Thanksgiving is the most important extravagant meal of the year for many U.S. families. Many expats living at Lakeside aren’t cooking for more than two, so it can be a good time to visit area eateries that will do the hard work and save you the cleanup.
• Casa del Sol Inn owner Elizabeth Shepard says Thanksgiving is her favorite holiday at the hotel because their chef makes her family and friends’ recipes. The meal starts with a pomegranate and Cointreau sparkling wine cocktail. Then a butternut squash soup is served with buttery croutons and accompanied by pumpkin and ginger muffins — made with fresh ginger. The main meal is roast turkey with mashed potatoes (the chef brings his own oven to have fresh turkeys for both the seatings). The secret ingredient of the gravy is whipping cream, says Shepard. Her favorite item on the whole menu is the dressing loaded with Italian sausage, apricots, cranberries and pecans. “It is the recipe of my friend Gary Jenanyan, who worked as an executive chef for Robert Mondavi and for National Geographic before settling here.” Vegetables include tarragon buttered carrots and roasted Brussels sprouts tossed with bacon. The secret ingredients of the cranberry sauce are anise, cinnamon and ginger. The coup de grace is Marian Angulo’s homemade pumpkin and pecan pies. 875 pesos per person. Reservations: 376-766-0050.
• Armando’s Legacy starts dinner at 1 p.m. with Waldorf salad, turkey with all the trimmings, pumpkin pie, a glass of red or white wine and brandy or Kahlua with dessert. The cost is 600 pesos. Carretera Pon. 22A in Ajijic. Reservations: 333-029-7335.
• Chatterley’s Restaurant (Zaragoza 307B in Chapala) offers a special menu with two main courses to choose from: traditional stuffed turkey or their special stuffed turkey with sweet mole, a reception cocktail and an exquisite pumpkin pie for 570 pesos. Reservations: 333-228-4656.
• American Legion Post 7 Chapala opens its doors at 2 p.m. with dinner served at 3 p.m. The menu is turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, glazed carrots, sausage dressing, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls and a traditional dessert for 450 pesos per ticket, available at the Post.
• La Bodega de Ajijic offers two seatings: 1:30 or 5 p.m. for their dinner of cream of mushroom or green salad, turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, green beans, mushroom gravy and stuffing and pumpkin pie for dessert. The cost is 525 pesos. They also offer take-home orders. Call 376-766-1002 for reservations or more information.
• D’Shanti (Rio Zula 7, west Ajijic) offers seatings from noon to 8 p.m. The menu is shrimp bisque or salad, with a choice of turkey with all the trimmings, salmon with pistachio herb crust and orange sauce, slow-cooked brisket or baked ham, and pumpkin dessert trilogy for 650 pesos. Reservations: 376-766-5792.
• CocinArt (Septiembre 16 4-D in Ajijic) has seatings at 3 and 6 p.m. The menu is turkey soup or Waldorf salad, turkey, baked ham, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, beets, sweet potato puree, cranberry jam, green beans with almonds and pumpkin pie. 600 pesos. Reservations: 376-766-4242.
• Manix II is putting on a dinner buffet with seatings from 2 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m.: appetizers, roast turkey, crown roast pork, mashed and sweet potatoes, sage dressing, corn soufflé, veggies, giblet gravy, cranberry sauce, a dessert bar and coffee for 700 pesos. Reservations: 376-766-0061.