Thanksgiving in Taipei 2015

There are few holidays like Thanksgiving that can make even the most hardened expat feel a bit homesick. The holiday is typically observed with family over a feast of delights such as turkey (with generous lashings of gravy and cranberry sauce of course), sweet potatoes, cornbread and pumpkin pie.

For those craving a Thanksgiving spread in Taipei, we've found 21 establishments serving dine in or takeout options. For further information, please refer to each establishment's individual webpage.

Price range: ($) NT$590-$799; ($ $) NT$800-$999; ($$$) NT$1,000-$2,000 ($$$$) NT$2,001+

●Carnegie's Taipei ($)

Head to Carnegie's from Nov. 23-26 to indulge in a three course Thanksgiving lunch or dinner. Line your stomach with starters of clam chowder and Caesar salad, and then proceed to the mains of traditional roast turkey with corn bread stuffing, thyme and orange carrots, green beans and caramelized onions, creamy mashed potatoes, honeyed sweet potatoes with pan gravy and cranberry-port sauce. Finish off with sweet pumpkin pie for dessert. A whole turkey is also available for takeout.

https://www.facebook.com/carnegiestaipei/?fref=ts

●Corner Office ($)

Corner Office offers an affordable, but voluminous Thanksgiving spread. The turkey set meal on Nov. 26 comes with mashed potatoes and gravy, sauteed mixed vegetables, stuffing, cranberry sauce, cornbread and pumpkin pie. You can also make the most of the beer and lager offers available on the night.

https://www.facebook.com/cornerofficetaipei/?fref=ts

●Le Rouge ($)

Usually known for its innovative French cuisine, Le Rouge will bring a French flair to the usual Thanksgiving fare on Nov. 28. The piece de resistance will be the dark beer slow-roasted drunken turkey with cranberry sauce and stuffing. Further indulge in the bread and cheese platter with homemade smoked beef brisket, mixed green autumn salad, roast squash potage, green bean casserole au gratin, mashed potatoes and homemade pumpkin pie.

https://m.facebook.com/LeRougeResto/

●Pig & Pepper ($)

Pig & Pepper celebrates Thanksgiving season with a dinner service from Nov. 26-29. This is the place to go if you like options -- you'll need to decide between a main of herb-roasted turkey or pan-roasted pork chop. Both mains are served with stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. You also have a choice of one side from options of mash potato and gravy, homemade sausages, cream corn, corn bread and apple butter, classic mac and cheese, balsamic mushrooms or cream corn. Extra sides can be ordered at an additional cost and a special kids menu is also available.

http://pigandpepper.com.tw/holiday-menu-%E7%89%B9%E5%88%A5%E8%8F%9C%E5%96%AE/

●The Shack Pizza ($)

Stretchy clothes will be essential if you choose to go to The Shack Pizza's all-you-can-eat Thanksgiving affair in New Taipei on Nov. 26-27. Share the joy with a seemingly limitless spread that includes turkey, ham, salads, soups and breads, mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, Brussels sprouts, roast vegetables, cranberry sauce, macaroni and cheese, pumpkin pie, apple crisp, ice cream and coffee or tea. To add to the festive fun, Shack even encourages you to bring your own alcohol.

https://www.facebook.com/The-Shack-%E9%87%8E%E8%8F%87%E5%B1%8B-Pizza-548108858626864/?fref=ts

●Beer and Cheese Social House ($)

This jovial place certainly stays true to its name -- even with its Thanksgiving event. On Nov. 26, Beer and Cheese Social House is throwing a home-style party featuring grilled turkey, cranberry sauce, Swiss cheese sandwiches, pumpkin pie, and pumpkin beer. Not only will there be specials on their local pints, but also some secret surprise items.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1493513377617731/

●On Tap ($ $)

On Tap is preparing a three-course Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 26. The set dinner includes soup and a main course of turkey with sides of stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, green beans, corn-on-the-cob, gravy, cranberry sauce and home-baked corn bread. For dessert, homemade pumpkin pie will be served. To help you get into the spirit, American music, sports, movies and TV shows will be screened as you relax with your choice of a glass of wine, beer or soft drink.

https://www.facebook.com/On-Tap-141391212589901/?fref=ts

●Whalen's ($ $)

Whalen's is throwing a one-night-only American Thanksgiving feast on Nov. 26. Enjoy turkey with sides of stuffing, mashed potatoes, roasted root veg and cranberry sauce. In addition, butternut squash soup with cornbread and toasted walnut and feta salad will be served. If you can fit it in, homemade pumpkin pie and coffee or tea will round off the meal which also includes house wine or beer. American football will be playing on the big screen to add to the all-American vibe.

https://www.facebook.com/events/970846062971084/

●Wendel's German Bakery & Bistro ($$$)

Wendel's is branching out from its usual German fare to offer diners a Thanksgiving package this month. The dine-in option for eight people includes a whole roast turkey, appetizer, salad, soup, several side dishes, dessert and beverage. A takeout turkey basket ($$$$$) is also available which includes several side dishes, French bread, dessert and a bottle of wine.

https://www.facebook.com/Wendels.German.Bakery.Bistro/

●Grandma Nitti's ($$$)

Grandma Nitti's is putting together a scrumptious spread on Nov. 26. The roast turkey will be accompanied by mash potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing and gravy. After you finish your sides of seafood chowder soup and shrimp avocado salad, you will find some sweet relief in a serving of pumpkin pie. As for drinks, a glass of red or white wine and coffee or tea is included in the set.

https://www.facebook.com/grandmanittiskitchen/?fref=ts

●Dan Ryan's ($$$)

On Nov. 26, expect Dan Ryan's Thanksgiving course and platter options to leave you satisfied. An order of roast turkey is complete with mashed potatoes, turkey stuffing, candied sweet potatoes, walnut green beans, cranberry sauce and house made gravy. A whole roast turkey is also available for takeout.

https://www.facebook.com/danryans.taipei/?fref=ts

●EFP Thanksgiving Yacht Party ($$$)

Without a doubt the title of most unique Thanksgiving experience this year goes to the Tamsui river cruise event. You'll have no trouble kicking back as you depart Fisherman's Wharf and enjoy an evening of food, cocktails, tunes, hookah and mingling with new friends. The first party will be held on Nov. 25, and a Rainbow edition of the party will follow on Nov. 26. If you don't want to miss the boat, book now as numbers are limited.

https://www.facebook.com/events/891762154251018/

●Jake's Country Kitchen ($$$$)

Jake's turkey and pumpkin pie is available for takeout, or can be served in house for a small additional fee. In fact, both are available for takeout year round. The turkey here is baked for four to five hours and is stuffed with a classic combination of bread, onion, celery, spices and butter. The pumpkin pie's strong pumpkin flavor and crunchy crust is sure to have you hankering for seconds.

http://jakes.eatingout.com.tw/catalog2.asp

●Ed's Diner ($$$$)

Well known for American fare, you can trust that Ed's knows how to cook a turkey. It is smoked and slow roasted in a BBQ oven to maximize tenderness and comes with a complimentary pumpkin pie to round off the meal. You can dine in or take out until Jan. 10, 2016, so you can make like their turkey and take it slow.

https://www.facebook.com/EdsDinerTaipei/?fref=ts

●Make Your Own/Takeout Options

If you're hankering to try your hand at making a perfectly roasted turkey from scratch, you can place an order at Costco ($) for a frozen turkey. But with limited supplies and a membership needed, the frozen and pre-cooked frozen turkeys at the trendy butcher Thomas Meat ($ $) is also a relatively affordable option for the home chefs out there.

https://www.costco.com.tw/ https://www.facebook.com/thomasmeat/?fref=ts

●Shangri-La's Far Eastern Plaza Hotel, Taipei ($$$$)

The Shangri-La Hotel's luxurious Cake Room is cooking up a hearty feast of traditional roast turkey and gammon ham for takeout. The Cajun roasted U.S. turkey weighs in at 5.5 kilograms and features accompaniments of apple chutney and cranberry sauce, chestnuts, Brussels sprouts, semolina bread stuffing and ginger snaps gravy. The Maple & Honey Glazed Gammon Ham comes with cranberry sauce, vegetables and roast potatoes. The service will be offered until Dec. 25, 2015.

http://www.shangri-la.com/taipei/fareasternplazashangrila/dining/offers/details/a-splendid-thanksgiving-festival/

●Sheraton Hotel ($$$$)

Another upmarket option for takeout comes from the Sheraton's Deli. For a feast that spares no expenses, try the "Roast Turkey Combo," which includes a 3.5 kilogram roast turkey, giblet gravy, cranberry sauce with cranberry and pomelo, blueberry cheese tart, cornbread stuffing with pumpkin, ham and chestnuts, garden salad with oil and vinegar dressing, stir fried vegetables, roast potatoes with rosemary and garlic and two baguettes -- all of which can be ordered separately as well. Roast beef and Virginia ham sets are also available. The service will be offered until Dec. 28, 2015.

●Caesar Park Hotel ($$$$)

The Caesar Park Hotel's team of chefs is offering at-home diners an oven-roasted turkey accompanied by homemade cranberry sauce. The turkey can be supplemented with individual orders of honey glazed ham, English roast beef, Italian roast chicken, pumpkin pie and other assorted dishes. The service will be offered until Dec. 31, 2015.

http://taipei.caesarpark.com.tw/promotions/2015-turkey-hamper-take-home.htm

●Riviera Hotel ($$$$)

The Riviera Hotel has a takeout option starring a turkey big enough to feed eight to 10 hungry celebrators. The roast turkey basket is comprised of Caesar salad, country style pumpkin pie, English potatoes, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce and baguettes. A honey glazed ham basket is also available, and pumpkin pie can be ordered separately. The service will be offered until Nov. 30, with limited orders taken until Dec. 25, 2015.

http://www.rivierataipei.com/tw/news/news.aspx?nid=311

●Palais de Chine Hotel ($$$$)

If money is no object, the Palais de Chine Hotel's turkey or ham basket with the works could be the ticket. The turkey basket consists of 6 kilograms of turkey, stuffing, grilled vegetables including golden corn with cream, a six-inch classic American pumpkin pie and French pecan pie, cranberry jam, roast chicken glaze, loaves of mixed nuts bread and even a bottle of red wine. A ham basket is also available, and items can also be ordered individually. The service will be offered until Dec. 31, 2015.

http://www.palaisdechinehotel.com/zh-tw/?Nsn=145&Ssn=2835

(By CNA intern Monica Mizzi) enditem