I realize I must sound like a broken record, but here I am opening another newsletter wondering how it’s mid-November already. Thanksgiving is, like, TOMORROW! We’ve already made a bunch of Christmas plans and I know my oldest is booked for driver’s ed. class through December 30th. Then we’re onto 2024!
Let’s focus on this Thanksgiving first. I know that’s where my mind will be focused come next week, and I don’t just mean Thursday the 23rd. My Thanksgiving prep has kind-of begun—I ordered a farm-raised turkey a few weeks ago. So come this weekend when I pick up that turkey to butcher, I’m into it! You’ve seen how I do Thanksgiving, right?
I hope you’re into it too and perhaps one step on your way to this year’s Thanksgiving is checking out the Local Events Calendar on EatDrinkRI.com where I’ve tried to compile all the great spots to pre-order take-out or delivery, or make a reservation for dining out on Thanksgiving.
Below is a screen grab of how it currently looks and I add to this calendar almost daily. You’ll see every restaurant/caterer that’s offering something for Thanksgiving this year is preceded with “Thanksgiving 2023” and if you see a calendar entry on a day prior to Thanksgiving, that means that’s the deadline to place an order for pick-up or delivery. You can even search on the word “Thanksgiving” to only see those entries (but then you’d miss things like the Grand Tasting at Main Street Wine & Spirits in Coventry this Saturday—I hope to see you there!).
So check out the Events Calendar, place an order for everything from desserts to the main course from places as varied as Dune Brothers—get some chowder!—to Cakes by Eboni—who wants some Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie? Get on it before the deadline passes for your favorite spot.
Events Calendar listings are a free feature of the site and I hope it helps you find the best local eats and drinks for your Thanksgiving table. If you’re looking to dine out on Thanksgiving, check out the places on the calendar on November 23rd. If you want to support the site, please click on an ad or better yet, check out the shopping page for links to some cooking tools I like.
I hinted at it above, but if you follow me on Instagram, you know Thanksgiving is also time for some Stories fun. The complete story archives from 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 are at the top of my profile now and I’ll get around to adding 2022 before I begin this year’s story. Maybe it’s there now when you’re reading this! I appreciate the many message responses and try to respond to everyone. Plus, I’m always happy to answer cooking or drinking questions that people send as I prepare for the big day. I need to get menu planning!
I mentioned above I’m happy to answer any cooking or drinking questions for Thanksgiving (or any time really). When it comes to the drinking questions, I’ve got a growing archive of wine, spirits, cocktail and even a few beer tasting videos on YouTube. Here’s the latest wine video:
The easiest answer to pairing anything with Thanksgiving food is, drink what you enjoy and what you enjoy sharing. The more complex answer is what are the flavors you’re cooking with and what might go well with this flavors. Please check out my YouTube channel and go down the rabbit hole of tasting videos (and like, subscribe, comment, smash buttons, etc.).
Ok, now the non-profits! You knew I wasn’t going to send a newsletter without writing about the latest from Eating with the Ecosystem, ecoRI News and the RI Small Business Coalition, especially as we near the end of 2023 and Giving Tuesday is upon us. Let’s start with the RISBC first.
The RI Small Business Coalition doesn’t take donations, but it does want your small business to be a member. We’re on the cusp of launching a new site and looking for new members to join as we ramp up for the next legislative session in Rhode Island. Our board members have been in conversations with the Governor’s office regarding budget items and continue to push hard to make RI a better state for small business (if you’re a small business here you know that’s no easy task). The key is to have the voice of as many small businesses here in RI as possible. Please sign up to be a member at any level, $0 to $250, and be a part of that push.
On to local, independent environmental journalism, something that it should be clear is absolutely crucial as each day passes. I hope you’re reading all the great work that the writers and editors of ecoRI News are creating every day. The board has nothing to do with editorial content, but we are here to ask that you please support that content being created.
As great as some of our local TV, radio and online journalism is in Rhode Island, no one is covering the environment and the myriad things that impact our environment like ecoRI News. If you do read it often I hope you consider being a monthly donor, just like you would any other news or entertainment source you subscribe to. Netflix doesn’t need your monthly payment as much as ecoRI News. Or pay for both—I did love me some Keri Russell in “The Diplomat”.
But let’s say you don’t only want to subscribe monthly, you want to donate a lump sum before the end of the year. Well you’re in luck because there’s an end of the year pledge drive and NewsMatch and a group of ecoRI News fans will match your donation dollar for dollar. So if you always wanted to give $1,000,000 to support local environmental journalism, but only have $500,000 to spare, give the $500,000 and know that you’re getting matched! (Disclaimer for me being wildly inaccurate: the match is not that big.)
Please know that I know there are a ton of worthwhile charitable organizations in need out there, and you may want to give to ecoRI News but don’t have the resources right now. I understand that and I hope you read the site and tell all your friends and family about it.
Oh wait, there’s a fun way you can support ecoRI News without donating cash you don’t have and get rid of some “junk” or possibly pick up a gift for someone. On Sunday, December 10th it’s the annual Regift Sale at Flatbread Company! Check out all the details on the free registration page and come shop. You may even run into an ecoRI News board member in a ridiculous Christmas suit.
Last item for this newsletter, but not least, are upcoming events with Eating with the Ecosystem, which you can also donate to directly if you want to support a place-based approach to sustaining our seafood.
Want to do something really fun while learning about seafood too? Then there are two events you’ll want to get tickets to now before they sell out (they usually do!). The first is the last, for now, in the “Cook a Fish, Give a Fish” cooking class series. This class is held over Zoom so you can cook along at home and is being led by Chef Eric Brown of Thick Neck in Providence.
Jump on this ticket and there’s a $10 discount right now for Thanksgiving! If you’ve been to Thick Neck you know Chef Brown makes some beautiful seafood dishes so you get to learn from a master. Get your tickets today.
The other upcoming event is our second of many events we’re planning with The United Theatre in Westerly, The United Table - From Reel to Meal: A Conversation on the Seafood Industry. If you came to our first event back in September you know it was a packed house for a lively discussion with fishermen and chefs. This next panel discussion plans to be that plus a whole lot more, and still treat attendees to an adult beverage and delicious taste of seafood.
Please check out the details on The United’s ticketing page.
That’s it for this one. As always, there’s news and updates on eatdrinkri.com in addition to stories, links, reels, posts, liquor scores, etc. on my media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@eatdrinkri
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatdrinkri/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eatdrinkri
Delectable: https://delectable.com/@daviddadekian
Web Site: https://www.eatdrinkri.com
I hope you enjoyed reading along. I appreciate the support and all the new subscribers that come along with each newsletter. In this season of Thanksgiving I’m thankful for you. These are certainly uncertain times, so please be kind to each other and to yourselves. Thank you again and be well.