Thanksgiving Entertaining Tips from O&B
Our chefs and event experts share their tips for a stress-free Thanksgiving
The days are growing shorter and the air is getting crisp. You know what that means ― it’s almost time for Thanksgiving! While hosting Thanksgiving dinner is a time for gratitude, delicious food, and welcoming cherished guests into your home, it also comes with a slew of tasks that require an extra hand or two.
To help you host a Thanksgiving dinner that is warm, inviting, and stress-free, we’ve turned to our chefs and events team for their top tips and time-saving strategies. Whether you’re hosting an intimate gathering or a full-on feast for the whole family, our ideas and advice will make this year’s meal one to remember.
Mise, Please
“My best advice is a little classic kitchen prep terminology: mise en place, meaning ‘put everything in its place’. Do as much of the prep work as you can in advance. Par-boil the Brussels sprouts and toss them in your marinade. Store peeled potatoes in a bowl of water in the fridge, ready to be boiled and mashed. Dice and cook the vegetables for the stuffing, then get your dish ready to pop in the oven. Leave yourself as little work as possible on the day of your dinner, so you can focus on spending time with family.” – Andrew Piccinin, District Executive Chef
Sneak in a Shortcut
“Scratch cooking is a labour of love, but if you don’t love to cook, it can add stress to an already chaotic day. Shortcuts (perhaps better referred to as ‘efficiencies’) are totally fine! Pre-diced vegetables in the grocery store are a great example. Packaged turkey gravy with some fresh sage and black pepper can be really delicious, especially if you add in a drizzle of turkey drippings. If you’re cooking for a small group, turkey breast can often be enough, and it’s far easier to cook than a whole bird. Know a local bakery or farmers’ market? Check out their day-old bread for your stuffing or peruse their selection of Thanksgiving desserts and spread the love to small businesses.” – Andrew Piccinin, District Executive Chef
Hosting tip: Impress your guests without spending hours in the kitchen! Gather by O&B brings delicious, chef-crafted meals straight to your doorstep. Use the code THANKS15 to receive 15% off your order as part of our Early Bird Offer. All you have to do is order, heat, and enjoy!
Play to Your Strengths
“Focus on what you’re good at so you can enjoy the process as much as possible without worrying about the result. Personally, I’m not a fan of baking. Instead of stressing over baking something myself, I take care of the savoury dishes and ask my guests to lend a hand when it comes to the sweet stuff. A fun way I’ve found to take dessert off my list is to encourage my guests to bring their favourite pie (homemade or not). Then, we have a pie off! Winner gets to sit out on clean-up!” – April Mainprize, Manager, Event Sales
Keep Kids in Mind
“My family generally serves the same food for the kiddos that the adults are eating, but it’s always good to have some backups on hand. If I know a guest’s child is quite particular about what they eat, I’ll make sure to have something they’ll enjoy. If Frank’s daughter only eats peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, no problem. I’ll make her a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. That’s part of playing host.” – Andrew Piccinin, District Executive Chef
Go Natural on the Tablescape
“When it comes to decorating your table, fall is the perfect time to go foraging for finds in the woods. Take your pick of birch branches, pussy willows, and try your hand at drying some wildflowers. Thanksgiving is also a time when you can showcase Canada’s fall harvest. Mini pumpkins, gourds, Brussels sprout stalks, and all kinds of fall foods make for a colourful and inexpensive centrepiece. Whichever option you choose, re-use your findings in a wreath or on your front porch all month long!” – Natalie Stanbra, National Director, Event Sales
Linen for the Win
“Don’t underestimate the humble linen napkin. Something as simple as switching up the fold or placement can change the entire look of your table without any investment. Knot the napkin and place it above each plate, either on top with a lone sprig of foliage or folded underneath horizontally or vertically. Play around! The options are endless and will change the look of your table each time.” – April Mainprize, Manager, Event Sales
Hosting tip: As the host, a basic rule of thumb is to remove your napkin from the table and gently place it in your lap once everyone is seated and settled. This signals to your guests that the feast is ready to begin!
Pie Wars
“If you do choose to make your own pie, there can be some fuss over which pie is best. Apple, pumpkin, and pecan are usually vying for the top spot, but why choose between three great desserts? They’re all delicious! Like my Thanksgiving spread, I like to have a full table with lots of options, then everyone can find what they like (and eat as much as their heart desires). Apple pie, pumpkin pie, lemon meringue pie, blueberry pie, shepherd’s pie, pizza pie… you can’t go wrong. I am 100% team pie!” – Trenton Pajuluoma, Chef de Cuisine at Biff’s Bistro
Think Leftovers
“One of my family’s traditions is making schnitzel instead of a big bird or some kind of roast. It’s something we adopted from an Austrian family member that we’ve really come to enjoy. Some years we do turkey schnitzel and other years veal, but ultimately it’s easy to prep ahead, and most importantly, it saves on stress. As a bonus, it takes almost no time to cook, is much less work than a full roast turkey, and leftovers are great for sandwiches the next day.” – Trenton Pajuluoma, Chef de Cuisine at Biff’s Bistro
Celebrate Special Diets
“If you have guests with specific dietary requirements, you can always include a few salads that are exclusively plant-based, buy some plant-based dips, and serve braised beans or lentils. My husband is a pescatarian, so there is always fish or shellfish in our Thanksgiving spread. I love serving a family-style dinner and think there’s no better look than a full, generously set dinner table with lots of options for every guest.” – Navinder Saini, Chef de Cuisine, La Plume
Hosting tip: Ask guests (including their plus-ones!) if they have any dietary restrictions before you plan the menu. This will give you ample time to figure out suitable options so there are no surprises on the day of the feast. Pinterest has plenty of options for delicious Thanksgiving options for guests who are vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, or have other dietary restrictions.
Shake Off the Stress
“My wife and I aren’t originally from Ontario and our families are spread out all over the place, so we host an annual Friendsgiving at our house. It’s so nice to remove the formality from the evening and just enjoy quality time with loved ones. Some people sit on the couch to eat, there’s no official dress code, and we all drink wine out of different glasses. I find people get so stressed out about hosting, but at the end of the day, it’s just food and drinks — don’t let overthinking stop you from having fun!” – Steven Dowdell, Chef de Cuisine, Liberty Commons at Big Rock Brewery
Who says the host has to cook?
If you’re in the mood to host but don’t feel like lifting a finger, Gather by O&B has you covered! Get a delicious Thanksgiving feast delivered straight to your door — all you have to do is heat, serve, and take the credit! From mouthwatering turkey and whipped mashed potatoes to roasted root vegetables, your table of four, six, or ten will remember this meal for years to come.
No matter what your Thanksgiving long weekend looks like, we hope our tips can help you stay organized and carefree so you can spend less time stressing and more time making memories.
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at O&B!
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