Not to worry. Help - in the form of Thanksgiving in the UK - is at hand.
A Pilgrims' UK Thanksgiving in Plymouth, England
In what looks suspiciously like an attack of "Come back, all is forgiven", the people of Plymouth, in Devon, England, hold Thanksgiving celebrations to commemorate their Mayflower and Transatlantic heritage. This event seemed to fade away for a while but a group of enthusiasts revived it in 2010. Even the Plymouth Lord Mayor is involved in the planning and the new Plymouth Waterfront Manager has also joined in to keep this event going. Events kick off in Guildhall Square in 2012 at 10:30 a.m. on the day. Then it's off to the Mayflower Steps, from where the Pilgrims set sail in 1620, for festivities at noon. The picturesque pubs along Plymouth's Barbican will all be ready to offer liquid refreshment. Plans for evening events and dinners change from year to year - some years the Plymouth University Student Union provides turkey, cornbread and soft drinks for guests who are asked to bring a dish and share - or, as we say back home, a pot luck supper to which all are welcome.
Keep track as plans develop on the Plymouth Thanksgiving Blog.
Find a place to stay in Plymouth and get a good rate
Thanksgiving in the UK
A surprising number of restaurants around the UK serve special Thanksgiving menus on that all important 4th Thursday in November. Most - but not all - are in London. If you aren't near any of the restaurants on this list, ask at the better hotels near where you are staying and you've got a good chance of finding a Thanksgiving dinner.Don't be surprised, however, if that dinner includes a few rather non-traditional items. At one hotel in London they serve butternut squash with ginger foam and turkey with cranberry "jus". Elsewhere, roast pork belly and grilled sea bass are on "Thanksgiving" menus. Actually the less expensive the meal is, the less pretentious and the more like the real thing it is likely to be. But Hey, Dorothy, you're not in Kansas anymore. Chin up and enjoy your dinner. Happy Thanksgiving!
Where to find Thanksgiving in 2012
- Rosemary Lane - A newcomer to our list in 2012, this little restaurant at 61 Mint Street in London, near Tower Hill, has received good reviews from London's frostiest critics. It specialises in French/Californian food and for Thanksgiving will be serving a traditional menu with modern twists. For prices and reservations, ring +44 (0)20 7481 2602.
- Some of Gordon Ramsay's restaurants around London are serving a Thanksgiving menu with variations on the turkey, pumpkin, pecans and maple syrup themes. At York & Albany in 2012 there's a crab cake starter, cornbread stuffing in old Tom and spiced pumpkin pie. Too bad about the brussels sprouts (a UK Christmas staple). Thanksgiving isn't Christmas after all. Over at The Narrow you can put together an a la carte meal of pumpkin soup,turkey with loads of veg, pecan pie with maple syrup and mulled cider or hot rum and apple to drink. It's a similar menu at Maze Grill, while at the Savoy sweet corn and crab chowder is followed by maple roasted turkey with sage stuffing and yams followed by pumpkin pie.
- Missouri Angel, London - Celebrated its first birthday on Thanksgiving Day (in 2008) (it morphed from the Missouri Grill. The 8 course traditional menu cost about £45 in 2012.
- Edinburgh Expat American Meet-up (Someone's) Home for the holidays.
- PJ's Grill A 1930s ambiance in Covent Garden. At the time of posting, their Thanksgiving menu was posted but unpriced. Serves of the real deal, plus veggie courses, like Pumpkin and Ricotta Ravioli in 2010. Ring +44 (0)207 240 7529 to check the current menu.
- PJ's Bar and Grill in South Kensington. Clubby, pubby atmosphere, for an upmarket crowd. Ring +44 (0)207 581 0025 for more info and they'll email you the Thanksgiving menu as soon as its settled.
- Calistoga in Edinburgh. Not very authentic...southern-fried turkey escalope? pumpkin and pine nut salad? But there's a California wine tasting and buffet on the same evening so it looks like fun.
- JW Steakhouse at the Grosvenor House on Park Lane is one of the more expensive dinners this Thanksgiving but also one of the more authentic ones. Bourbon sweet potato mash, clam chowder, oysters rockefeller, turkey with apricot stuffing sound good? All the trimmings will set you back more than £50 per person but face it, you won't need to dine out again for days.
- Christophers, Covent Garden - Vegetarian foodies can still have their goat cheese rollatini but the rest of us can chow down on ballatine of turkey stuffed with cornbread, hazelnut and cherry stuffing and plenty of other examples of holiday excess. Peanut butter and chocolate pie anyone. For £45 a person in 2012, this is one of the best Thanksgiving menus in London.
- Bodeans BBQ Smokehouse - Casual, football on TV, Several locations in London. Great gumbo starters but the turkey is smoked!
- Hard Rock Cafes Gather for the Feast in:
