While many students indulge in lavish homemade feasts this
weekend, other Bruins unable to make the journey home may only have
their dreams of hot turkey and fluffy potatoes to savor.
But help is at hand to satisfy the cravings of students doomed
to spend the break at UCLA, with several restaurants in Westwood
Village offering Thanksgiving meals fit for royalty.
Jerry’s Famous Deli, located on Weyburn Avenue, will be
serving individual Thanksgiving plates this week comprised of
turkey slices, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy
and sweet potatoes.
Jerry’s Deli also offers whole turkey dinners in their
restaurants for parties of 10 people ““ or alternatively
smaller groups of customers who fancy their eating abilities.
For those who envision Thanksgiving parties with fellow students
not going home, Broxton Avenue-based Damon & Pythias is
preparing catered Thanksgiving meals for groups of eight and groups
of 12.
These feasts offer all the fare of traditional Thanksgiving
meals, including the choice between an apple or pumpkin pie for the
12-person orders.
“People who want to place orders should do so very
soon,” said manager Mike McCarty. “We probably have
already sold around 20 orders.”
Even vegetarians can find comfort in Westwood over Thanksgiving,
with Native Foods on Gayley Avenue selling Wellingtons.
“A Wellington is a puff pastry filled with seitan,
carmelized onions, portabello mushrooms, organic green chard and
ruby red chard,” said Native Foods manager Mike Wozniak.
For those reaching for a vegetarian’s dictionary, seitan
is a form of wheat-based protein used as a meat substitute, while
chard is a vegetable similar to spinach.
Native Foods’ Wellingtons feed approximately six people,
and are 15 to 16 inches long by three-and-a-half inches wide.
But while many restaurants including Native Foods are catering
or offering special Thanksgiving meals to entice customers, most
eateries in Westwood ““ and indeed across the nation ““
will be closed on Thursday.
The partial depletion of a student-customer base in Westwood
during the end of the week and over the weekend will affect all
businesses in Westwood, McCarty said.
“We anticipate that we will not be very busy,” he
said. “Some businesses in Westwood will be closed for four
days.”
Jerry’s Deli manager Tony Aguilar said he expects business
to be a little slower because families spend Thanksgiving at
home.
“Lots of people cook their dinner at home, so less will
probably come here to eat,” he said.
But some business owners said they think the break may have some
positive effects on business.
“Off the top of my head, I would say we won’t be as
busy,” said Joe McNamara, manager of popular night spot
Westwood Brewing Company, located on Glendon Avenue.
“But maybe the holiday will bring people from the area who
do not usually go out,” he added.
Certainly, Westwood Village still has entertainment attractions
that could feasibly draw crowds eager to enjoy time off work or
others recovering from Thursday eating sprees, sick of sitting
around the dining table.
“There are lots of good movies out right now
““Â that might help,” McCarty said.