I’m a Food Editor. I Hate Thanksgiving Dinner. - The Opinions

Summary4 min read

Podcast Summary: "I’m a Food Editor. I Hate Thanksgiving Dinner"

Podcast Information:

Title: The Opinions
Host/Author: The New York Times Opinion
Episode: I’m a Food Editor. I Hate Thanksgiving Dinner
Release Date: November 25, 2024

Introduction

In this episode of The Opinions, hosted by The New York Times Opinion team, Margot Lafsky, an associate editor for New York Times Cooking, opens up about her unconventional stance on Thanksgiving dinner. Contrary to the traditional enthusiasm surrounding the holiday feast, Lafsky candidly shares her frustrations and explores alternative ways to celebrate Thanksgiving that resonate more with her personal and family preferences.

Margot Lafsky on Thanksgiving Dinner: A Personal Dilemma

Timestamp [00:42]

Margot Lafsky begins by expressing her dislike for Thanksgiving dinner, highlighting the monotony and rigidity she perceives in the traditional meal. She remarks:

“I kind of find that it's all sort of brown and soft and kind of one note.”
— Margot Lafsky [01:10]

Lafsky points out that despite the significant effort and planning involved in preparing the holiday meal—often starting as early as April or May—she finds the result unsatisfying. She criticizes the universal reliance on roast turkey, which she feels dominates the table without offering much variety or excitement.

“People try it and they go, that's good for turkey. It's like three weeks or a month of work and planning.”
— Margot Lafsky [01:45]

She also touches on the fleeting nature of the meal, noting that after all the preparation, the celebration often concludes within minutes of sitting down to eat.

Innovative Approaches to Thanksgiving

Timestamp [02:20]

Determined to find a more fulfilling way to celebrate, Lafsky shares her family's alternative approach to Thanksgiving. Rather than adhering to the conventional home-cooked meal, they opt for dining out at the same restaurant annually. This choice alleviates the stress of cooking and the subsequent mountain of dishes.

“It's not the best restaurant in the world. It's never gonna be reviewed by Pete Wells. But the food is solid and we can pick what we want from the menu.”
— Margot Lafsky [02:55]

This strategy allows each family member to choose dishes they enjoy:

Lafsky prefers options like filet mignon or salmon.
Her husband sticks to the classic Thanksgiving fare.
Their children opt for simpler dishes such as chicken tenders or pasta with butter.

The result is a harmonious meal where everyone leaves satisfied, followed by a relaxing evening at home without the burden of cleanup.

“And everybody leaves happy. And then we get to come home and nobody has any dishes to do and we watch White Christmas.”
— Margot Lafsky [03:10]

Challenging Traditional Norms

Timestamp [03:50]

Lafsky advocates for reimagining Thanksgiving to accommodate diverse tastes and preferences, emphasizing flexibility over tradition. She suggests that allowing individuals to choose their dishes can make the holiday more enjoyable and less stressful.

“If I could reinvent Thanksgiving, I would just make it more acceptable to sort of make whatever you want, you know, and not feel beholden to tradition.”
— Margot Lafsky [03:30]

She encourages others who share her aversion to the traditional meal to consider alternatives such as potlucks, delegating responsibilities, or incorporating favorite dishes from various cuisines.

Advice for Those Struggling with Thanksgiving Dinner

Timestamp [03:53]

Lafsky offers practical tips for listeners who find Thanksgiving dinner overwhelming or unenjoyable:

Diversify the Menu:
“Maybe bring a different dish this year to Thanksgiving to change it up a little bit.”
(Margot Lafsky [04:00])
Delegate Tasks:
“If you're normally the one in charge and you feel overwhelmed, delegate something.”
(Margot Lafsky [04:05])
Embrace Convenience:
“Don't be scared of store-bought things. Order the pies. Don't feel like you have to make all the pies.”
(Margot Lafsky [04:15])
Prioritize Enjoyment:
“Give yourself permission to do something that's really going to make you feel thankful and not resentful.”
(Margot Lafsky [04:20])

These strategies aim to reduce stress and enhance the overall appreciation of the holiday by focusing on gratitude rather than obligation.

Closing Thoughts

Margot Lafsky concludes by reaffirming her appreciation for the essence of Thanksgiving—gratitude and family time—while advocating for personalized celebrations that align better with individual and familial preferences. Her candid discussion offers a refreshing perspective for listeners who may feel constrained by traditional Thanksgiving expectations.

Production Credits

The episode was produced by Derek Arthur, Sophia Alvarez, Boyd, Vishaka Durba, Phoebe Lett, Christina Samulewski, and Jillian Weinberger. Editing was handled by Kari Pitkin, Alison Brusek, and Annie Rose Strasser. The engineering, mixing, and original music were crafted by Isaac Jones, Sonia Herrero, Pat McCusker, Carol Saburo, and Afim Shapiro, with additional music by Amin Sohota. The Fact Check team included Kate Sinclair, Mary Marge Locker, and Michelle Harris. Audience strategy was managed by Shannon Busta, Christina Samulewski, and Adrian Rivera, with Annie Rose Dresser serving as the executive producer of Times Opinion Audio.

Notable Quotes:

“It's all sort of brown and soft and kind of one note.”
— Margot Lafsky [01:10]
“It's like three weeks or a month of work and planning.”
— Margot Lafsky [01:45]
“It’s the last thing I want to do is to think about making my own.”
— Margot Lafsky [02:05]
“If I could reinvent Thanksgiving, I would just make it more acceptable to sort of make whatever you want.”
— Margot Lafsky [03:30]
“Give yourself permission to do something that's really going to make you feel thankful and not resentful.”
— Margot Lafsky [04:20]

This episode provides an insightful look into the pressures and expectations surrounding Thanksgiving dinner, offering listeners alternative approaches to celebrating the holiday in ways that prioritize personal well-being and family harmony.

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Transcript6 lines

[00:00]
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[00:29]
Podcast Host
This is the Opinions, a show that brings you a mix of voices from New York Times opinion. You've heard the news. Here's what to make of it.
[00:42]
Margot Lafsky
My name is Margot Lafsky, and I'm an associate editor for New York Times Cooking. It's fall, and we are thick in the season of preparing for Thanksgiving, which is the super bowl of New York Times cooking. It's very exciting. We're all very busy, but today I want to talk about the fact that I hate Thanksgiving dinner. I am not the only person. I'm just the only one willing to talk about it. I kind of find that it's all sort of brown and soft and kind of one note. The thing about turkey is even when you have a really good roast turkey, like the best you've ever made, people try it and they go, that's good for turkey. It's like three weeks or a month of work and planning. I don't love cooking it. And then, honestly, you know, you sit down and the meal is over in about 10 minutes. My colleagues are working very hard to create dishes for the Thanksgiving table that are not boring and bland and that are exciting and create some liveliness on the plate. We literally start talking about Thanksgiving in April or May. You know, we start making our plans and we do a retrospective, like, right after Thanksgiving. So it's like we spend so much of our professional lives thinking about Thanksgiving and thinking about Thanksgiving dinner. It's kind of the last thing I want to do is to think about making my own. I look forward to Thanksgiving Day. I'm not anti Thanksgiving. I like the idea of thankfulness and gratitude and all of those things, but. But I'm grateful that I don't have to eat turkey if I don't want to. We found a new way to celebrate Thanksgiving in our family that feels much more celebratory to me and much more calming. We go to the same restaurant every year. It's not the best restaurant in the world. It's never gonna be reviewed by Pete Wells. But the food is solid and we can pick what we want from the menu. I get filet mignon or salmon. My husband gets the classic Thanksgiving dinner. My kids get chicken tenders or pasta with butter. And everybody leaves happy. And then we get to come home and nobody has any dishes to do and we watch White Christmas. I think if I could reinvent Thanksgiving, I would just make it more acceptable to sort of make whatever you want, you know, and not feel beholden to tradition. Sometimes people don't even think about whether or not they like it. Cause it's just tradition. It's just what you do. But there are plenty of people in this country who cook different things. My favorite dish is the brussel sprouts, paella or jambalaya. Collard greens and Mac and cheese and so much chocolate. Sort of like world cornucopia of dishes. My mom and I make tacos.
[03:51]
Podcast Host
There would be bourbon.
[03:53]
Margot Lafsky
Just sort of the permission to make Thanksgiving whatever you want it to be. What would my advice be for people who hate Thanksgiving dinner as much as I do? Maybe bring a different dish this year to Thanksgiving to change it up a little bit. Or delegate. If you're normally the one in charge and you feel overwhelmed, delegate something. Suggest a potluck. Don't be scared of store bought things. Order the pies. Don't feel like you have to make all the pies. Give yourself permission to do something that's really going to make you feel thankful and not resentful. I'm sorry, it's the food editor who doesn't like Thanksgiving dinner.
[04:45]
Podcast Host
If you like this show, follow it on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts. This show is produced by Derek Arthur, Sophia Alvarez, Boyd, Vishaka Durba, Phoebe Lett, Christina Samulewski and Jillian Weinberger. It's edited by Kari Pitkin, Alison Brusek and Annie Rose Strasser. Engineering, mixing and original music by Isaac Jones, sonia Herrero, Pat McCusker, Carol Saburo and Afim Shapiro. Additional music by Amin Sohota. The Fact Check team is Kate Sinclair, Mary Marge Locker and Michelle Harris. Audience strategy by Shannon Busta, Christina Samulewski and Adrian Rivera. The executive producer of Times Opinion Audio is Annie Rose Dresser.