There?s a new tradition for the all-American Thanksgiving holiday ? dining out.
Thousands of Marylanders are expected to leave the cooking to culinary professionals at restaurants around the region.
“Dining out for Thanksgiving is gaining in popularity each year,” said Licia Spinelli, director of marketing and special events for the Restaurant Association of Maryland. “As more restaurants are offering Thanksgiving feasts, there must be a demand.”
Andrew J. Cherlin, a sociologist and professor of public policy at Johns Hopkins University?s Department of Sociology, said more working parents and high incomes often translate into Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant.
“Some people are too busy working to take time to prepare a traditional meal,” Cherlin said. “The percentage of people eating at restaurants is going up, but most people are still [having Thanksgiving dinner] at home. A nice festive restaurant meal with family gathered around the table could be as meaningful as a dinner at home for many people,” he said.
The Restaurant Association has a Web site ? www.marylandrestaurants.com/dining/thanksgiving.asp ? where its 3,000-plus member restaurants can post Thanksgiving specials. On Monday, five restaurants were listed, with more expected by Tuesday.
Ashley Smith, the front office manager of the Baltimore Marriott Hunt Valley Inn in Hunt Valley, whose Cinnamon Tree Restaurant is taking reservations for Thursday?s Thanksgiving dinner, said prime rib, blackened salmon and crawfish tails will be served, along with the traditional holiday fare.
Reservations are “about even with last year,” Smith said, though “we are expecting a little more to pop up in the next couple of days.”
“People are booking at the last possible moment,” he said.
More than 700 reservations have been made at the restaurant, which will serve from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and from 5:30 to 10 p.m.
At Windows Restaurant and Lounge in downtown Baltimore?s Renaissance HarborPlace Hotel, about 400 people are expected for dinner between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
“Part of it is the natural swing of today?s people wanting to eat out,” said Sandy Lamm, Window?s director of food and beverage. “Eating out does not take time away from the family to prepare a meal.”
