Thanksgiving is near, and for this edition of Chefs Corner, we spoke with some of the area’s most experienced culinary artists regarding their favorite foods to make during the holiday season.
The Ann Arbor restaurant scene is a unique landscape featuring distinctive menus from filling steakhouses such as Knights, located on E. Liberty Street, to a mix of delicious delights like Venue by 4M. However, for this article, these chefs will each explain why the autumn holiday is one of their favorites to hit the kitchen and craft their most memorable spreads.
The holiday season is not only a time to spend with family and loved ones but also a moment to reflect on what holds special significance for us. In this article, we feature some of Ann Arbor’s most decorated cooks, each with over a decade of experience in their field. They share insights into their favorite meals to create and the reasons why each dish holds a special place in their hearts.
Jeremy Griener
Union Rec
Chef de Cuisine for 15 years.
What is your favorite meal to make on Thanksgiving day?
Vanilla Sweet Potato Mash
Why is that meal special to you?
That dish is my son’s favorite meal; it’s rewarding to find a dish that a picky kid loves to eat, then watch them go for seconds and thirds.
What’s your favorite food to eat on Thanksgiving day?
A perfectly cooked turkey. The turkey is never the same after the first day.
Manny Cruz
The Pretzel Bell
Chef for 12 years.
As a chef, what is your favorite meal to make on Thanksgiving day?
Turkey breast marinated with gravy from scratch.
Why is that meal special to you?
That’s a dish we’ve made for the past five years and it’s really good for our regular customers.
What’s your favorite food to eat on Thanksgiving day?
Everything.
Joseph Ludwig
Real Seafood Company
Chef for 10 years/Current General Manager.
What is your favorite meal to make on Thanksgiving day?
Simple, turkey. I love to take a turkey, brine it for about 24 hours, rinse it for any excess sugar, do some dry seasoning with “meat church,” then I’ll smoke it for anywhere between eight to 12 hours.
Why is that meal special to you?
It’s special to me because it was the first time I could get my daughter to eat turkey. But it has to be smoked and have that crunchy feel, or she won’t eat it. For me, it’s my biggest critic, my daughter.
What’s your favorite food to eat on Thanksgiving day?
My favorite is the drumstick of the turkey with stuffing, gravy on top of it, and cranberry sauce. You can’t go wrong with that.
Thad Gillies
Venue by 4M
Chef for 25 years.
What is your favorite meal to make on Thanksgiving day?
Turkey, because I perform a roulade. I de-bone the turkey, stuff it with pork sauce, and roll it up so the skin is outside. It allows the turkey to brine, and you can cook it for an hour, and it tastes so good.
Why is that meal special to you?
It’s fun to butcher down a full turkey because it takes a certain amount of skill. Turkeys are such a beast to cook in a home kitchen because they are so big. Turkey is always dry; this makes it a perfect protein to bring to the table.
What’s your favorite food to eat on Thanksgiving day?
I love so much stuff that I can’t commit to one thing. My favorite food is whatever I’m studying, and right now, I’m obsessed with Tom Yum soup. I just got those ingredients, and I’m working on that, so my favorite food is Tom Yum soup right now.
Robert Smart
Knights Steakhouse
Chef for 16 years.
What is your favorite meal to make on Thanksgiving day?
I love making stuffing, that or a roasted ham.
Why is that meal special to you?
My mom and dad love stuffing. To roast a proper ham takes a lot of patience; you have to keep an eye on it, and it takes a lot of glazing. The golden-brown flavor after you finish is so rewarding.
What’s your favorite food to eat on Thanksgiving day?
I have to go with mashed potatoes and gravy with a green bean casserole. I’m not a big fan of eating ham. I love cooking for other people, but for myself, nothing but mashed potatoes, stuffing, and the sides.
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Antonio Cooper is a freelance journalist from Detroit, Michigan. His coverage of music festivals and interviews with local celebrities appeared in The E-Current Magazine, The Detroit Metro Times, XXL Magazine, RichMagDigital, The Ann Arbor Observer, and Pop Magazine.
