Turkey Day - Without Turkey?

[StickyDan]

Ok, so this will be the second time the wife and I host Thanksgiving.  She made Turkey last year (first time ever) and it kicked so much butt that she's worried that she can not replicate it (IE, doesn't want to cook another turkey LOL).  Seriously, it's amazing what you can learn from youtube though.  Best Turkey I've ever had (sorry grandma). 

Due to a smaller group this year, Turkey is off the menu.  Guest list includes her parents, her twin sister w/ boyfriend and ourselves.  The Wife and twin are both veggies so that only leaves four of us meat eaters.   Her parents are European (dad-French, mom-Turkish (go figure...) and they like to pretend that every meal at our house is like a 5 star dinning experience.  And by that I mean, they are picky and not shy about complaining - about anything... and everything.  Regardless to say, we want to do something awesome.  We enjoy the challenge. 

The wife suggested duck and asked if fresh duck is available.  I'm sure it is but I've never had to buy fresh duck before so I wouldn't even know where to look.  Anyhoo, a quick little google search led me to this place http://www.hillsfoods.com/index.php   I've never heard of this place before but they've got quite a selection of stuff and it's in my hood.

I'm diggin' the idea of duck but I'm wondering if any of you have some better ideas?  By the way, dad likes his meat still twitching on the plate.

Let's hear it.

[squirtthecat]

Prime rib roast?
Crown pork roast?

Hassleback potatoes..
Haricot vert bean dish..  (cure your own bacon to mix in)

Maybe some kind of flan thing for dessert.

Those are all 'fancy looking' and seemingly not that difficult to pull off..

[Keymaster]

Do this one and tell them Its Pheasant, a big pheasant ;)

http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=23296.msg280066#msg280066

As far as the veggies, I'm sure you got some grass out back that needs a mowin..

Corner time for keymaster :-[

[Caneyscud]

I like STC's suggestions - especially the crown roast.  Put those little paper crowns on the bones and they will be duly impressed.  Asparagus in a number of ways is always good - at least if not from a can!  A sweet potato souffle is not all that hard to pull off.  Polentas are really quite easy - add flavors to complement what else you are having.   Stuffed tomatoes or stuffed zucchini are quite elegante!  Serve the stuffed zucchini on top of a cheesy polenta.  Going the rustica route.  Herbed new potatoes using goat butter.  zucchini fritter or even better eggplant fritters stuffed with mozzarella.  Stuff that crown roast with a sourdough, mushroom, and bacon dressing.  Medley of fried portabello mushroom strips and fried jalapeno strips.  A few years ago I had sweet potato fritters with scallion pesto at my best friend's daughter's wedding.  They also had a sweet potato and apple gratin that seemed to have brandy or sherry in it. 

A Vidalia onion pie is a nice side dish.  For my parents 50th anniversary one of the things I had for the vegetarians was quiche.  And if you make the right combo - it can be a side dish for non-vegs also.  The vegetarians I had to deal with ate fish, cheese and eggs - they just didn't eat meat.  So I did a smoked salmon/lox quiche.

[StickyDan]

Thanks for the ideas guys.  I will research your suggestions a little more.
Keymaster, great link.  That looks awesome!