Ditching Kitchens For Restaurants On Thanksgiving

Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter

FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - Even people who cannot cook still want a delicious dinner on Thanksgiving. That's why millions of Americans are expected to ditch their own kitchens on Thursday for seats at restaurants. It's a trend that's keeping professional chefs very busy on Turkey Day.

Keith Hicks is the executive chef at Buttons in Fort Worth. He is there on Thanksgiving, working his magic in the restaurant's kitchen so that even cooking-challenged North Texans can grab a bite to eat. His style is influenced by his own grandmother's Thanksgiving Day traditions.

"She didn't have the biggest pots in the world, but it seemed like those pots were magical," Hicks shared, "as they kept feeding people who dropped by."

This year, more than 700 people are expected to drop by the Fort Worth restaurant for comfort, food and music. Buttons even extended its Thanksgiving brunch by two hours to accomodate requests.

Herbert Hughes is the restaurant's owner. He said that more diners are wanting to spend their time with family members, and choosing to leave the culinary work to the professionals. "Frankly," Hughes elaborated, "it's hard to create a dining experience at home, as you can with a chef preparing everything for you."

And this isn't just happening in North Texas. An estimated 15 million Americans will be dining out on Thanksgiving this year, according to the National Restaurant Association. This trend would have been unheard of 40 years ago, said Chris Pierkarski, general manager of Buffalo West in Fort Worth. That restaurant is fully booked on Thursday.

"This day could be one of the busiest days of the year, and I think, eventually, surpass Mother's Day," Pierkarski added.

Call it Thanksgiving with a change of venue. It's not where you eat, but with whom. "You can still gather with your friends and family, still have leftovers, and you don't have to clean up," said Hughes.