Complete with an extra-long dining table, comfortable furniture and a fully equipped kitchen, the set had everything needed to host a welcoming Thanksgiving among friends.
Team Effort
With the guests expected to arrive soon, Bobby Flay and Katie Lee had little time to spare as they started prep work on the turkey and stuffing. Here Bobby lended a helping hand to season Katie's down-home cornbread stuffing laced with a rich four-herb butter.
Cheers to the Season
What better way to kick off the party than with a cool, refreshing cocktail? Bobby and Katie joined Sunny Anderson in raising their glasses of crimson spiced sangria and toasted to the occasion before they got to work on the rest of the menu.
Thanksgiving Presents
Alex Guarnaschelli dropped by but not empty-handed. She brought with her not one but two holiday offerings for the group: a molasses-based Indian Pudding and a bottle of entwine red wine. "I'm always looking for something besides the 14 pies that I'm definitely going to make and eat and stare at the entire time I'm eating," Alex said of her dessert.
Basting Never Ends
As Bobby checked on his turkey during the cooking process, he brushed the skin of the meat with a sweet and savory mixture of mustard and maple syrup. "Hey, turkey, who are you wearing?" Sunny jokingly questioned the bird as it shimmered with a glistening glaze within the oven.
Signature Dish
"It's not a party at my house without deviled eggs," Katie told the group as she dished out her two-bite appetizer. These classic beauties were filled with a rich, tangy mix of egg yolks and a squeeze of mustard.
Michael Symon Made Five
Sure enough, he indeed showed up — and even with a decadent chocolate-laced pumpkin pie, which Sunny eyed in a hurry.
Reinventing Southern Tradition
"I'm just letting you know," Sunny, a Southern gal, told Michael of his greens, "My grandma wants your cellphone number if there's no pork in that pot." Although it may not be classic, Michael's dish featured smoked turkey wings instead of the usual ham hock.
Rehashing Old Rivalries
While Iron Chef America's Thanksgiving: Past and Present battle is long behind them, Alex and Michael couldn't help but revisit that fateful cook-off. "I want a rematch," Alex said after Michael joked that he and Bobby, who won the contest against her and Iron Chef Zakarian, "have a turchetta downstairs."
Setting the Scene
As the guys got to work on Michael's smoked turkey greens, Sunny, Katie and Alex put the finishing touches on the dinner table in the next room. "I think it's really great that we have all this tablescaping, but let's face facts: When it comes time to eat at Thanksgiving, your table should be empty," Alex said. "You're just going to fill it with food."
Cauliflower to Remember
Not your ordinary cauliflower side dish, Alex's recipe for herb-topped cauliflower steaks offered a hearty, flavor-forward preparation the cast couldn't get enough of. "Leave it to Alex G. to make cauliflower this exciting," Katie noted.
Better Together
Close friends Bobby and Michael shared the kitchen as they worked on the greens and gravy, and Alex couldn't help but predict, "This is going to be the Thanksgiving bromance of the century."
Anticipation Is Building
As is true in many homes on Thanksgiving, the final moments before eating are often the most exciting, and that was indeed the case on set. "We're just about there," Bobby proclaimed before finishing the last step of the meal: carving the turkey.
Special Reflection
As the group dug into their brimming plates, Katie suggested each person tell what they're thankful for this year, and everyone quickly took part. "I'm thankful for such great friends to cook Thanksgiving dinner with and to be with you guys and share a meal," Katie noted.
Thanksgiving 2014 and Beyond
Reflecting on the holiday, Bobby said, "It's about making traditions, and hopefully, this is the start of a new one and we'll spend many, many more Thanksgivings together."
Get the Recipes
Learn the how-tos for making all of the eats and drinks featured on Thanksgiving and Bobby's.
