news/restaurant roundup: where can you find... Thanksgiving in Taipei 2012?

I'm thinking about turkey already. When I first moved back to Taipei over seven years ago (!), one of the holidays I missed most was Thanksgiving. It is really one of the holidays I remember celebrating with my family growing up, and our meals were always a unique American _and_ Chinese spread on the table... turkey stuffed with sticky glutinous rice (my mom's recipe), stir fried green beans sweetened with sugar and soy sauce (my dad's recipe), my favorite candied sweet potatoes, or creamed corn out of the can (my sister and my contribution as kids). Ha ha.

Being apart from my parents and family in Taipei for this holiday, I always tried to figure out how to capture the experience away from home, not always succeeding, especially since I didn't know where to find it. (Anyone seen Stovetop stuffing boxes or cornbread mix in Taipei?) Now I have a great group of family and friends to share the night with, and I take a moment to remember to be grateful for them and all that I have in my life.

So whether you just moved to Taipei, happen to be here on a business trip, or are just craving some turkey, here's a round up of options for you and yours. Some pricing may vary, had to base it on last year's pricing for some.

DINE IN-
Make your reservations now and if you pick buffet style, show up early to make sure you get enough turkey. Some restaurants offer turkey dinners throughout the weekend.

CARNEGIES
DAN RYANS
GRAND HYATT TAIPEI (buffet)
ROBIN's GRILL
THE TAVERN
GRANDMA NITTI'S
BRASS MONKEY
Check last year's Taipei Times article for details on the above restaurants.


TOAST BAR (02) 2737-0037

• $480 lunch/ $580 dinner. Available Thursday and Friday
• Manhattan clam chowder soup, roast turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, sausages, vegetable casserole, cranberry sauce and cranberry cheese pie

SHAFFER'S KITCHEN (02) 8789-4088

• $1,000/adult, $500/child. Discounts available for reservations of 8 or more. Turkey dinner available 11/22-25
• Roasted fresh Taiwan turkey (from carved turkey, seconds allowed), with potato dinner roll, spinach gorgonzola candied walnut salad, stuffing, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, gravy, orange cranberry sauce, spicy roasted sweet potato, crispy shallot string beans, herbal butter corn on the cob, pumpkin pie with fresh whipped cream and spicy hot apple cider.

LOFT BISTRO and WINE BAR (02) 2766-1682

• $950 ($900 with Advance Ticket)
• Citrus & Thyme Rubbed Roasted Turkey & Gravy, Sage, Sausage, Fennel Stuffing, Roasted Squash & Apple Green Salad,  Pomegranate Cranberry Sauce, Buttery Peas, Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Hot Spinach Dip & Pickle Plate, Pumpkin Pie with Bourbon CreamPLUS One glass of white wine, red wine or beer

ON TAP (02) 2741-5365

• NT$700
• Roast Turkey Meal - Stuffing, Mashed Potato, Sweet Potato, Carrots, Green Beans, Corn-on-the-cob, Gravy, Cranberry Sauce, Soup, Homemade Pumpkin Pie, with 1 bottled beer or glass of red/white wine

TO GO -
A great option so that you can have that turkey carving experience and make some of your sides on your own. For most, at least 3 days advance notice and available until the end of December. (And thank you Google Translator and no thanks to hotels that don't put their info in English)

GRAND FORMOSA REGENT- AZIE BUN
WESTIN TAIPEI
JAKE's COUNTRY KITCHEN
BRASS MONKEY

Check last year's Taipei Times article for details on the above restaurants.

CAESAR PARK- CHECKERS (02) 2311-5150, ext 2237 and 2238

• Roasted turkey (5kg) NT$3,000 or (7kg) NT$4,000- Terrazas Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wine, Meat Sauce, Cranberry Sauce, Brussels Sprouts, Caesar Salad, Sweet Potato and French Bread. 10 percent discount for orders over NT$5000.

COSTCO

• Roasted turkey $1999
• Pumpkin pies

DAN RYAN'S (02) 8780-9393

• Order 6 days in advance
  
• Whole roast turkeys for NT$2900 (with cranberry sauce and gravy), NT$3900
  (with cranberry sauce, gravy, stuffing and mashed potatoes), or NT$4900 (with cranberry sauce, gravy, stuffing and mashed potatoes) 

ED's DINER (02) 8502-6969 

• $3500 (order by 11/17)
•  Roasted turkey (12-14 pounds) and a sweet potato pie

FLORIDA BAKERY (02) 2702-1175

• Roasted Turkey (10-12 pounds) NT$2,480
• Roasted Turkey (16-18 pounds) NT$3,680
• Roasted Turkey w/ Stuffing (16-18 pounds) NT$4880
• Honey Roasted Ham (4-5 lbs) NT$1,980
• Candied Yam, NT$220 
• Side dishes, NT$450

GRAND HYATT TAIPEI (02) 2720-1200, ext. 3198 or 3199

• Roasted Turkey (5kg) NT$4,900- Bread and Sage Stuffing, Corn on the Cob, Mashed Potatoes, Green BeanCasserole, Cranberry Sauce, Gravy, Mixed Greens with Salad Dressing, Pumpkin Pie,Pecan Pie and Cornbread
• Virginia Ham (7kg) NT$5,900- Corn on the Cob, Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Gravy, Mixed Greens with Salad Dressing, Pumpkin Pie, Pecan Pie and Cornbread

JASON'S SUPERMARKET

LANDIS TAIPEI HOTEL (02) 2598-5558

• Roasted turkey (6kg) NT $ 3,650-  cream corn and vegetables, sweet potatoes with cinnamon and chestnuts, cranberry sauce, gravy
• Pumpkin pie also available

LAWRY'S (02)2729-8555 

• Roasted rosemary and thyme Tennessee turkey (6kg) NT $ 2,900- with stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and bottle of red wine
• Virginia honey ham (1kg) NT $ 3,400- with stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and bottle of red wine
• Creamed spinach and creamed corn sides available

LE MERIDIEN HOTEL (02) 6622-5812 or fax (02)6638-8080 (3 days advance notice)

• Roasted turkey (12 pounds) NT$3200- Stuffing with bacon and dried fruits, cranberry sauce, roasted chestnuts, sautéed new potatoes, brussel sprouts,
• Virginia ham NT$2800- Dijon mustard, sautéed new potatoes, brussel sprouts, apple-raisin chutney
• Pecan or pumpkin pie NT$600

SAN WANT HOTEL (02) 2781-7063

• Stuffed roasted turkey (6kg) NT $ 3,388-  cranberry sauce, gravy, two loaves of french bread, orange honey chestnuts, homemade crispy gingerbread

SHERATON TAIPEI - THE DELI (02)2321-5858 ext. 8373

• Roasted Turkey Combo Hamper NT$3,800 - American Roasted Turkey (3.5Kg), Giblet Gravy, Cranberry Kumquat Compote, Cornbread Stuffing with Vegetables and Chestnuts, Lyonnaise Bacon and Small Potatoes, Garden Salad with Caesar Dressing, Tex-Mex Sweet Corn & Tomato Salsa, Pumpkin Bread,  Apple Pie
• Roasted Turkey Hamper NT$2,800- American Roasted Turkey (3.5Kg), Giblet Gravy, Cranberry Kumquat Compote,
• Roasted Virginia Ham Hamper NT$2,800- Roasted Virginia Ham (3.5Kg),  Cranberry Kumquat Compote, Apple Sauce,  Gherkin Mustard
• Side dishes hamper NT$900 (also available individually for NT$150-200)- Cornbread Stuffing with Vegetables and Chestnuts, Lyonnaise Bacon and Small Potatoes, Garden Salad with Caesar Dressing, Tex-Mex Sweet Corn & Tomato Salsa, Pumpkin Bread

SHERWOOD TAIPEI- TOSCANA (02) 2718-6666 Ext. 3001

• Sage roasted turkey (5kg)  NT$3,980-  cranberry sauce and gravy, mashed potatoes, beet salad, homemade Focaccia bread and a hand-made pumpkin pie.

WENDEL'S GERMAN BISTRO AND BAKERY
Tianmu (02) 2831-4415, DaAn (02) 2711-8919, Neihu (02) 8751-3708

• Roasted turkey NT$5,500- gravy, stuffing, glazed chestnuts, brussel sprouts with almond butter, sweet mashed potatoes, pumpkin soup, dessert

So where have you had Thanksgiving in Taipei? At home after slaving over a hot oven all morning? Or taking it easy at one of the other restaurants in town? Let me know if I've left one off the list, or if there's one that's better than the rest! It doesn't quite feel like a holiday with most people having to go to the office or school on Thursday and Friday, but at least we can eat some turkey.