DIY Thanksgiving

One of the advantages of celebrating Thanksgiving abroad is that you can fudge the date a little, and set aside your Saturday for cooking rather than rushing to fix dinner after work on Thursday.

However, finding the right ingredients poses a challenge that takes more than the usual trip to Billa, Albert or Tesco. But, with a little planning and a trip or two to specialty shops, you should be able to assemble everything you need.

For the main event, turkeys, or krůty, can be found whole and frozen at local supermarkets. The trick is buying your bird well in advance, as thawing takes about 24 hours per 4 pounds (1.8 kg) in the refrigerator, and 30 minutes per pound (0.45 kg) in cold water.

Robertson's, the expat butcher, is selling whole fresh birds at both its locations. Buyers were supposed to order ahead, but you can probably still get one, as the butcher was expecting large shipments for both the holiday and the weekend after. If you don't need the whole bird, Robertson's is also selling turkey crowns (breast with bone and skin) for 184 Kč/kg, turkey breast for 194 Kč/kg and turkey rolls with sausage meat stuffing, sage and onion stuffing, Ocean Spray cranberry sauce and jelly. (Jugoslávských partyzánů 38, Prague 6, or Nuselská 60, Prague 4. Tel. 233 321 142. www.robertsons.cz.)

Red Hot and Blues is serving its own Thanksgiving meal, but its attached store carries American standards for sale like canned cranberry sauce, Stove Top stuffing, canned pumpkin, pie shells and the all-important marshmallows to top your sweet potato casserole. (Jakubska 12, Prague 1-Old Town. Tel. 222 314 639.)

Culinaria lets you take the easy route to a Thanksgiving meal, offering both non-serviced and serviced caterings Nov. 26-28. Whole turkeys are available cooked or uncooked, as well as custom carvings to suit your tastes for white or dark meat. Side dishes and items like pumpkin puree, homemade cranberry sauce, gravies and pecans are available in varying sizes. To keep it really simple, order Thanksgiving dinners by the plate for 399 Kč and take home turkey, chestnut bacon stuffing, glazed carrots, roast sweet potato and a slice of one of several types of pie. (Skořepka 9, Prague 1. Tel. 224 231 017.)

Frutapura delivers fresh, hard-to-find produce anywhere in Prague, including butternut squash, pumpkins and fresh cranberries. For the holiday, Frutapura is offering a Thanksgiving Day box. For 750 Kč, you get 14 different vegetables and fruits, including corn, fresh cranberries, sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts and butternut squash. Delivery is 75 Kč or free for orders of more than 1,200 Kč. Order through the Web site at www.frutapura.cz or call 775 719 436.

It's history

In hindsight, the "Long live Babylon" headline on an October 2007 Prague Post review of the restaurant Babylon is cringe-worthy. Babylon has gone the way of its biblical predecessor. In the opinion of a nearby resident who called in to tip us off, the eatery was simply too expensive for its Nusle neighborhood. "Let's hope for some longevity this time," were the final words in Dave Faries' review. If wishes were fishes ?

Upscale budget dining

Kampa's Mlýn restaurant is trying a number of strategies to keep customers coming during leaner times. For starters, the restaurant has reduced prices, with daily specials ranging from 98 to 165 Kč. To further entice families, children eat free on weekdays and can choose from three different menu items. On Fridays, diners can enjoy the musical and dance stylings of the African performance group Njachas while sampling West African cuisine from Chef Norberta Hojdy. (U Sovových mlýnů 2, Prague 1-Kampa. Tel. 724 699 565.)

New on Old Town Square

Occupying a prime spot on Old Town Square doesn't mean Caffrey's wants to sit on its location laurels. In commemoration of the 250th anniversary of Guinness, the Irish pub sent its cooks to Ireland earlier this year for a course in "Pub Food for a New Era." Guinness is currently being offered at a special price while the restaurant holds its World Goulash Festival, which features three different versions of goulash every day for 175 Kč. So far, the most popular has been the New Orleans Turkey Goulash, according to owner Frank Haughton. (Staroměstské nám. 10, Prague 1-Old Town. Tel. 224 828 031.)

Winter gala

La Chaine des Rotisseurs, a gastronomy and culinary arts club, is holding its final event of the year, a winter gala dinner, Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Radisson Alcron. Chef Roman Paulus has created a menu that will be paired with wines selected by member David Patek, especially imported for the event. Cost is 3,750 Kč for members and 4,000 Kč for guests. For more information, check Chaine.cz.

Claire Compton can be reached at
ccompton@praguepost.com