Nikki’s Thanksgiving Letter

Nikki’s Thanksgiving at Home

I park my car. The street behind the Bistro is covered with shades of gold and hues of red.

Has fall come already? Wait, its thanksgiving week!

As the founder of Bistro To Go, I know this season all too well-It’s a whirlwind of food, late nights in the kitchen, and festive gatherings. My life has revolved around nurturing people through food. My husband, my restaurant, significant events for our clients and community organizations. Like any business owner my values and passions are woven into the fabric of my company….and my company has merged into my life.

Thanksgiving holds special meaning to me, though not in the traditional sense. As a child our table was not filled with holiday cheer, family traditions, turkey with all the trimmings or the relatives coming from miles away. I have never stopped for a second to miss something I never knew. While I watched other families gather, I felt excited and inspired to create a family experience of my own…everywhere and especially at this season.

It all began at Case Western in Cleveland, Ohio, while I was attending art college. During the holidays, only a few stayed behind on campus. With a few hours of shopping, a two-burner dorm stove, and a fold up table in the hallway, there it was – my version of “a family celebration.”

After college, what I thought would be a year off and maybe a job search into an art career — turned into seven years employed as a manager for Wendy’s of Greater Pittsburgh. (BTW back then one of the best places I ever worked) One year the corporate office announced a simple little holiday contest to decorate windows. And once again, there it was, a great reason for a Thanksgiving party!  With Walt Disney mouse themes painted on the windows, I served dinner to the staff, customers and folks that had no where to be. In the Wendy’s dining room on Thanksgiving Day-I was home. Everyone got involved. Tasks were assigned. Whipping the mashed potatoes, simmering a pot of cinnamon cider on the flat grill and setting the tables. It all came together effortlessly. We gathered and shared what we were thankful for amidst the pumpkin pie.  My heart was full.  With each passing year, my guest list expanded. The locations changed. An Irish holiday. A New York holiday. A later trip to culinary school elevated the food and every year my chosen “family” continued to grow.

In the few years I wasn’t in a restaurant, friends invited me into their homes. It created new memories I will always cherish, but nothing compared to the “home experiences” I had built. The past 17 years this occurs every day in my own business Bistro To Go. Each year I have cooked turkey basted in maple butter, sliced thousands of loaves of fresh bread for stuffing and stayed up very late making cranberry chutney.

This year Bistro To Go Café will be open from 10-2 on Thanksgiving day. It’s been a while since we actually opened on the holiday. I realized how much I missed it, and you.

As I stand in the cozy warmth of our kitchen, I am watching the Bistro chefs thoughtfully prepare the most significant meal for many families. The aroma of holiday cooking fills the air and once again, I am home. Thanksgiving is marked by a celebration of gratitude and the beautiful chaos of togetherness. This year as you plan your day, I invite you to join me in creating new memories, because here at Bistro To Go everyone is welcome at our table, and together we are home.