Thanksgiving

A whitewashed image of the first Thanksgiving and the persistent myth that the Pilgrims extended a warm dinner invitation to the Wampanoag tribe. 

Historians believe Native Americans weren't invited at all, but showed up out of curiosity (with food) after the pilgrims fired warning shots in their direction. It certainly didn't include turkey and mashed potatoes. Still, the myth endures and Thanksgiving remains the favorite American holiday.

I once subscribed to several excellent food magazines: Saveur, Bon Appetite, Gourmet. All gone now. The print periodical market is in decline, mostly because people prefer to read on their devices. Even Martha discontinued her (albeit) ridiculous magazine recently.

Anyway, the thick November issues were the highlight of the year, crammed with food pictures and creative Thanksgiving recipes. The question is how much creativity the dinner allows, when people want tradition, not a tamarind glazed turkey or duck gumbo. 

It was entertaining reading for good cooks, most of whom find preparing this meal a big old bore, the only challenge getting everything on the table at the same time. The reward is how much people seem to enjoy it, year after year. 

We've never been into it, but some families dine out on Thanksgiving. The downside is no leftovers. Salty's Restaurant, an upscale seafood place nearby, is offering a Thanksgiving buffet $120 a person, and that doesn't include a hefty tax, tip or bottle of wine. It seems inconceivable, but wouldn't surprise me if the reservations sell out.