Whether you’re after a taste of Americana, or an ex-pat looking for a slice of home, Smith & Wollensky London is definitely the place to go to enjoy all the trappings of this festive occasion. Whilst this is still very much a US tradition, in recent years Thanksgiving has started to seep into the British consciousness, becoming as much part of the social calendar as events like St Patricks Day and Halloween’s Trick or Treat.
Anyone with even an ounce of American blood in their veins will appreciate how important a feast the Thanksgiving Festival is in the US. For those who need a little enlightenment, it is the day in which our trans-Atlantic cousins celebrate the first successful harvest of the early American Pilgrims. Yet it is much more than that.
When the Pilgrims first arrived in America their life was very tough and the local Native Americans helped them to survive. They brought them food and taught the Pilgrims to plant corn and use fish for fertilizer as well as which plants to use for medicine in this unfamiliar land they now called home. They gave them hides and taught how to make better homes to survive the harsh winter. So when the Pilgrims had their first successful harvest, they shared their feast with the local Native Americans by inviting them for a meal, to thank them for their support in the leaner times, which is why it is now called “Thanksgiving.”
There are many competing stories about the first Thanksgiving feast, the most familiar being that it took place in Plymouth Colony, in present-day Massachusetts, in 1621. Surprisingly, it took more than 200 years and the arrival of President Abraham Lincoln, to declare the 4th Thursday in November as a national day of Thanksgiving. (For the historians, Franklin D Roosevelt did try to move it to the 3rd Thursday but moved it back again after national protests.)
At Smith and Wollensky we are proud to welcome homesick expats and curious Londoners alike to indulge in our fabulous and traditional Thanksgiving Feast. You will be able to enjoy our succulent herb roast turkey with cranberry sauce, stuffing, potatoes and a wide variety of vegetables; and Thanksgiving would not be Thanksgiving if we didn’t finish up with one of the best pumpkin pies in London!
So why not book a table or view our Thanksgiving Menu? Smith & Wollensky, the best place for Thanksgiving in London.
Thanksgiving menu is available November 26-28, 2015
