Thanksgiving in Vancouver: It’s Here Already?

Did you forget about Thanksgiving until just now? You’re not the only one. With the schools opening only a couple of weeks ago, it feels much too early to be talking about turkey, but here it is already. Here are a few ways to make Thanksgiving in Vancouver a bit easier this year.

Pick it up Prepared this Thanksgiving in Vancouver

Want to have family and friends over but can’t face the massive menu planning? There are ways around doing the whole thing yourself. Both Whole Foods and Choices Markets offer ready-made side dishes from high-quality produce, from savoury tarts through to fancy mashed potatoes. Whole Foods is a good choice if you’re catering to gluten-free or vegan guests, they have full Thanksgiving menus for both. If you want to pick up the whole meal, it’s best to call ahead and reserve, especially for the turkey.

All the Birds

If you’re entertaining a huge crowd this Thanksgiving in Vancouver and want something a bit more than turkey, stop by Windsor Quality Meats on Main Street. They will present you with a turducken, free-range if you so require. The chicken-inside-a-duck-inside-a-turkey feat of butchery will feed 12-15 people, but be aware these things take quite a while to roast. Of course, all the birds are available separately, and they’ll stuff it for you with sausage, chorizo or bread stuffing for a mere $5. You’ll need to call at least 48 hours ahead to get one of their prepared birds.

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Forget the Kitchen

If the idea of spending any time in the kitchen this holiday makes you reach for the pumpkin ale, leave the whole shebang to the professionals. Yew Seafood + Bar covers all the traditional Thanksgiving bases with a turkey confit and pumpkin pie, but you could always take a detour with roasted sablefish and seared scallops. Graze has an imaginative vegetarian menu including a lentil and mushroom wellington, cinnamon roasted carrots, and cornbread stuffing. For a quintessential Thanksgiving in Vancouver, the Teahouse in Stanley Park has a three-course menu, and that incredible view.

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Erin McGann

Erin McGann is the former Managing Editor for Vancouver Mom and Toronto Mom Now. She drinks just a bit too much coffee, is a bit obsessed about sourcing local food, plays the cello moderately well, spends too much time on Twitter, keeps honeybees on a rooftop, and has a thing for single-malt whisky. Erin is working on a novel set in turn-of-the-century Vancouver, which her husband, son and dog have to hear about all the time, and also blogs at Erin at Large.