A pre-cooked turkey still takes hours to re-heat and you need a roasting pan. A lot of the accompanying sides in these grocery meals are really bad. i would do take-out or go out, you can always serve pie and coffee at home. The relatives will live right through their disappointment.

Wegmans catering

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would ask all the people attending which they prefer - catered/premade thanksgiving or nontraditional meal.

+1

If you can’t be bothered to know preferences of your guests, you should not be hosting.

OP here and I'm not hosting, that's the whole point. We're getting extended family together at a rental house in a city somewhat central to everyone in order to facilitate this birthday celebration. If I were actually hosting, this wouldn't really be an issue because we'd just make Thanksgiving dinner.

I've asked what people want and I get noncommittal responses so I've decided I need to just do something practical that makes sense to me and let people deal with it.

Good job OP! Way to have those boundaries! Make sure you note somewhere so that when Cheryl says "Oh it's really disappointing that we are having enchiladas when I was expecting turkey" you can pull up your chat with her that says "anything is fine with me!"

Sounds like everyone is just too busy or can't be bothered to organize, so you are doing it and guaranteed someone will have some snide remarks for you. Please report back!

Cater food for Thanksgiving

Anonymous wrote:I would ask all the people attending which they prefer - catered/premade thanksgiving or nontraditional meal.

I would include kids. Sometimes kids are more attached traditions than adults. Are their any seniors in high school?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would ask all the people attending which they prefer - catered/premade thanksgiving or nontraditional meal.

+1

If you can’t be bothered to know preferences of your guests, you should not be hosting.

OP here and I'm not hosting, that's the whole point. We're getting extended family together at a rental house in a city somewhat central to everyone in order to facilitate this birthday celebration. If I were actually hosting, this wouldn't really be an issue because we'd just make Thanksgiving dinner.

I've asked what people want and I get noncommittal responses so I've decided I need to just do something practical that makes sense to me and let people deal with it.

Have a private chef drop off dinner in the morning of Thanksgiving, better than Whole Foods.

Anonymous wrote:Whole Foods is better than Balduccis ime. Publix is good if there is one where you will be.

I disagree

Can you find a different restaurant or grocery store that’s closer to where you will be staying and order from there? Not Whole Foods.

whatever grocery store is local to the house will have catered thanksgiving food. Or even a place like cracker barrel or wherever.

Just dp the WF Thanksgiving and also bring the fixings for enchiladas or whatever, which you can make on Thanksgiving if you feel like it or eat it some other time that weekend. Keep it casual and let people choose.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We will not be going out or getting restaurant take-out because several of my older relatives are really bothered by the idea of going to a restaurant for dinner on a holiday.

Oh yeah, these people are not going to like the idea of Chinese food takeout for Thanksgiving dinner!

Completely agree with this! Order WF or Wegmans.

Anonymous wrote:Do Wegmans. WF just isn’t that good.

+1 for Wegmans. WF prepared foods are terrible. Though I like the idea of turkey enchiladas!

You should order a mail order smoked turkey from Greenberg Turkey in TX. They ship all over the US and the turkey is amazing. You can gently heat it up as a main dish or just use it for delicious sandwiches. It will elevate your meal. And then order a few sides from WF or Wegmans for pick up. Make sure you have some nice desserts and you are done

Anonymous wrote:I would ask all the people attending which they prefer - catered/premade thanksgiving or nontraditional meal.

+1

If you can’t be bothered to know preferences of your guests, you should not be hosting.