Restaurants Prep For Hungry Thanksgiving Diners
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FORT WORTH (CBS11) - Millions of Americans are expected to dine out for Thanksgiving this year. The trend is keeping restaurants in North Texas busy this season. Dozens will offer special Thanksgiving menus to cater to groups who don't want to deal with the hassle of preparing a meal and cleaning up later.
"This day could be one of the busiest days of the year, and I think, could eventually surpass Mother's Day," says Buffalo West General Manager Chris Piekarski.
For the last three years, his Fort Worth restaurant has been open on Thanksgiving Day and served a holiday menu.
"Three years ago from where we are now, we've doubled every year, but this is certainly our busiest year yet," Piekarski says.
This year, the restaurant is booked. They are expecting more than 400 people to dine with them.
About 15 million Americans will be eating Thanksgiving meals at restaurants this year, according to the National Restaurant Association. A total of 33 million will rely on restaurants for all or parts of their Thanksgiving meals. Holiday fatigue and travel stress could be to blame.
Staff at the Buffalo West kitchen is preparing more than 500 pounds of turkey. Despite changing trends, Piekarski says honoring tradition is important at his restaurant.
"The hit is the sausage stuffing, and it's an old recipe from my grandmother," he explains as he shows off his favorite item on the menu.
Over at Buttons in Fort Worth, executive chef, Keith "Buttons" Hicks is working his magic in the kitchen so others don't have to. The chef says he has been influenced by his own grandmother's traditions.
"She didn't have the biggest pots in the world, but it seemed like those pots were magical, as they kept feeding people who dropped by," explains Chef Hicks.
This year, the restaurant which prides itself on Southern cuisine comfort food is expecting upwards of 700 people to drop by. Their Thanksgiving Brunch was extended to 5pm to accommodate diners who wanted to spend Thanksgiving at their tables.
Owner Herbert Hughes says diners want to spend time with family, and are choosing to leave the work to the professionals. He has personally stopped doing Thanksgiving at home.
"I love not having to clean up. You can still gather with your friends and family, still have leftovers and you don't have to clean up," Hughes says.
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