Thanksgiving in Prague

This year the traditional American holiday of Thanksgiving falls on Thursday 28th November. For those hoping to celebrate it but who are ‘stuck’ in Prague (definitely not a bad thing) don’t despair, as there a number of places putting on special Thanksgiving dinners. It may not be a Czech holiday but with many mixed Czech and American couples and expatriates now living in the country, the demand for Thanksgiving meals has risen from almost zero 25 years ago to numerous places now putting them on. For all of the places mentioned below it is advised to book in advance in order to avoid disappointment.

The place that has been doing Thanksgiving dinners in Prague the longest is Jáma, which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary of serving the meal. For the first time in two decades they will be making some small changes to the menu, fine tuning the staples and adding new sides. This includes a corn chowder starter, white and dark cuts of tender turkey with homemade stuffing and cranberry sauce, buttered mashed potatoes, green beans with shredded bacon and glazed baby carrots. Ginger-cinnamon pumpkin pie is the dessert and seating will commence from 6pm with the opportunity to be sat near the TV for the NFL game or not. The three course meal costs 390 CZK per adult and 190 CZK per child.

Another American restaurant, TGI Friday’s at Karlova 20 in Prague 1, will also be putting on a three course Thanksgiving meal. It’s off to a great start with a tasty sounding starter of potato soup alongside bacon, cheddar cheese and green onions. The main course is very traditional, consisting of roasted turkey with chestnut stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables, while the dessert is a calorific yet delicious molten chocolate cake. The meal costs 490 CZK per person.

Not an American place but Irish bar JJ Murphy’s caters to plenty of expatriates from all over the world, and for that reason is also doing a Thanksgiving menu.  A similar menu of creamy corn chowder soup for the starter and a main course of roast turkey (both light and dark cuts) served with mashed and sweet potatoes, green beans with bacon and glazed carrots will be offered. There will also be two types of stuffing, sausage and onion, apple and sage and a homemade dessert of pumpkin pie served with whipped cream. Not only that but live music will be on along with the NFL from 9pm.

Bohemia Bagel’s Thanksgiving menu will sadly not be turkey with all the trimmings, corn chowder and pumpkin pie all thrown together in between a bagel. Instead they’re having a buffet at Holešovice, with two separate seating options; one from 5 to 7.45pm and the other between 8 and 11pm. A welcome drink is included with the buffet as well as table service and the holiday favourites you can (or at least think you can) eat. The buffet costs 650 CZK per adult and 250 CZK for children between 5 and 10 years old.

For a more upmarket venture the Hilton’s Zinc restaurant will be doing a Thanksgiving dinner between 6 and 11pm. A roast turkey carving station, pumpkin soup and the classic American dish of Waldorf salad as well as coleslaw salad, will all be available. Pumpkin pie or pecan nut pie takes care of the desserts, and other items will be on offer too, including a wide selection of drinks. The Thanksgiving dinner will also be accompanied by live music, all for 895 CZK per person.

For anyone not wanting to go out but also not wanting to cook the Hilton offer a take-away service that includes turkey with stuffing and a choice of two side dishes for four people at 2,650 CZK. Orders need to be placed at least four days in advance.

Another place doing cheaper take-away Thanksgiving is Culinaria. They offer a variety of options for starter, main course and dessert with prices done by the portion, so you can have as much or little as you like. All the traditional elements such as turkey, gravy, various types of potatoes and soups are available as well as a few unique items such as devilled eggs, stuffed mushrooms and chocolate pumpkin cheesecake.

Of course for anybody wishing to make their own Thanksgiving meal at home, most butchers will be able to provide you with a turkey (advance notice may be required) and all the other ingredients can be picked up in various shops, although pumpkins may be harder to find. Happy Thanksgiving!