At-home Thanksgiving dinners are becoming things of the past, as more Americans are relying on restaurants for all or part of their holiday dinners. The Agawam, Mass., club offers a grand buffet and to-go packages.
A National Restaurant Association 2013 report estimated that 33 million Americans planned to rely on restaurants for all or part of their Thanksgiving feast, reports The Republican. If the trend holds true, the number of people not cooking their own Thanksgiving dinner will approach 40 million for 2015.
The forces driving this trend are no mystery: smaller families and time-starved households. The restaurant industry has been capitalizing on Thanksgiving’s metamorphosis into a dining-out occasion, with some chains and independents already finding the fourth Thursday in November to be their second busiest day of the year. Moreover, according to The Republic, competition for those dining out dollars is growing fierce.
Golf clubs like the Crestview Country Club in Agawam, Mass., their clubhouse kitchens idle as the outdoor sports season comes to an end, are increasingly offering on-site Thanksgiving dining. Crestview’s Grand Thanksgiving Buffet, which is being served November 26th from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., will feature a spread that includes roast turkey, sirloin of beef, and glazed ham as well as additional entrees, side dishes and desserts.
Banquet venues are also getting in on the action. Agawam-based Chez Josef is promoting several to go “feast” packages that feature classic options such as turkey or ham. A list of appetizer, dessert, and side dish selections are available as well.
The Republic predicts that schools, colleges, and even hospitals, all of which have underutilized kitchens around the holiday, will get into the Thanksgiving meal business in the years ahead.
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