The Thanksgiving holiday is a big deal in North America. Canada already celebrated theirs on October 9th, but the U.S. celebrates theirs the fourth Thursday in November – that’s the 23rd this year.
The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth, Jennie Augusta Brownscombe.
For these New Worlders, Thanksgiving is an autumn holiday glowing with family, friends and a certain golden-brown guest of honour who always gets an invitation she can’t refuse. Which is why the historic holiday is also known to the irreverent as simply “Turkey Day”.
The turkey is the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving table, but it’s always surrounded with a cornucopia of familiar goodies: cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, bread stuffing, green beans, peas, glazed carrots and other vegetable dishes, plus pumpkin pie, pecan pie, sweet potato pie topped with marshmallows – lots of food.
© Eugene Bochkarev | Dreamstime
So no wonder North Americans in Switzerland may feel a little empty at the thought of missing a full-on T-Day engorgement.
Not to worry. All the traditional ingredients are available in Swiss supermarkets, including fresh and frozen cranberries, sweet potatoes, and smaller fresh or frozen turkeys that fit in smaller European ovens.
All you’ll be missing are those awkward jokes from that drunk uncle, and the background noise of an American football game on TV.
And in certain Swiss cities, you can leave the oven off and not face leaning towers of dishes, but still enjoy a traditional T-Day feast. For example:
Geneva:
American International Club Geneva
Fri Nov 24
Hotel Intercontinental
Charity event with proceeds going to the Anouk Foundation.
Basel:
American Women’s Club of Basel
Thurs, Nov 23
Les Quartre Saisons Restaurant
Zurich:
American International Club Zurich
Thurs. Nov 23
Restaurant Pulcino
American Women’s Club of Zurich
Thurs. Nov 23
Grain Bistro
Buffet
Or you could embrace the place you live now and have … fondue.
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