Crystal Springs announces Thanksgiving plans

HAMBURG — Crystal Springs (1 Wild Turkey Way, Hamburg, has announced its plans for Thanksgiving.
With six options for Thanksgiving celebrations on Thursday Nov. 23, there is something for everyone, from a family friendly buffet with live entertainment to all-American and Italian-accented menus at Crystal Tavern and Springs Bistro to a creative five-course holiday menu at Restaurant Latour, and more.
The AAA-rated Grand Cascades Lodge will host a family Thanksgiving buffet with live music from 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. in the Emerald Ballroom. Guests can enjoy an array of seafood and antipasti from salumi and cheeses to vegetables and shrimp; a salad bar with Black Kale Salad, Toasted Red Quinoa & Barley Medley, Roasted Delicata Squash Salad and more; Pumpkin Apple Soup; a carving station with Turmeric Roasted Turkey, Maple Cured Rock of Pork, Rosemary Focaccia Stuffing, Homemade Chicken Sausage Stuffing, Pan Gravy with thyme honey cranberry sauce as well as other hot entrees, including 54 Hour Braised Short Rib, Chicken Scaloppini, Arctic Char and Butternut & Goat Cheese Lasagna. A bounty of desserts includes pumpkin pie, apple crumble, chocolate torte, cookies, mini pastries and fresh fruit. The buffet is $59 for adults, $25 for kids aged 4–11, kids under 4 are free (tax & gratuity additional).
Restaurant Latour will serve a five-course Thanksgiving menu from 1-7 p.m. for $125 (tax and gratuity additional). Executive Chef Anthony Bucco and Chef de Latour Martyna Krowicka have created an elegant feast of fall flavors and luxurious ingredients. Guests will start with treasures from the sea — oysters, caviar and sea urchin — paired with apples, followed by Chestnut Agnolotti crowned with white truffles. Hokkaido Scallops accompanied by garnet sweet potato and coffee soil, and Heritage Turkey with stuffing and fall vegetables, will follow. For dessert, Pumpkin roasted in hot ashes will be dressed with honey, pink peppercorns and brown butter.
Springs Bistro at Grand Cascades Lodge offers an Italian take on Thanksgiving with a three-course menu for $65 from 3-8 p.m. (Kids 11 and under $25). The menu starts off with a Shaved Fennel Salad or an Autumn Agnolotti with pancetta and sage. The main course is Traditional Turkey Dinner with all the trimmings. For dessert, guests can choose Dates with chocolate and almonds or Apple Pie. A wine pairing is available for $35.
Crystal Tavern will serve an all-American celebration of the season with a three-course prix fixe menu for $65 (kids 11 and under $25) featuring Potato Soup with smoked mussels, Fall Harvest Salad with pistachio and pomegranate, a Traditional Turkey Dinner with all the fixin’s, and a choice of either Pumpkin Pie or Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta. Crystal Tavern will be serving from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. A wine pairing is available for $35.
The Diamond Ballroom at Minerals Resort & Spa is another option for families with a bountiful buffet from 11:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. for $49.95 (Kids 4–11 $24.95, under 4 free) that’s sure to please everybody, serving Apple Cider Brined Turkey Breast; Rosemary & Garlic Encrusted Sirloin; Roulade of Pork with fennel and sausage; Rosemary-seared Salmon; decadent pastas, numerous salads and sides, and more. For dessert, there will be a myriad of assorted fresh baked fruit pies, pumpkin cheesecake, bourbon pecan pie, warm berry cobbler, cheesecake lollipops, pumpkin roll, brownies, blondies and much more. Kids have their own corner with mac ‘n’ cheese, chicken fingers, pizza bagels and more.
Black Bear Golf Resort will host its own Thanksgiving buffet featuring unlimited shrimp with homemade cocktail sauce; a carving station with Roasted Natural Turkey and Honey Roasted Ham; a hot buffet of Sautéed Chicken, Braised Pot Roast, Stuffed Shells, Panco Fried Flounder and more; and soups, salads, cheeses, fruits and gourmet breads. For dessert, guests will enjoy Thanksgiving favorites pumpkin pie, apple pie, pecan pie, fruit tarts, mini pastries and apple crumble.
— Story and photos courtesy of John Whiting