We Order Chinese Food for Thanksgiving – Our Family Tradition

A few years ago, I made the decision to stop preparing a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for my family, and it has turned out to be one of the best choices we’ve made. I say “we” because it was my partner who suggested I forgo the turkey, citing the return on investment was dismally low. (I make a mean turkey, but let’s be honest, no matter how well-cooked it is, it’s still just a turkey.)

While my partner took the kids to see a movie in the early afternoon (I know many people have Thanksgiving dinner during lunch and then call it dinner, a concept I will never grasp—what even is time?), I would be frantically trying to whip up the turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, and salad. Later that evening, my great-aunt (may she rest in peace) would roast beets, my mother would whip up cranberry sauce, and we’d invite family friends over, often bringing their own dishes—usually of the Chinese variety.

My children would take a couple of bites of all this homemade goodness before declaring they wanted chicken nuggets and pizza instead.

Rediscovering My Roots

Even before the pandemic, we decided to return to my roots and embrace the tradition of ordering from a restaurant for Thanksgiving. This is different from our Christmas restaurant tradition (yet another Duan family custom), though both involve dining at Chinese restaurants on holidays.

Why did I initially even try to make a Thanksgiving dinner? Growing up, I never really enjoyed the traditional Thanksgiving fare. Perhaps it was due to being raised in an immigrant household—no one knew how to prepare the standard dishes, and the obligatory gratitude felt forced and meaningless to me.

Looking back, I can’t remember what we ate for Thanksgiving dinner as a child. It probably blurred together with other “special” holiday meals. Chances are, we had Chinese hot pot, teppanyaki, or some other fancy Chinese food my mother would create. Occasionally, there might have been a roast duck from the local Asian market.

In fact, it wasn’t until we joined a Chinese church and my mother’s friends began immigrating from Taiwan that I experienced a “traditional” Thanksgiving dinner. My only exposure to turkey and its accompaniments came from the dismal TV dinner-like offerings from school lunches. To say I was unimpressed would be an understatement.

However, once more families began to immigrate, we often had at least one new family that had never experienced a genuine American Thanksgiving. These potluck gatherings were filled with fantastic homemade Chinese dishes, while a lonely, dry, pre-cooked turkey sat neglected on the counter. No one could carve it properly, and as a result, the true stars of the evening—the duck, nuo mi fan, and everything else—vanished quickly.

Beyond mashed potatoes and gravy (what’s not to love about carbs slathered in fat?), I couldn’t understand why American holiday foods were so disappointing. Each year, I lamented the waste of food, but I suppose the Chinese tradition of turkey congee the next day made it worth it. Eventually, when my parents decided it was too much hassle, our family tradition of enjoying Thanksgiving at a Chinese restaurant was born.

Why I Tried Thanksgiving Dinner with My Kids

When I had my own children, I initially felt compelled to recreate the Thanksgiving dinner tradition. My partner grew up in a family where his mother prepared the entire Thanksgiving feast. Since we rarely saw his family, I thought it would be nice for him to share that experience with our kids.

Additionally, part of me wanted my children to have something that felt typically “American.” There’s something nostalgic and unifying about a nation sharing a common celebration. I wanted to capture some of that essence, as so much of my childhood involved accepting that my family was different from others.

Lastly, I believed that preparing Thanksgiving dinner was what a responsible adult woman did for her family. I wanted to think I could be that kind of woman (spoiler alert: I’m not). Thankfully, my partner recognized that the effort was making me miserable before I did.

In hindsight, to genuinely partake in an authentic American Thanksgiving, we would have to confront a history of genocide and enslavement, all dressed up as Manifest Destiny, and then pass down these harmful narratives to our children. Too soon for that discussion?

Nowadays, I make a reservation at our favorite Chinese restaurant for Thanksgiving (and Christmas)—or during these pandemic times, I order takeout. Last year, I picked up the meal a day early because the restaurant would be closed on the holiday itself. It was just as delicious.

The Best Part of Ordering Chinese Takeout for Thanksgiving

So, what’s the best aspect of ordering Chinese takeout on Thanksgiving? Everything. Yes, everything.

It eliminates the hassle of cooking—something that demands so much time and effort, which I used to delegate extensively. I no longer have to stress about hunting down a turkey (organic, naturally) before all the reasonable-sized birds are sold out or figuring out when to defrost it if I choose to freeze it. I don’t have to worry about brining it a day in advance or dealing with the panic of a brining bag bursting with raw turkey juice (trust me, this has happened all over my kitchen).

I don’t need to plan the menu, coordinate what others should bring, or even think about dessert. And unless guests are coming over, I certainly don’t have to clean my house to make it presentable.

No more slowly chipping away at leftovers while the best dishes disappear first (oh, gravy, we hardly knew ye), or dreading the thought of turkey anything for an entire year until I face this rigmarole again.

All I have to do is hand over a reasonable sum of money, pay the kind folks at my local restaurant, and enjoy my meal. Boom. Done.

Plus, my children learn the invaluable lesson that we can choose how to spend our precious free time—and it doesn’t have to involve dry, uninspiring turkey.

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Summary:

In our family, we have embraced the tradition of ordering Chinese food for Thanksgiving instead of preparing a traditional turkey dinner. This shift has not only alleviated the stress of cooking but also allowed us to celebrate in a way that resonates with our cultural roots. My children learn the important lesson that we can choose how to spend our time—enjoying delicious food without the hassle of traditional preparations.

Keyphrase: Chinese food Thanksgiving tradition

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