For dinner, we combine many of the Thanksgiving classic dishes from America with our favorite cultural foods. Bread stuffing, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, cranberry sauce, two types of fruit-infused Persian rice (albaloo and shirin polo), fesenjoon (a delicious Persian stew made with pomegranate), and barg (beef tenderloin prepared Persian style) are just several of the cross-cultural dishes served. Dessert is all about the pies—from pumpkin and apple pie to strawberry rhubarb and a seven-layer fall pie—ice creams, brownies, pakhlava, fruit, and cookies.
Thanksgiving is always all about gratitude, family, and feasting. In Armenian culture, the family is of utmost importance, and eating our favorite Thanksgiving foods together is just one way my family and I bond during this time of year—we spend a week together indulging, traveling around Michigan, staying up late playing poker and board games, laughing, and loving. This year is a bit different, but we typically host as many people in our home as possible; Thanksgiving usually feels like one giant sleepover with our loved ones.
Another Thanksgiving tradition I’ll miss: several of my family members are also University of Michigan alumni, so a part of the family traipses off to attend the weekend college football game out in the blistering cold while the rest of us shop 'til we drop or hang out at the house. After a week spent together, we all part ways with our bellies full and hearts even fuller, excitedly awaiting our next reunion.
Multicultural Thanksgiving Dishes