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Thanksgiving is near and Evans Hotels’ three properties – Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa, Bahia Resort Hotel, and The Grill at Torrey Pines – are serving turkey with all the trimmings again this year.
Dinner will be served for friends and family on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 28 at the Catamaran Resort, 3999 Mission Blvd., (2-8 p.m. in the ballrooms); Dockside 1953 at the Bahia Resort, 998 W. Mission Bay Drive, (3-7 p.m.); and The Grill at Torrey Pines, 11480 N. Torrey Pines Road, (11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.).
Chefs at the Bahia/Dockside and Catamaran are curating an epic Thanksgiving feast of mouthwatering proportions. It will feature buffet selections with a carving station (apple cider and citrus-brined turkey and citrus-bourbon glazed spiral cut ham), seafood station, classic Thanksgiving favorites (including herbed cornbread stuffing and maple-roasted rainbow carrots with cranberries), and a decadent array of desserts like pumpkin-honey cheesecake at Oceana and sweet potato pecan mini pies at Dockside.
Dockside 1953 will also have a scrumptious Thanksgiving À La Carte Brunch (7 a.m.-2 p.m.), while Oceana Coastal Kitchen will have a Thanksgiving À La Carte Breakfast (7-11:30 a.m.).
There is also a special Thanksgiving Family Cruise on Mission Bay aboard the majestic William D. Evans sternwheeler, featuring a dessert and coffee station and interactive activities including face painting, balloon artists, a pumpkin patch, and pumpkin decorating. Cruises depart from the Bahia at 3 p.m., 4:14 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.; tickets are $20.
THE GRILL AT TORREY PINES
The Grill at Torrey Pines is celebrating Thanksgiving with an expertly crafted three-course prix fixe menu from executive chef Kelli Crosson and chef de cuisine Ryan Dzierzawski. Featuring the freshest autumn ingredients, this multi-course meal is complemented by an exquisite regional beer and wine list. The cost is $110 for adults and $65 for children 11 years and under.
Crosson noted things will be different this year on Turkey Day because the resort’s signature restaurant, A.R. Valentien, has been closed since Oct. 13.
“This year, we are doing a remodel expected to take five months, and our main kitchen service is closed,” said Crosson. “So we’re going to be doing more of a hybrid dinner in the grill with a modified ala carte menu, featuring lots of seasonal menu favorites with all the traditional options along with pumpkin pie, as well as an option for soup or salad.”
One of the advantages of dining at Torrey Pines is the setting and its views of the renowned Torrey Pines Golf Course. “It’s great for families offering beautiful views from the grill, whether you’re sitting inside our outside on the patio overlooking the golf course or the putting green,” Crosson noted adding reservations are “highly suggested,” as both hotel guests and the general public are invited. “We’ll have white tablecloths to give it a more elevated experience and it’s going to be fun,” she said.
BAHIA RESORT/DOCKSIDE 1953
Joe Warner, director of restaurants and bars at the Bahia Resort/Dockside 1953, pointed out the resort’s $150 price for adults for Thanksgiving dinner is “all-inclusive,” covering all taxes, booking fees, etc. There will be two different seating options on Thanksgiving, indoor dining and outside on the patio overlooking Mission Bay and the hotel’s private marina.
“We’re going to have live music both inside and out featuring local acoustic acts,” Warner said. He added the buffet spread will be special too featuring turkey and ham carving stations as well as mac and cheese and crepe stations where guests can have food made to order.
“We’ll also have salmon and seafood options as well as buffet-style traditional turkey with stuffing and green beans,” noted Warner.
Bahia guests will also have the rare option of going on one of three, 45-minute cruises on Mission Bay serving desserts and coffee primarily intended for families with children with plenty of face painting and other activities for kids including photo ops.
“This is our first year with this format,” said Warner noting Bahia’s general manager Stefan Peroutka came from Hotel Del Coronado. “He’s brought a lot of ideas from his past and the idea was to have a more elevated experience this year, really make it something special for people, a tradition that they come back for year after year.”
CATAMARAN RESORT/OCEANA COASTAL KITCHEN
Steven Preston, assistant director of food and beverage for Oceana Coastal Kitchen, said Thanksgiving guests can expect plenty of choices for the holiday dinner served upstairs in the resort’s ballrooms with views of Mission Bay. Chef Bryan Stuppy is curating an impressive afternoon and evening feast with delicious buffet selections including a carving station, classic holiday dishes, and decadent desserts.
“We’re going to have live music during two performances, each for 3 ½ hours,” said Preston adding, “Oceana will have a seafood station with fresh-shucked oysters, shrimp cocktail, and crab claws. We’ll also have a wide assortment of Sashimi with yellowfin tuna, salmon, and shrimp.”
Oceana’s Thanksgiving menu will also include a build-your-own pasta station where guests can create their own pasta meal pairing it with items like bacon, shrimp, or fresh vegetables. Preston noted the resort’s pastry chef has gone all out preparing a variety of palate-pleasing desserts like pumpkin pie, tiramisu, cakes, and assorted streusels.
He added the resort is also taking reservations for larger dinner parties. He advised guests to book ahead for Thanksgiving dinner, which will be here before you know it.
You can find more information, including the full menus at bahiahotel.com, catamaranresort.com.