Connections Magazine-For Your Health, Your Home, Your Life

A Proclamation Signed in Script Type by George Washington,
appearing in The Massachusetts Centinel of October 14, 1789.

This historic proclamation was issued by George Washington
during his first year as President. It sets aside Thursday, November 26
as "A Day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer."

Aperitif
Champagne Shrub
Shrub, a fruit vinegar, has its roots in the 18th Century and can be traced to recipes found in Martha Washington's Booke of Cookery.

Appetizer Mélange
Shrimp Newburgh Vol-Au-Vent, Crab Meltaways,
Mini Quiche Lorraine, Mallard Duck Sausage

Salad
Butter Lettuce Salad

Entrée
Roasted Free Range Farm Turkey
The famous French Gastronome Anthelme Brillat-Savarin said in his book, Art of Dining, that turkey is one of the greatest culinary gifts that the Old World received from the colonies. (or Lancaster County Ham or Prime Rib of Beef)

Smashed Yukon Gold Potatoes
Vegetables were only available seasonally, making potatoes and other crops that wintered well, extremely valuable.

Sage & Marjoram Stuffing
Marjoram, a Mediterranean herb considered by the ancient Greeks to be a symbol of happiness, has a wonderful but delicate flavor. Interestingly, this herb was commonly called for in 18th-century recipes yet rarely used in today's recipes.

Sweet Potatoes with Granny Smith Apples
Although called a potato, the sweet potato is actually a root vegetable in the morning glory family. Thanksgiving would not be complete without the dish.

Creamed Green Beans
Green beans, brought to Europe in the 16th century by returning Portuguese and Spanish explorers, are native to Mexico and Central America. Europeans, in turn, brought the beans back across the Atlantic to North America.

Cranberry Relish
Cranberry bogs greeted the settlers when they first arrived at the shores of the New World. In fact, cranberries, along with grapes & blueberries, are one of the few fruits native to North America.

At City Tavern - which dates back to the 1770s and likely hosted many of the country's founding fathers at one time or another - a number of the dishes offered at Thanksgiving have deep roots in this country's culinary history.

For example, Walter Staib and company offer a champagne shrub - a variation on a popular 18th-century drink made with fruit juice, vinegar seasoned with spices and sweetened with sugar, honey or maple syrup. While a shrub can contain a variety of alcoholic beverages, City Tavern spikes its version with champagne.

Here is a sampling of City Tavern's Thanksgiving menu, which shows a traditional feast that might have been served in the 18th Century.