Olliffe’s recipe for hosting a perfect Thanksgiving dinner

With Thanksgiving just over two weeks away, many of our customers are busy planning a family meal: ordering a fresh local turkey, prime rib and other holiday favourites, deciding which side dishes they’ll be serving alongside that delectable Ontario roast, and otherwise preparing the house 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 simple tips to help make your holiday as pleasant and stress-free as possible. Olliffe’s Thanksgiving Feast is available online and in store—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 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 loved ones enjoy). You can also serve a tender prime rib roast, delectable ham, delicious pork roast, Ontario lamb or another holiday-worthy local product. Our Thanksgiving Feast has everything you need, and Olliffe is pleased to offer home delivery to local customers.

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 beverage options like sparkling water or cider. Make sure you have a variety of teas and some good 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 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.

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