Throughout our lives, many of us have relied on the culinary skills of relatives to create traditional Thanksgiving meals filled with favorite family dishes. These meals are the main event in a day echoed by children’s laughter and shouts to the football game on the flat screen. Then, like magic, a bountiful spread appears on the table, filling the room with the aroma of buttery mashed potatoes, savory roasted turkey and the sweet tartness of cranberry.

But what happens when it’s your turn to host the big event? (Where’s the magic wand now?) Many of us haven’t paid an ounce of attention to how this abundant meal is prepared. We just show up to enjoy the results. Fear not! Here are three useful tips to help you pull-off a dinner that would make even your grandmother proud.

1. Go Local. Our restaurant relies heavily on homegrown and fresh ingredients. Here are some of our favorite local resources:
   • Delicious bread and pastries. Reverie Bakery and J’s Pastry Shop will come to your rescue with fresh, scrumptious breads, pies and pastries.
   • “Pee-can” or “pe-kahn”. No matter how you say it, Renfroe’s Pecans is always ready with a fantastic selection. They also offer candies, fudge and fabulous gift baskets. In fact, we use their nuts in our dishes at the Fish House (pecan crusted anything is always a winner!).
   • Cheese please. Get mouths watering with a cheese platter made from a family-run Grade-A dairy, Sweet Home Farm in Elberta, Ala. The place for local, homemade cheeses.
   • Think outside the box. Lost in a sea of boxed stuffing? We’re fortunate to live on the Gulf Coast with fantastic seafood right in our own waters. Even if you don’t live near the Gulf, you can place an order with world-famous Joe Pattis or Maria’s Seafood and serve a regional favorite like andouille and oyster cornbread stuffing this year.

2. Get it To Go. If driving all over town and making lots of recipes is all too much, make it easy on yourself. Our restaurants offer prepared signature dishes To Go . So, you can wow your crowd in presentation and taste, and nobody will know you didn’t whip it up. Your secret will be safe.

3. Go Out. Even more convenient, let someone else cook and clean the dishes. Go out to eat! You can stop in, eat and spend your Thanksgiving catching up and giving thanks with friends and family, rather than working in the kitchen. Our sister restaurant, Jackson’s Steakhouse, one of Florida’s Top 25 restaurants, is featuring a gourmet, traditional Thanksgiving meal! Seats are filling quickly so please call 850 469-9898 to make a reservation.

We hope to see you over the holiday. Let us know how it all turned out. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours from your good friends at the Fish House!

Tags: Holidays, local restaurants, Recipes

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Thanksgiving Survival Guide