In a time when Americans are supposed to be expressing gratitude for all that they have, it's puzzling that the centerpiece of their Thanksgiving celebrations is a bird that deserves little to no thanks. The truth is, most people can't say much good about turkey, except that it doesn't taste like biting into dry sand – although even that praise is largely a result of the extensive preparation required to make the bird palatable.
The fact remains, though: there's an abundance of other, far more delicious meats available. But for some reason, Thanksgiving turkey has become a tradition that refuses to die, despite being woefully unimpressive on its own. The only logical explanation is that Americans have been conditioned to believe that this flavorless bird holds some sort of symbolic significance.
It turns out that for Christian Paz, one of the self-proclaimed turkey aficionados, the appeal of the bird lies in its tradition and cultural iconography rather than any inherent taste or quality. Paz believes that there's something to be said about cooking a whole animal yourself – not just as a means of feeding others but also as an act of personal empowerment.
It's worth noting that while Paz acknowledges that turkey can come out dry, he also attributes this to the fact that people are usually in a hurry or don't know how to cook it properly. Deep-frying your own turkey is hardly a recipe for success, and Paz admits to having burned himself while making hams. This raises an interesting point: why do we settle for such a high-risk, low-reward cooking method just to enjoy our Thanksgiving meal?
In any case, if turkey isn't available on Thanksgiving, what would take its place? For Paz, it's probably just a roast chicken with Alison Roman's famous stuffing – but he does admit that steak is out of his league. He also mentions an affinity for thighs and wings in general, as well as the occasional salmon on Fridays.
Ultimately, it seems that turkey will remain the centerpiece of Thanksgiving celebrations, no matter how unpalatable it may be to many people. Perhaps this says something about American culture's deep-seated desire for tradition over taste or quality. Whatever the reason, it's clear that there are plenty of others out there who would rather celebrate with a delicious roast chicken and some tasty seafood instead.
The fact remains, though: there's an abundance of other, far more delicious meats available. But for some reason, Thanksgiving turkey has become a tradition that refuses to die, despite being woefully unimpressive on its own. The only logical explanation is that Americans have been conditioned to believe that this flavorless bird holds some sort of symbolic significance.
It turns out that for Christian Paz, one of the self-proclaimed turkey aficionados, the appeal of the bird lies in its tradition and cultural iconography rather than any inherent taste or quality. Paz believes that there's something to be said about cooking a whole animal yourself – not just as a means of feeding others but also as an act of personal empowerment.
It's worth noting that while Paz acknowledges that turkey can come out dry, he also attributes this to the fact that people are usually in a hurry or don't know how to cook it properly. Deep-frying your own turkey is hardly a recipe for success, and Paz admits to having burned himself while making hams. This raises an interesting point: why do we settle for such a high-risk, low-reward cooking method just to enjoy our Thanksgiving meal?
In any case, if turkey isn't available on Thanksgiving, what would take its place? For Paz, it's probably just a roast chicken with Alison Roman's famous stuffing – but he does admit that steak is out of his league. He also mentions an affinity for thighs and wings in general, as well as the occasional salmon on Fridays.
Ultimately, it seems that turkey will remain the centerpiece of Thanksgiving celebrations, no matter how unpalatable it may be to many people. Perhaps this says something about American culture's deep-seated desire for tradition over taste or quality. Whatever the reason, it's clear that there are plenty of others out there who would rather celebrate with a delicious roast chicken and some tasty seafood instead.
, but at the same time, I think it's kinda cool that Americans have stuck to their guns (or should I say, their plates?) when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner. It's like, even if turkey isn't the tastiest option, it's become this cultural thing that people just can't get rid of. And I'm all about tradition and all that, but sometimes I wish we could just mix things up a bit... like Paz said, cooking a whole animal yourself is pretty empowering, so maybe we should give that a shot? 
I was just thinking, have you guys ever tried deep-frying a sweet potato? 
It's literally insane how good it turns out! The crispy outside and fluffy inside is like a party in your mouth 
. I had it at this food truck last weekend and now I'm obsessed with making it at home. My only problem is, my apartment smells like burnt heaven 
, i mean, have u ever tried making ham from scratch? it's literally a whole different ball game 
. and paz's point about cooking a whole animal is def legit, but i think its also bout nostalgia and makin memories with fam & friends 
. tbh, if i had to pick somethin else for thanksgiving, id probs go w/ salmon or thighs, lol 
and then you gotta deal with all that fuss for like 1 day a year? i'm good, pass me the salmon or thighs any day 
! It's like why settle for something that can be dry if there are other options out there? 
I've tried deep-frying my own turkey before, let me tell you, it was a disaster 
! I think it's cool that people like Paz have their own preferences, like thighs and wings, or salmon on Fridays 
. Maybe Thanksgiving can be all about trying different recipes and finding your fave?