[Wilsonville] - More than half of Oregonians plan to enjoy a Thanksgiving feast with fewer hours of preparation and clean-up on November 25 this year by supplementing their meals with ready-to-eat takeout items, restaurant association research reveals. In addition, one in 10 Americans celebrated Thanksgiving Day by dining out last year. Oregon’s 9,000 restaurants also make the holidays more cheerful through service programs that provide for those in need, from organizing events to donating food and volunteering staff time.

"As cornerstones of communities across the state, Oregon’s restaurants have become an integral part of the Thanksgiving tradition. Restaurants provide holiday dishes that give Oregonians the opportunity to spend less time in the kitchen and more time together with family and friends over the holiday," said Mike McCallum, Oregon Restaurant Association's president and chief executive officer. "Many restaurants also exemplify the spirit of giving by serving their communities, demonstrating the restaurant industry's position as the cornerstone of community involvement by organizing and serving Thanksgiving Day meals to those in need."

A traditional meal made easy

Restaurants offer consumers nutritious, traditional and creative Thanksgiving dishes without the hours of planning, shopping and cooking--not to mention cleaning up. Fifty-three percent of Oregonians will rely on food prepared away from home for part or all of their Thanksgiving dinners. Many restaurants are open on Thanksgiving, providing diners opportunities to spend more quality time with family and friends. In fact, 11 percent of Americans have their Thanksgiving Day meal at a restaurant.

Those living in smaller households and households without children are more likely to dine out on Thanksgiving. Males are more likely than females to eat at a restaurant on the holiday. Generally, younger adults are more likely to use restaurant takeout items as part of their Thanksgiving meal at home.

Many restaurants open their doors during the Thanksgiving holiday to provide diners with a variety of traditional and creative menu options, whether dining in the restaurant or using takeout options. Oregon diners choosing to have a restaurant provide their Thanksgiving Day meal will have several options. A few examples around the state:

Bistro 921 at the Hilton Portland and Executive Tower is having a special buffet on Thanksgiving Day and then offering a special ala carte menu in the evening. Awbrey Glen Golf Club in Bend is offering a traditional Thanksgiving buffet dinner with some unique offerings created by their chef. The manager at Eugene City Brewery works alone on Thanksgiving Day to keep the restaurant open for customers without a home to visit for the holiday.

Hilltop Inn of Lincoln City is continuing their tradition of serving a complete Thanksgiving meal to about 200 diners, many of whom are seniors, offering a petite portion or regular portion. “It is a lot of work in a short period of time, but we have so many seniors in our area who are unable to do all the cooking, but yet really enjoy the festive meal,” said Judy LaFreeda. “We keep our prices very reasonable. It is not a day to make money, but rather give back to the community.”

Giving thanks through community service

In the wake of recent disasters of the Gulf Coast region and Florida hurricanes, restaurants continue to reach out to the community this Thanksgiving. More than 800 Oregon restaurants participated in the October 5 Dine for America event to raise funds for those affected via the American Red Cross. Year-round, nine out of 10 restaurants are actively engaged in some type of charitable activity and Thanksgiving provides yet another opportunity to underscore their commitment to their neighbors.

Many restaurants close in honor of their employees and their hard work, so they can spend time with family or friends, and then donate food, money, or space for charitable work through the rest of the year. However, countless restaurants across Oregon exemplify the spirit of community service by providing holiday meals and volunteer time to shelters, charities, individuals and families in their local communities. Some examples:

This is the first Thanksgiving open at McKeown's of Seaside. In addition to offering a buffet, the restaurant is hosting a “Family Table,” whereby a local family in need will be invited to enjoy the holiday buffet. All leftovers will be donated to a local church that hosts a Sunday Supper for those in need of a hot meal. Black Bear Diner in Bend will be serving a traditional, home-style Thanksgiving Feast (take out is available) and will be donating a case of turkey to their local Salvation Army to help feed those in need. Bistro Maison of McMinnville is donating a full buffet of appetizers to the local senior center for their Thanksgiving dinner, in addition to serving dinner by Chef Jean-Jacques Chatelard featuring both a standard a'la carte menu and holiday 3-course menu.

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