Thanksgiving Weekend: Thursday

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I know I have said this before, but I'm going to say it again with more meaning 
than I can express, this past weekend was epic. I am in serious need of a vacation 
from my long weekend. I've never napped more in my life and I'm still craving sleep. 

I guess the best place to start would be at the beginning. My parents arrived at 
their amazing hotel, three blocks from my apartment, before I was ready to walk 
out the door. Apparently Thanksgiving morning traffic coming into Manhattan was nonexistent. Oliver and I ran down the street and around the corner to meet 
them. I've never seen the little one more excited. I guess he missed them. 

Once they were unpacked and settled into their room, we went on a coffee hunt. 
The first place I brought them was NoLita Mart on Mott Street. It was about time 
my Dad tried Stumptown coffee. We spent the rest of the morning walking 
around SoHo until it was time to make the trek up to Harlem for our 
Thanksgiving feast.

After an interesting cab ride, where we ended up in the Bronx for a split 
second, we arrived, stomachs grumbling, and ready to eat some comfort soul 
food. Red Rooster was beautiful. The interior and furnishings were a great 
mix of contemporary and mid century pieces. Not to mention the amazing 
smells wafting from the kitchen. Immediately, we knew we I picked a winner. 

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I absolutely loved the dark contrast on the back wall surrounding the kitchen. 
The industrial light pendants throughout the restaurant is also a nice touch. 

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It was decided we should take our time and really dine. This meant, order in courses. 
We started with wine. But of course! 

The first course was easy, how about one of everything? Sounded good to all 

of us!The Friend Chicken Caesar wasn't on the starter menu, so that we did 

not have. Everything else, you bet!

The corn bread was melt in your mouth amazing. It was served with a sweet 

honey butter and tomato jam. The two flavors together were perfect. 

However, the corn bread didn't need anything. it was that good. 

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To this day, this Spinach Potato Salad, is my new favorite salad of all time. 

It was so amazing, I ate more of it than anything else during the meal. 

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Sara had the Spiced Pumpkin, Turnip Soup, which she graciously shared with the 

table. It was so tasty, it could have been dessert. 

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By the time we finished our starters, we were full. But, since it was Thanksgiving 

and all, we couldn't stop there. On to the main course we go. Everything sounded unbelievable. We went back and forth multiple times before deciding. 

It turned out we did a pretty fantastic job ordering, since everything we 

chose was exactly what the server recommended as their signature dishes. 

Helga's Meatballs with Mashed Potatoes and Lingonberries caught my eye 
during my first glance. I couldn't let it go. It had to be done, so I did it. Each 
bit took me back to Sweden. 

Sara ordered the Mac & Greens. It's a good thing she had or else there would 
have been a fifth order for the table. The Skib family and mac and cheese 
go together like well, mac and cheese go together. Everyone agreed, this 
was some of the best mac and cheese we had ever had. 

Mom went a little cajun in her decision making and went for the Shrimp & 
Dirty Rice. As I am not a huge seafood eater, this wasn't my dish of choice. 
However, the rice was great!

Leave it up to Dad to get the fried chicken! This fall off the bone chicken was 
seasoned in some of the most interesting flavors I've had on a fried chicken. 
It was definitively finger lickin good!

You would think after that meal, we wouldn't have room for anything else. At this 

point, I had stopped eating, with four meatballs still on my plate. I'm no dummy.

 I knew dessert was coming and you better believe when I say I already knew 

what I was getting. The dessert menu is always the first menu I check out first.

My mom made the mistake of using the ladies room after ordering dessert. I'm 

pretty sure she didn't make it back in time for my amazing, Thanksgiving Day 

special, Spiced Pumpkin Cake. To this day, I still believe she thinks we only 

ordered two desserts. It was that good. 

Sara's dessert of choice was the Whiskey Fudge. I wouldn't know how it was, after 
my last bite, the most intense food coma I'd ever had hit. The next thing I remember 
was waking up from a nap with Sara and Oliver watching Speed. 

Don't feel too bad for my Mom, she did order a dessert too. She had the
 Sweet Potato Donuts with Cinnamon Sugar. Obviously, I was on cloud nine 
at this time and didn't have a taste. I did hear the mmm's and ahhh's thought. 
It sounded pretty promising. 

The day was beautiful, the food was fantastic, and the company was perfect. 
Thanksgiving was a huge success. The only thing missing, was actually quite 
a big thing, the kid. Andy you were truly missed. We did eat enough for 
you so don't worry! You were there in spirit! Love you bro! 

After our three hour nap, we headed back out to meet some old 
friends from Michigan, who were also in town. Oliver even got to hang 
with us! It was the perfect end to the perfect Thanksgiving. 

 

I hope everyone had a safe, healthy and fabulous Thanksgiving! 

I have a lot to be thankful for.