Thanksgiving Preparation Checklist

Preparing for Thanksgiving can be overwhelming and stressful for the average American. For foodservice professionals, the pressure is even higher. According to FSR Magazine, nearly 10% of Americans plan on eating their Thanksgiving feast at a restaurant. Furthermore, 4% plan on ordering their entire meal from a restaurant, and 9% plan on picking up parts of their meal from a restaurant. These numbers create one of the busiest times of the year for professional cooks.

Don’t worry! Take a deep breath andwe’ll help you succeed with our handy-dandy Thanksgiving preparation checklist. With proper planning, you can create a smooth workflow for your team and give your customers a meal they will savor. Imagine how many special family moments and memories your food will help create.

#1: Planning Your Holiday Menu

Brainstorm About Dishes

You can feature traditional dishes, traditional dishes with a twist, or something different. Consider offering a deep-fried turkey for a modern twist or a classic roast turkey with a unique spice rub. Instead of the usual pumpkin pie, you might serve a bourbon pecan pie or a cranberry cheesecake. Take advantage of Fall produce like butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, and apples to create locally sourced cuisine.

Offer a dish that challenges your culinary skills, which the average home cook wouldn’t attempt. Take advantage of Fall produce to create locally sourced cuisine. Thanksgiving is the time to let your creativity flow.

Once you know what you want to serve, move on to the next step.

Calculate Prices and Portions

Calculate the supplies you will need to create your feast. For instance, if you plan to serve 200 guests, determine the amount of turkey, stuffing, and sides needed per guest. Set portion sizes, such as 6 ounces of turkey per person. Communicate with your staff about what’s expected, and inform your customers about what you plan on offering through social media or email newsletters. The further in advance you finish your calculations, the smoother your Thanksgiving preparations will be.

Check Sourcing and Inventory

Take inventory of what you have and figure out what you need. If your signature dish is cranberry sauce, ensure you have a reliable supply of fresh cranberries. Order as early as possible to avoid last-minute rushes and vendors running out of supplies. Create a priority list of ingredients, like turkeys, cranberries, and potatoes, to ensure key ingredients won’t be missing.

#2: Creating a Schedule

Plan your schedule and your staff’s schedule as early as possible. Anticipate peak hours and make sure enough staff is available for your busiest shifts, such as the evening before Thanksgiving and lunchtime on the day itself.

Brief Your Team

Review your menu with your staff beforehand. They might offer invaluable feedback to improve what you're offering or to facilitate sourcing. Your sous chef might suggest a more efficient method for preparing stuffing. Informing them beforehand also ensures that your servers can confidently recommend the specials and upsell other items on the menu.

Consider Seasonal Help

Extra people (if you can find them!) will help handle the increased demand. Bringing in extra kitchen staff or servers during the week leading up to Thanksgiving can help manage the rush and ensure everything runs smoothly. Avoid bottlenecks in your workflow with an extra sous chef or dishwasher.

#3: Preparing Your Kitchen and Equipment

Inspect

Inspect all kitchen equipment for reliability. Check ovens so you can bake pies and roast turkey. Check refrigerators and freezers to guard against food spoilage and to create enough space for your pre-holiday preparations. Make sure all your essential tools are in top working order. If you plan on offering fried turkey, then you need your deep fryer to be operating at 100%.

Do a Deep Clean

Along with a thorough Spring cleaning, it’simportant to conduct a Fall cleaning. This process helps you to maintain hygiene and efficiency in your commercial kitchen. Clean and sanitize all surfaces, tools, and equipment. Scrub the oven interiors, sanitize prep surfaces, and clean out the refrigerators.

The extra cleaning before the holiday rush maximizes food safety and optimizes your staff’s efficiency.

Prepare Backups

Add your technician to your favorite phone numbers just in case. If you discover problems with your equipment, call the technician as soon as possible. Have a list of rental equipment companies ready. You might need to rent backup equipment if something critical breaks down.

Also, have extra supplies on hand in case of emergencies. Order extra kitchen knives, food preparation equipment, baking smallwares, and tabletop items.

#4: Early Food Preparation and Storage

Cook in Batches

Prepare as much food as possible in advance, especially dishes you can cook in large quantities such as cranberry sauce and stuffing. Pre-cook and freeze pie crusts. Figure out which vegetables remain fresh if chopped and stored correctly.

Label in Advance

Clearly label all pre-prepared items to avoid confusion. Label containers with the dish's name, date of preparation, and any special instructions. This ensures that everything is easily identifiable and can be accessed quickly.

Optimize Storage

Store all food items properly to maintain freshness and safety. Allocate dedicated space for bulk items in your dry storage walk-ins. Make sure you have enough space in your cold storage for ready-to-go ingredients, and keep those ingredients as easy to access as possible. Use airtight containers, organize items by category, and mark expiration dates.

#5: Maximize Your Time and Space

Prepare the Dining Room

Set up the dining area well in advance. Arrange seating to accommodate comfortably both large and small parties. Decorate the dining room with a fall motif and traditional Thanksgiving items, like cornucopias and pumpkins. Ensure all chairs are stable, and create a cozy ambiance with strategic lighting.

Create a Takeout Strategy

Designate a specific area in your kitchen for preparing takeout orders. Organize your packaging in advance. Set up a designated pickup area. Use sturdy, insulated containers for hot items and have a clear system for labeling and organizing orders. No one wants to bring the wrong order home on Thanksgiving.

Streamline Packaging

Use efficient packaging solutions to handle takeout orders. Purchase an ample amount of quality containers that don’t leak or compromise food safety. Consider using compartmentalized containers to keep different foods separated. Consider purchasing an insulated food pan carrier to maximize freshness and efficiency.

#6: Front-of-House Planning

Manage Reservations

Avoid overbooking by keeping extra careful track of reservations. Confirm reservations in advance and manage your seating arrangements accordingly. Confirm that you can easily track and update bookings with your reservation system.

Optimize timing to avoid overcrowding and maintain steady table turns so your wait staff doesn’t get overwhelmed and burnt out.

Check Your Point of Sale Setup

Ensure that your point of sale (POS) system is fully functional. Test all payment processing equipment and train staff on its use (especially if you’ve hired temporary help). Check that your card readers are working and that your POS software is up to date.

Train Waitstaff

Provide thorough training to waitstaff on the menu, specials, and customer service protocols. This ensures a smooth dining experience for guests. It is a good idea to conduct a training session where staff can taste the dishes and learn key details to share with customers.

Give waitstaff scripts with clear language to promote specials and increase order averages with extras (like dessert!).

#7: Thanksgiving Day Workflow

Optimize Communication

Maintain clear communication with your team throughout the day. Use headsets, walkie-talkies, or other communication tools to keep the front-of-house and back-of-house connected. You can set up a group messaging chat for quick updates and problem-solving.

Boost Staff Morale

Keep staff morale high by providing encouragement and support. A positive work environment can enhance productivity and customer service. Offer small perks like snacks, drinks, a gift certificate, or a team meal to show appreciation. Offer bigger incentives like an increased wage for holiday hours.

Maintain Your Sense of Humor

Thanksgiving can be hectic, but maintaining your sense of humor alleviates stress. Encourage your team to stay positive and enjoy the experience. Mentally prepare for mishaps. Imagine how to react with humor to broken dishes or spilled drinks instead of anger.

#8: Clean-Up and Assessment

Learn from Mistakes

After the event, review what went well and what didn’t. Use staff feedback to improve future holidays. Hold a debriefing meeting with your team to discuss successes and areas for improvement. As on the day of Thanksgiving, stay positive and encouraging.

Check Your Inventory

Take inventory of remaining supplies and ingredients. This helps in planning for future events and minimizing waste. Note any surplus items that you can use in upcoming menus. Also, make note of which supplies you need to replenish.

Give Thanks to Customers

Show appreciation to your customers for their patronage. A simple thank you can leave a lasting impression and encourage repeat business. Send a thank-you email or offer a discount on their next visit as a token of gratitude.

Ready, Set, Turkey Time

If you have any questions about your equipment and supplies, call or email us. Take advantage of Culinary Depot’s experience and industry knowledge. We’re here to help you succeed during your busiest and quietest times.