Greetings from Sunset!
Thanksgiving is a little over two weeks away, so have you planned your menu yet? I'd guess half of you reading this might have the same meal every year—and there's nothing wrong with that. Who doesn't love tradition? I know if I didn't see my aunt's special green bean casserole on the table it wouldn't seem right. But if you are open to introducing new dishes to your Thanksgiving table this year, well, you're in luck.
First up, let's talk about dessert. Yes, it might seem like we're going out of order, but I just couldn't wait to tell you about these Technicolor pies that look so cool and taste equally good. Jaynelle St. Jean of Pietisserie in Oakland, California, makes the most beautiful pies where the crusts have vivid hues like pink, green, and orange—and they're all colored with natural pigments, so no artificial food dyes here. "Pies are a neglected part of Americana,” she says, "They've remained pretty basic and there haven't been many updates." So, mix things up this year and forgo the classic pumpkin or apple variety for one of these truly unique creations that will surprise and delight your guests.
When planning out the rest of the menu, you can think of themes or influences to help guide you. This list of 15 Thanksgiving menus takes inspiration from Hawaii, Mexico, the Northwest, and the Southwest. Plus, it has other options like ranch- and diner-style feasts, and even a menu for two if you're keeping it intimate this year.
Of course, you might also be planning a menu with dietary restrictions in mind, like if you're hosting vegan or vegetarian guests. Don't stress too much about it or overcomplicate things. “Many of the foods that we serve around the holidays are, if not vegetarian or vegan by nature, with small tweaks you can make them vegan or vegetarian,” says Chef Dreux Ellis of Cafe Gratitude in Southern California. “That could be something as simple as replacing butter with a high-quality vegan butter, or using vegetable broth and gravy as opposed to chicken broth.” There are so many options for vegan-friendly dishes that everyone will love.
Aside from menu planning, you probably have gift-giving on the brain, too. So, I wanted to tell you about a solution that could cover both your hosting and gifting needs. Enter the Sunset Box. Do you know we have a quarterly subscription box that's curated by our editors? This season's holiday box is the best one yet—our editor-in-chief Hugh Garvey told me that it has everything you need for entertaining, snacking, gifting, and decor. It can sell out, so make sure you get yours (and maybe more for gifts) today by heading over to thesunsetbox.com. And if you're interested in learning more about how each box comes together, read my interview with Hugh.
I'll leave you with more holiday menu ideas below, plus some hosting hacks to keep in mind and decorating tips for your tablescape. Whatever you decide to serve this year, I'm sure it will be great—any meal shared with friends and family is that much better.
Happy holidays,
