Three Memphis chefs discuss their Thanksgiving traditions

Outside of the time spent with loved ones, the most anticipated portion of the holiday is the food, and copious amounts of it. From turkey, ham and stuffing to casseroles running the gamut from sweet potato to green bean — everyone has a favorite Thanksgiving dish.

In the spirit of food and the upcoming holiday, three of Memphis’ most renowned and decorated chefs, chef Kelly English of Restaurant Iris and The Second Line, chef Erling Jensen of Erling Jensen’s Restaurant and chef Jimmy Sinh of Sushi Jimmi, discussed what their typical Thanksgiving was like as well as their favorite foods or traditions.

Kelly English

What is Thanksgiving Day like for you?

Kelly English: “I value it so much for family time. But the funny thing about being a chef is, it’s a day of cooking, right? So you finally get a fucking day off, and everyone wants us to cook dinner for everybody, which is great, this is what we love to do, but it’s not necessarily a day off for us.â€

Jimmy Sinh: “Normally, whenever we do any kind of holiday or birthday, we always get traditional Chinese dishes, which are roast duck and roast pork. Two years ago, we started doing more Americanized stuff, which is a mix with the turkey and do a little mix with the Asian culture food also.â€

Erling Jensen: “With me and my family, it’s either we invite the whole family to come to our house, or we go to some of my wife’s aunts’ or uncles’ houses and have the same old bake spread; ham, turkey, sweet potato pie — whatever they call them. I don’t know half of them, but I’ll eat it.â€

Do you do most of the cooking?

Kelly English: “Your family that doesn’t get to see you often is in town, and they’re like, ‘oh, let’s get chef to make me whatever.’ Which is great, I love cooking for my family. Because we are busy the day before and day after, Thanksgiving has pretty much become at my house. I’ll be fair, it’s easier for me to prep and get ready — I have a restaurant at my arsenal.â€

Jimmy Sinh: “I do the majority of the cooking. This year, I told my family since we have a restaurant now, it’s a lot easier for us to do anything like Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas. Cooking has always been my passion, so I never really get tired of it. I’d rather cook than someone else cook because I know what I am capable of, and if I don’t do it, then everybody would be kind of sad about it when the aftermath comes out.â€

Erling Jensen: “I don’t do any cooking. I hadn’t cooked at home yet. Not. A. Thing. When we go to someone else’s house, we’ll bring a ham, or my wife, she will do some dessert or something. She’s good at that.â€

What is your favorite Thanksgiving food or tradition? 

Kelly English: “My grandmother’s forgotten cookies. It’s a merengue cookie that’s got pecans and vanilla and chocolate chips in it — it’s badass. I’m sworn to secrecy on her recipe. The first couple years, we would give them out at night (in our restaurants). You know what, I think I want to do that again this year.â€

Jimmy Sinh: “Growing up, my mom taught us not to really depend on anything because we grew up so poor. So, once you make something your favorite, you’re going to expect it every single time, so I didn’t have a favorite then. Now, my favorite dish, to tell you truth, is the red potato. Either you make the mashed potato or any kind of baked potato — that’s my favorite.â€

Erling Jensen: “Some ham and some turkey and some stuffing, some good gravy, sauce, whatever we call it. (Thanksgiving) wasn’t a big deal for me, where I come from, there is no Thanksgiving since there’s no Pilgrims in Denmark. They kind of showed up over here.â€