The Thanksgiving Post
By Monica on November 23rd, 2007
This year was the first year of my adult life that I did not host Thanksgiving dinner. I have a small family and this year the crowd would have been a measly three people, hardly worth cooking for. So I made the executive decision to trek down to the Chicago Diner for their 25th Annual Vegan Thanksgiving. Let someone else cook and do dishes, was my motto.
The diner was all dressed up for the big event:Â fall colored cloth napkins, pumpkin candles on all the tables, the music was slightly toned down from the usual punk sounds, and all the servers were even wearing clothes their mothers probably approved of.
Upon seating, we were presented with a basket filled with adorable little muffins and rolls, breadsticks, and herb ‘butter’.
First out was a field green salad with champagne vinaigrette.
Next up was Roasted Squash and Apple Soup with Maple Pepitas. This was really the masterpiece of the meal, for me, absolutely fabulous.
And finally, onto the main course. Mumsy & I had the Roasted Veggie Turkey which was oven baked tofu with chestnut stuffing and gravy. All the entrees came with cranberry relish, 7 grain stuffing, green beans almondine, wild rice pilaf, and maple mashed sweet potatoes.
Ray had the Beefy Wellington, really an impressive sight! It was a pastry crust with seitan, mushroom pate and tofu filling, covered in peppercorn sauce.
Last but not least, chocolate pumpkin cheezcake. Oh. My. Hell. There had to be a 1/2″ thick layer of chocolate on top of this baby and the piece of cheezcake is mammoth. If there’s one thing the diner does better than anyone, it’s cheezcake. This terrible picture is a shameful tribute, but it was dark in there!
While I did miss cooking for everyone, I am very glad we had a welcoming veggie place to eat at. My mother, who I’ve turned into ‘half-a-vegan’, was a good sport and enjoyed herself as much as Ray and I. Actually, she’d never been into this part of Chicago and was delighted at how nice Boys Town is.
And for the obligatory sobby, What-I’m-Thankful-For component of this blog post, today I’m thankful that Sampson is still with us. He’s at home now after I was taught how to give him IV fluids and all his meds. Keep sending him vegan hugs, they seem to be working!
Wait, one more thing! Adopt a turkey! For a one-time $20 adoption fee, adopters receive a color photograph of their turkey, an adoption certificate and a year subscription to Farm Sanctuary’s quarterly newsletter. The adoption fee provides funds for feed, bedding and veterinary care for the turkey. This year we adopted Moth. Ain’t she lovely?
VeggieGirl says:
oh my goodness gracious, how fun that you got to go to the Chicago Diner’s annual Vegan Thanksgiving dinner!! I’ve heard so many great things about it (and have salivated over reading their menu for the occasion, haha)!! While EVERYTHING you got to savor looks fantastic, my favorite HAS to be that Chocolate-Pumpkin Cheezcake - stunning!! decadent!! Such a lovely way to end one’s Thanksgiving feast :0)
Oh and I adopted Pearl this year, from Farm Sanctuary - yay for saving turkeys!! Moth is cute too :0)
November 23rd, 2007 at 9:21 am
zu says:
ooooh, the food looks yummyyyyy. Makes me wanna go downstairs and attack our leftovers.
yay, for sampson. Can he move, does he want to? is he using his litter box?
November 23rd, 2007 at 10:08 am
Tori says:
It sounds like you had a lovely thanksgiving! I would love a piece of that pumpkin pie. It looks amazing.
Good luck with Sampson, he looks like such a sweet little cat
November 23rd, 2007 at 10:45 am
Vivacious Vegan says:
I’m really impressed with the Beef Wellington. Sounds like something Marty would love. I may have to start perusing recipes now.
You’re so lucky you are an easy drive from Chicago.
November 23rd, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Marilee says:
What a wonderful Thanksgiving!! A real treat. I am a turkey lover. We had three pet turkeys that actually got on the school bus with my kids one morning. It created quite a hoot!! After that I had to sit in the yard and hold theem while the kids got on the bus. In the evening they would run wildly down the lane to meet the bus. They really are great creatures. Keep adopting.
November 23rd, 2007 at 3:51 pm
The Little Vegan says:
*Mouth watering uncontrollably*
Me want pumpkin cheezecake!!!
Happy Thanksgiving!
November 23rd, 2007 at 5:00 pm
bazu says:
I’m drooling over here! I’ve always wanted to visit the Chicago Diner, and this post makes me want to even more.
Extra thanksgiving hugs for Sampson {{{{{{sampson}}}}}}
November 23rd, 2007 at 11:30 pm
madeinalaska says:
wow!I would have LOVED it if I had that option to go out for a thanksgiving feast! my feet still hurt from cooking two days in a row!
lovely you adapted that cute little fella!
bravo!
November 24th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
madeinalaska says:
adopted I meant… duh!
November 24th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
Mihl says:
That sounds like a really nice place for celebrating thanksgiving.
I am sending a lot of love for sampson!
November 27th, 2007 at 3:34 am
Debbie says:
I’m so envious — I wish we had had a vegan (even vegetarian) option for eating out. The food looks amazing!
November 27th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Suzie says:
I’m so happy Sampson is doing all right. I’ll be sending postive thoughts his way.
A diner that serves vegan Thanksgiving dinner? That is so kick-ass. Everything looks amazing, particularly the chocolate cheese cake.
November 28th, 2007 at 9:58 am