Thanksgiving Treasure Hunt!

That sounds fun, doesn't it?

Not so much.

Since Thanksgiving is only celebrated by North Americans (Canadians celebrate their Thanksgiving about a month before Americans, and I don't think it's as big of a deal for them, at least that's what I gather from my Canadian friends here) it is a day largely unnoticed by the rest of the world.  When living in China and trying to cook a Thanksgiving Day feast, this can become a bit of an issue.

The last two years we have gone out to a restaurant for Thanksgiving, which has been pretty disappointing each time.  So, this year we decided to take the challenge and prepare our own meal (with 12 of our close friends).

There are three main reasons for Thanksgiving (any cooking) difficulty in China:

1. Lack of ovens - Most apartments do not have ovens, so many foreigners buy a small convection oven, usually slightly larger than the average toaster oven.  Even the homes that have ovens have a scaled down version, not large enough to fit a 18lb. bird, so we have to order one from a caterer/restaurant.

2. Lack of ingredients - While there are a growing number of import markets here, they do not typically carry pumpkin pie filling or cranberries or any number of other necessary Thanksgiving ingredients.  After inquiring and getting a few blank looks at a shop yesterday, I found three cans of pumpkin pie filling hidden, grabbed them all and ran for the door.  It's like buying for plywood before a hurricane.

3. Schizophrenia of supply - The import stores here, the two main ones are "Jenny Lou's" and "April Gourmet" (ironic, huh?), are small.  The average size of their locations is about the size of my apartment.  As a result, they don't have much shelf/storage space.  So, while they may have a wide variety, it's undependable to say the least.  Two weeks ago I needed capers and couldn't find them anywhere.  Yesterday I was shopping and saw at least 10 jars in at least three stores.  Frustrating?  Yes.

These three points lead to a number of interesting situations.

Situation #1: Ordering of a turkey

My friends and I decided that a relaxing way to plan the logistics of our dinner would be over a foot massage.  So we headed to the spa for a 90-minute treat (this cost $15 - one of the up-sides of China).  About 30-minutes into this process we decided to call and order our turkey from a restaurant where we love eating and many others have recommended.  But, we discovered they only provide it if you order sides.  So we called another place, they didn't know the meaning of the word turkey - in Chinese or English.  This process went on for about a half-hour, during which Courtney, the original caller, was yelling and almost threw her phone a number of times.  This came as a bit of a shock to the tranquil massage therapists.  Finally, Ema took over the calling with fresh resolve and we found a bird.  Whew.

Situation #2: Finding ingredients (the treasure hunt)

There is currently an "All Points Bulletin" out for: walnuts, cranberry juice concentrate, Kalamata olives, buttermilk, self-rising flour and cornmeal.  We started early, so (of the "high-risk" ingredients), we have already found: cranberries (frozen), pumpking pie filling (amazing), marshmallows, dried cranberries, cinnamon sticks, and a vanilla bean.  These were from a minimum of three different stores.  Treasure hunts are fun, but not when you're desperate.

Situation #3: Logistics

We have small apartments.  

We live abroad and know someday we'll move back.  

We don't have cars.  

All of this can be a bit of an issue when 14 people get together to eat a traditional meal, hopefully at one big table.  And it takes quite a bit of planning.  We have to get additional chairs and two tables into my friends' apartment.  We have to bring our ovens, plates, glasses, silverware, and cooking supplies.  We have to start planning this process weeks in advance.

The good news is this: it's so worth it.

My best Beijing friend, Stacey, is flying back from New York (where she's in a PhD program for nine months) to celebrate with her Beijing family.  I am taking the day off of work on Thursday, Nov. 27th and making dishes together with my Beijing family.  We will all get together for a home cooked dinner, after so much work, frustration and preparation, and enjoy the fruits of our labor.  In this sense, maybe it feels more like the first Thanksgiving than my past holidays do.  Joining together with "new" friends, helping each other make preparations in advance, and then sitting down together and enjoying the "harvest" of hard work.  

Yum.