Hong Kong Thanksgiving 101

Celebrating Thanksgiving and need a bit of an HK primer?
Here’s the ultimate Sassy Mama list to make prepping for your feast easy as (pumpkin) pie…


SUPERMARKET SWEEP

Just about every supermarket in town is ordering extra turkeys in anticipation of the rush. Here’s a look at the shops and vendors around town to help you get ready.

A&M US Groceries
Website: http://www.anmstores.com
Address: B06-09 Shun Tak Centre (Macau Ferry Terminal), Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Hours: M-Sat 9:30-8:30pm, Sunday 11am-8:30pm
Tel: 2548 8200
Yup, a US grocery story in HK. Head here for some of your favorite brands. And yes, they are stocking Stovetop Stuffing (yum!) and French’s Fried Onions for that 50’s favorite – the Green Bean Casserole.

City’super
Website: www.citysuper.com.hk
Address: Across HK (see website for store locator)
Tel: 2234 7128
Hours: 10am – 10pm (may vary from store to store)
This place has it all….including fried onions for your Green Bean Casserole (yes, I’m obsessed) – they’re in the canned section. They also stock tons of (rather overpriced) cooking essentials and equipment if you find you need a fancy turkey baster or pretty pie plate.

GREAT
Website: www.greatfoodhall.com
Address: Basement, Two Pacific Place, Queensway, Hong Kong
Tel:: 2918 9986
Hours: 10am – 10pm
Lovely holiday hampers, excellent produce and a fabulous cheese counter makes this a great stop when doing any pre-party shopping. They also have a chef consultation service to help prepare for dinner parties if you need some expert advice on menu-planning and a Watsons Wine cellar.

Homegrown Foods
Website: www.homegrownfoods.com.hk
Our favorite local organic veggie delivery guys, Homegrown Foods, are doing a specially-themed Thanksgiving Hamper for home-cooking celebrations. Or if you’re headed to a friend’s house for the big day, what about sending one in advance as a gift?! Priced at HK$788 and HK$988 and delivered from the farm, directly to the door.

Oliver’s
Website: www.oliversthedeli.com.hk
Address: Shop 201-205, 2/F Prince’s Building, 10 Chater Road, Central, Hong Kong
Hours: 8:30am – 8pm
Tel: 2810 7710
Pick up essentials, turkeys (frozen – note to self: they only stock fresh ones at Christmas….), and holiday hampers (which need at least one-day notice and run from HK$600-HK$1000).

Pacific Gourmet
Website: www.pacificgourmet.com.hk
We love the convenience of Pacific Gourmet’s online selection and home delivery service. You can just point and click and pre-order their frozen 6kg US turkey and have it delivered to your door.  Or pop by one of their locations.

EAT OUT

If eating out is more your style, you’ve got lots of choices. Here’s a look at some of our favorite restaurants in Hong Kong doing special Thanksgiving dinner menus this year. But book now as these always fill up fast.

Super Casual: Dan Ryan’s, Fat Angelo’s, Main St. Deli in TST, Blue Smoke BBQ
Relaxed but Refined: Red in IFC, Liberty Exchange Kitchen and Bar, Bistecca, Bloom
Class Act: The Mandarin Oriental, Grand Hyatt, JW California
Network and Nibble: The American Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Thanksgiving Luncheon with Consulate Officials at the Renaissance Harbour View Hotel on November 24. HK$450 for Members, HK$530 for Non-members. Click here for info.
Members-Only: American Club members can enjoy a either a family set-meal in the Town Club or a family buffet at the Country Club. You can also order your own family turkey to carve yourself at your table.

DELIVER ME!

Looking to have someone do the work for you? Or maybe it’s just that your oven is super duper small (we hear, ya). Either way, here is a look at taking it all to go this Thanksgiving.

Mandarin Oriental
Tel: 2825 4008
It’s five-star take-away with the The Mandarin Oriental. Their Thanksgiving hampers a roast turkey, two stuffings, roasted pumpkin, mashed potatoes, and even the giblet gravy and cranberry sauce. (HK$1,688 for a 5-6kg turkey that feeds 10-12 people ; HK$2,288 for a 10kg turkey that feeds 18-22 people, plus 10% service charge. Two days notice is required.)
Contact The Mandarin Cake Shop to order or for more info: 2825 4008 or email [email protected].

A Complete Holiday Meal Delivered to your Door – at a Super Deal
A complete holiday meal – with an organic turkey or gorgeous honey-glazed ham – for 8-10 people delivered to your door from the good people behind The Porterhouse and CulinArt Catering…at 50% off! And it is positively jam-packed with yummy stuff: smoke salmon to start, Caesar salad, an organic turkey or a glazed ham, gravy, chestnut stuffing, creamed savoy cabbage, homemade cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie with vanilla icecream AND a Jack Daniel’s apple pie.  Um….YUM!  If you think this sounds good, though, act fast – this killer deal is only up for 1 week.

A few Sassy Mama Tips and Tricks

1. Hosting chez vous? Start planning your menu NOW – and that means starting the unglamorous task of putting together your ingredient list ‘cause holiday ingredients (like molasses, for example) can fly off the shelves in this town, leaving you rushing around the city even more than you inevitably will be anyway. In these next few weeks start stocking up on the items that won’t spoil – extra flour, shortening, molasses, pie filings…..etc.
2. Pre-order your wine, water, etc and schedule delivery so you can check that off your list – and don’t forget beverages for little ones.
3. Need some inspiration from the seasonal issues of Bon Appetit and Martha Stewart? Foodies in Hong Kong know the place to go is Pantry Magic in Sheung Wan where there are literally half the price of other locations in town.
4. We love sending folks home from a big ol’ dinner party with a little doggie bag for a midnight snack. A yummy seasonal cookie or bread in a pretty cellophane bag can do the trick.  A favorite in our house: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars.