Ever since I knew that friends of ours have hosted a Pretentious Thanksgiving at their D.C.-area home for the past five years, I’ve wanted to be invited.
This year was the best to join: it was the best-of Pretentious Thanksgiving, meaning that guests voted on their favorite dishes from the past five years, all of which would be featured at the dinner.
So, a little context: A couple that Jesse will soon be related to began this tradition based on their love of hosting parties and the idea that making it pretentious would be funny. People could dress all uppity and the food would be ridiculously full of itself. A wine pairing would be included in each course, with a tobacco course between before the dessert course.
Over the years, the party has grown from eight people to 24 people, making it quite the pretentious social event. People drive from all over the East Coast to attend, partying like a bunch of Gatsby guests lingering well into the night.
I am basically in love with this party idea. I enjoy themed parties and I love wearing pearls and argyle even more! The weekend was so breathtakingly awesome that I’ll tell the rest of the story with pictures, from our shopping trips to food preparation to the meal itself.
We started at the farmers' market, full of beautiful fall bounty
All these colorful radishes! Whoever heard of black radishes?
We came for haricots verts and got caught up by the wild mushrooms.
When we got home from the market, Merissa and I began making the mantle decoration, for which she had bought some small squashes. She hollowed them out and inserted a scented votive candle. Then, we foraged for pretty leaves, acorns and pine cones around the garden. I even clipped some beautiful Japanese maple branches to add to the decor.
I am obsessed with these!
Martha Stewart, feel free to call us anytime
All decorations aside, the night was about the food. Here is the menu:
First course: Sweet-potato ravioli with browned-butter sage sauce, toasted pine nuts and fried shallots.
Ravioli is stuffed, ready for boiling
It was simply amazing. A-Maze-Ing. Red pepper flakes added a nice pepper kick and those shallots on top...I will be making this again SOON.
Second course: Cranberry salad with spiced pecans, goat cheese and a sweet vinaigrette.
I can love any salad with spiced nuts and goat cheese. And healthy!
Third course: Haricot verts with roasted potatoes, walnuts and Roquefort
They make this dish every year. I guess I hadn't had Roquefort cheese before because this blew my mind. It tasted rich, savory and somehow smoky. Drool.
Fourth course: stuffing…
Wild mushroom stuffing, which was the most expensive dish of the night.
Oyster stuffing: I always dreamed that oyster stuffing would contain that much butter...and be that delicious. Heaven.
And turkey two ways: smoked…
The boys fussed over this all night.
And roasted with herbs:
A beautiful scene
(Tobacco course)
Dessert course: Pumpkin profiteroles with rum-caramel sauce
Paired with a sweet sherry.
And let’s not forget a whole lotta wine:
I’ll be hosting my own Thanksgiving dinner in a couple weeks, and while it may not be pretentious, it hopefully will be as delicious as this special meal. I just hope I get invited next year!
Cheers, friends. xoxo
Seasoned to Taste 