Our recipe for hosting the perfect Thanksgiving dinner

With Thanksgiving just over two weeks away, many of our customers are in full planning mode: ordering a fresh local turkey, prime rib and other holiday favourites, planning the side dishes they’ll be serving alongside that delectable Ontario roast, and otherwise preparing to host family and friends. It’s a lot of work, but it’s all worth it in the end!

If you’re getting ready for Thanksgiving weekend, here are some tips and tricks to help make your holiday as pleasant and stress-free as possible. Our Thanksgiving website is ready to take your orders now. If you have any questions or would like assistance, please contact us—we’d be glad to hear from you.

Set the tone

Every dinner party needs a little ambiance and as host, it’s your job to set the tone. Consider adding some fall-scented hand soaps to your guest washroom, putting out some (non-messy!) activities for young children and setting the table before your guests arrive. A fall-themed centrepiece is always a nice touch! You can also put on some soft music, set out some small appetizers and light a scented candle. Just make sure it’s not going to compete with the delicious scent of roast turkey, ham or Ontario prime rib in the oven!

Serve a delicious meal

Thanksgiving is all about family, food, and feeling thankful. Many families serve a roast turkey dinner with all of the traditional fixings (mashed potatoes and gravy with stuffing, plus a variety of vegetables—corn, green beans, broccoli, or whatever else your family enjoys). You can also serve a tender prime rib roast, delectable ham, delicious pork roast, Ontario lamb or another holiday-worthy local product. Our holiday website has everything you need, and VG Meats is pleased to offer home delivery to customers within 30kms of our retail locations. All of the details are available here. If you have any questions, please let us know!

Don’t forget the drinks

Back to the menu for a moment: when you’re planning your Thanksgiving dinner, don’t forget about the drinks. We recommend having some nice wine on hand as well as non-alcoholic options like sparkling water or cider. Make sure you have tea and coffee to offer with dessert and if you’d like to elevate things, grab a bottle of champagne or a nice prosecco. Cheers!

Take a moment to give thanks

Holiday weekends can be busy and overwhelming, but they’re also a wonderful opportunity to enjoy some downtime and spend quality time with your loved ones. Whether it’s before your guests arrive, during dinner or at the end of the day, take a moment to think about what you’re grateful for this Thanksgiving weekend. This simple act can be very meaningful, and it’s a great tradition to begin as a family (or even individually). After all, we have so much to be thankful for: family and friends, the beautiful natural world that surrounds us, good health and good humour, and the delicious local food we share together.

Thanks as always for shopping local and supporting our family-owned and operated, proudly independent, Canadian business. We’re proud to put high quality, regenerative food on so many dinner tables, and grateful to be a part of your family’s holiday tradition.