sauce, pumpkin tart and ice cream for €40 per person, drinks not included. Reserve online or contact the restaurant. La Cuisine de l’E7, 39 avenue de l'Opéra, 75002 Paris. Tel: +33 (0)1 42 61 86 11
Joe Allen: The classic American restaurant has created a special menu with traditional favorites and interesting alternatives, like corn chowder with Thai curry, roasted pumpkin and ricotta enchiladas with spaghetti squash coleslaw, grilled marinated tuna steak. The three-course menu is €46 and includes coffee or tea. Reserve online or send an email to thanksgiving@joeallenparis.com. Joe Allen, 30 Rue Pierre Lescot, 75001 Paris. Tel: +33 (0)1 42 36 70 13
Le Saint-Martin: Just in case you don't eat your fill of turkey on Thanksgiving Day, this bistro is offering a traditional menu for €40 per person on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening. Reserve your table or order your feast to go via email (lesaintmartin@yahoo.fr) or phone. Le Saint-Martin, 25 Rue Louis Blanc, 75010 Paris. Tel: +33 (0)1 46 07 73 68
American Church in Paris: For a less expensive option, enjoy turkey and all the trimmings for €25 per adult and €18 per child under 12 in the Thurber Room on Saturday, November 23. The family seating at 5:00 pm features children's activities and a special movie. The adult seating is at 8:30 pm. Tickets available online. American Church in Paris, 65 quai d'Orsay, 75007 Paris. Tel: +33 (0)1 40 62 05 00
Meetup's "The Paris Thanksgiving Dinner": Mainly for expats who live in Paris, Meetup's traditional Thanksgiving dinner will be between €37 and €40, including a glass of wine. A short, digestive, slow-paced, post-meal walk to Sacré-Cœur will follow the meal. Join Meetup and reserve online.
Grange aux Dîmes de Wissous: located outside of Paris, this gastronomic restaurant is offering an all inclusive traditional Thanksgiving dinner for €49.90. Included in the menu are pumpkin souffle, corn pancakes, roasted turkey stuffed with chestnuts, cranberry relish, pecan pie, pumpkin pie and more. La Grange aux Dîmes, 3 Rue André Dolimier, 91320 Wissous (approximately 30 minutes from Paris) Tel:+33 (0)1 69 81 70 08
Ideas for a non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner:
Whether you're on your own or in a group, I highly recommend Le Foodist's "Thanksgiving in Paris" five-course lunch with wine pairings and a glass of champagne. In addition to a delicious meal, there will be an introduction to wine tasting by a sommelier and stories shared about each dish. The theme for the stories will be giving thanks to the relation between intercultural exchanges and our foods. It's Thanksgiving with a French twist! The all-inclusive lunch from 11:45 am -2:30 pm is €110. Reserve online. Le Foodist, 59 Rue Cardinal Lemoine, 75005 Paris. Tel: +33 (0)6 71 70 95 22.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, La Cuisine Paris has schedule two cooking classes where you'll work with new found friends to create an elegant menu that is a fusion of favorite dishes from France and the USA. After all of your hard work, you'll toast yourselves with a glass of champagne and dine in an area overlooking the Seine. The "Thanksgiving in Paris" cooking classes are €100. Reserve online. La Cuisine Paris, 80 Quai de l'Hôtel de Ville, 75004 Paris. Note: Both the lunch and dinner classes are already sold out.
Alternatively, we thoroughly enjoyed stuffing ourselves with delicious Basque food at Chez L'Ami Jean two years ago. Here's a blog post from the archives with more information.
Make your own Thanksgiving dinner:
You'll find all the essential ingredients to make your own holiday dinner at the aptly named Thanksgiving and The Real McCoy, two small American grocery stores in Paris.
It's also possible to order a roasted turkey from your local butcher. Just be sure to plan ahead and order it about three weeks in advance.
As I'm sure that there are many other restaurants that are organizing Thanksgiving dinners in Paris, please let me know which ones I missed so that I can include them in this post. Thanks!