Bay Meadows

The scent of a seasonal bounty in the kitchen is a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season. This year, invite family and friends to feast at an autumnal potluck in your new home at Bay Meadows. Here are a few of our favorite tips for a holiday that will “Wow”:

White or red, your Thanksgiving wines need to be fruity with high acidity. For whites, think a bubbly Gewürztraminer or Riesling. For reds, a smooth Pinot Noir or a Zinfandel is a great choice.
Read: Thanksgiving Wine Pairings from Local Experts

Stick to one appetizer. If a cheese platter is your selection, a slab of slate works perfectly with chalk labels for each of the varieties. If you don’t own slate slabs, line the table with chalkboard paper and label each delectable cheese accordingly. Add a few bowls of stuffed olives and some crusty bread and your appetizer hour is set. From earthy wild mushroom crostini to a tangy red-pepper-and-nut dip, here are terrific 30-minute Thanksgiving hors d’oeuvres recipes.

Setting the scene: Wintry-looking plants like dusty miller and eucalyptus easily fill a vase and go a long way toward making your table feel homey and lush. Just be sure to cut stems short enough that you can still see across the table. We love how Kelly Oshiro Design incorporated vivid orange persimmons with cheery ranunculus, lush dahlias, and wild persimmon branches as pictured in the rustic centerpiece.

Let nature take lead: Use colorful leaves to set the holiday table scene. Leaves in brilliant autumn shades stand on their own—just grab a pen! Using wood slabs as both a placemat and place card holder can add a contemporary rustic element. Plump persimmons, pears or pomegranates in rich jewel tones are also perfect to adorn the table-scape. Read: 8 Creative Fall Table Settings

Keep it simple. Create a go-to table to leave elbow room for dining. Avoid over-stocking the dinner table with all the foods and décor. Use a single, long table or kitchen slab for the spread. Cake stands come in handy! Be sure to play with heights to create interest and make the most of your space.

Accidents happen. Don’t panic! From fixing dry stuffing to thickening watery gravy, here are a few of the cleverest Turkey Day rehab tips.

Too stuffed for dessert? Savor a seasonal cocktail instead! Try a sippable and not-too-sweet Pumpkin Pie Tipple or a Hot Pumpkin Tequila Toddy.

Take your holiday leftovers from boring to brilliant with a Turkey Bahn Mi Sandwich, Shepherd’s Pie, Cranberry Tartlets and much more. Enjoy 36 creative recipes to keep the party going.

Wishing you all a beautiful holiday from our homes to yours!

 

An ideally located community, Bay Meadows is only 10 minutes from Palo Alto, 20 minutes from San Francisco, and has 3 airports (SFO, OAK, SJC) within 30 miles. Bay Meadows is also located on Caltrain, which makes travel and commutes that much easier. Talk about convenient! Bay Meadows is the centralized place to reduce commutes, meet friends and play.  Looking for ideas of where to ride? Check out our bike map here.