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How does one celebrate Thanksgiving in Istanbul? This being my 4th Thanksgiving here, it was only the 1st time I actually got to celebrate. In previous years, nobody really had the time to prepare a feast or even get together and celebrate. The funny thing is, the friends who suggested having this year’s Thanksgiving in the first place are…British!
The Details
Guest list: 3 Brits, 1 Aussie, 1 Finn, 1 Turk, and 2 Americans.
Menu: Chicken (no turkey in Turkey), bread stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, homemade cranberry sauce, cole slaw, pumpkin pie, and Yorkshire pudding with imported bacon from England (the British contribution).
Dinner
An American did most of the food prep and it was all fantastic. For not being able to find many of the ingredients necessary to cook a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, she did a great job improvising and substituting with local ingredients.
The dinner itself was great company and lots of laughter. The non-Americans unaware of any Thanksgiving traditions took it a step further and created a few traditions of their own that made the dinner more enjoyable. I have to say the Pringles can used as a flower pot and party hats with a pirate theme really captured the spirit of the pilgrims.
And tomorrow night, ANOTHER Thanksgiving dinner at Tyra’s! Two Thanksgivings in one year. It can’t get any better!
Being so far away from family in Istanbul, it’s nice to have the comforts of home during the holidays. Happy Thanksgiving to all expats celebrating, wherever you are!
