How to Throw a Thanksgiving Dinner Party in Dubai

Thanksgiving (or as it’s also called, Friendsgiving) may seem like a uniquely American holiday, but it targets more than the estimated 50,000 American expats who call the UAE home. Thanks in no small part to popular culture, it’s an occasion that people from all over the world have come to love. It evokes a feeling of togetherness, being thankful for what you have and…food!

Here in Dubai, it also serves as a sort of pre-Christmas. A time to meet friends (your Dubai family) over an incredible feast before the madness of the festive season descends. But as with any festive occasion, it can be fraught with stress.

planning a dinner — With a little forward-planning and pre-dinner organisation, Thanksgiving can be a success!

That’s why we’ve put together some tips, tricks and downright hacks to help you make the most out of this wonderful day, which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, the 23rd of this month this year.

menu for a scrumptious Thanksgiving dinner

Food is undoubtedly the cornerstone of any great festive celebration (along with family). Which is why you need to make some serious decisions on what your Thanksgiving menu will be. And more importantly, are you going to cook it all yourself?, Delegate tasks to trusted friends? Split the workload with a caterer or restaurant? Whatever you choose though, the menu is the first thing to decide.

Option 1: Go Traditional

a traditional thanksgiving feast — There’s nothing quite like a traditional Thanksgiving feast with all the fix’uns!

There are many schools of thought on what makes a ‘traditional’ or ‘classic’ Thanksgiving meal, but you can’t go wrong with:
– Roasted turkey with a sage and sausage stuffing as the main event
– Cranberry sauce
– Green bean casserole
– Roasted sweet potatoes
– Roasted Brussel sprouts
– Sinfully buttery and creamy mashed potatoes
– Pumpkin pie
– Pecan pie (any occasion that calls for two pies is a winner in our books!)

Option 2: Go Modern

stuffed turkey breast — Turkey breast or drumsticks is a far simpler alternative to roasting an entire bird – revive it with some chicken stock if it’s too dry!

For a contemporary twist on the holiday, here’s our pick of dishes that scream Thanksgiving, but in the 21st century:
– Sous vide turkey breast with crispy skin / braised drumsticks
– Waffles made out of stuffing
– Hasselback potato gratin
– Glazed carrots with parsley
– Classic gravy (add your own favourite ingredients to soup it up!)
– Apple Pie
– Cheesecake (again, two desserts should be a staple)

Option 3: Go Global

global thanksgiving menu — From stuffed olives to different types of hummus, there’s nothing that’s off limits with a global menu!

Your Dubai family is probably from all over the world, so why not pay homage to them and the country you now call home?
– Osso Buco with your choice of meat
– Braised cabbage
– Onion souffle
– Freekeh salad
– Knafeh
– Fresh fruits and ice cream (bonus points if you make it yourself!)

Decor for the perfect Thanksgiving party

Option 1: The Classics

Nothing screams Thanksgiving more than the cornucopia or ‘horn of plenty’. Greek mythology says that the horn of plenty would fill up with whatever food and drink its owner desired, which is why it’s a symbol of good fortune, abundance and nourishment.

If you can’t get your hands on a cornucopia (and aren’t crafty enough to whip one up), take an ordinary, conical wicker basket and fill it with baby pumpkins, gourds, figs, persimmons, apples, dried ears of corn – any fruit or vegetable that has a distinctly ‘fall’ colour scheme (brown, red, burgundy, burnt orange etc). Make sure that the fruit and veg overflow onto the table – even add some pinecones for extra festive flair! Offset this centrepiece with some cinnamon scented candles or crisp potpourri and vines from your local nursery or garden centre.

Option 2: Contempo-Glam

If a table heaving with multicoloured vegetation isn’t your idea of fun, you can still achieve a chic and festive look with monochrome table centrepieces or quirky place settings.

multicoloured place setting — Colourful plates and cutlery add a modern festive touch to any table setting.

Head to a craft shop like Creative Minds and pick up some spray paint and glitter. Coat some real or plastic fruits similar to what you’d put in a cornucopia) in spray paint and dust the tops with silver, golden or black glitter for table centrepieces that make for a perfect Instagram flat-lay! Add monochrome candles and candlestands to really elevate this look.

Option 3: Handmade with Love

For a rustic, handmade feel that really makes you think of togetherness, get everyone involved! Lay a length of burlap down as your table runner, weave some fairy lights around it and give people a task.

Tell the kids to make hand turkeys and ask your guests to bring a favourite photograph of their family, friends or even a place that means something to them. Take these, stick a popsicle stick or BBQ skewer on the back, mount it on cardstock and stick it in some thermocol or floral foam (or put it on wire picture holders) and place them on the table. Ask people to bring an item that’s particularly important to them – it could be a painted mug that their niece gave them for Christmas or even a necklace from their nan…a table filled with memories reminds us of what to be thankful for!

entertainment options for a fabulous thanksgiving party

It isn’t a festive gathering without some entertainment! One thing to consider is some old-fashioned party games! Apart from cult favourite Cards Against Humanity, classic games are back in a big way. Taboo, Jenga, Pictionary, Charades, Trivial Pursuit…the list is endless and can be played in teams – just don’t get too competitive before dinner!

adults playing board games — Board games are a fun and fantastic way to get into the holiday mood – loser is on dish duty!

And don’t rely on the radio – create a playlist in advance or delegate the task to your wannabe-DJ friend. If all else fails, Spotify and YouTube have curated playlists at hand – just search for Friendsgiving, Thanksgiving or even Autumn.

go out

Sometimes, it can just be a tad too stressful to plan an elaborate gathering at home, so why not step out and relax while someone else does all the (delicious) hard work?

Friends in a restaurant — One of the best parts about eating out? Someone else does the washing up!

2016 saw wonderful restaurants like Miss Lily’s, Yalumba, Catch, JB’s, Claw and more have special Thanksgiving/Friendsgiving menus that ranged from Caribbean inspired to the traditional.

helpful hacks

a stressed out cook — Don’t let Thanksgiving get the better of you!

Check with your local supermarkets like Waitrose or Spinneys to see when they’re expecting to have frozen turkey in stock, and remember how long it will take to defrost! If turkey doesn’t seem feasible, go for any other fowl.
Keep some disposable containers ready to pack your friends off with leftovers – unless you fancy eating the same thing for a week!
If your dinner will be attended by children, don’t scoff at the virtues of having a separate kids table just for them, it really will be worth it!
To keep hot things hot and cool things cool (when your fridge and stove top are otherwise occupied), use a thermos to store gravy, a cooler box for salads (or to keep some things from your fridge to free up shelf space), even a slow cooker to keep mashed potatoes at an even, un-gloopy texture.
If you don’t have pie weights, uncooked beans or rice work a treat.
No roasting rack? Channel your inner MacGyver and fashion one out of tin foil.
This goes without saying, but do as much prep as you can the week before, the night before!
And if something goes wrong…don’t worry! A quick Google search with your problem is sure to reveal a solution. After all, for as long as there have been dinner parties, there have been dinner party disasters.
Check out our article on how to host the perfect dinner party for even more tips!

We hope this helps you plan an absolutely fantastic Thanksgiving / Friendsgiving / Fall Feast! Happy Turkey Day!

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