As Thanksgiving approaches, the big debate isn’t about football, clothes, or even Black Friday sales; it’s about the food. What dish is truly the star of the table? We asked students and teachers at Cresskill High School to weigh in and rank the most popular foods. From stuffing to the ongoing turkey-versus-ham showdown, we gathered controversial opinions and even a few exclusive recipes.
- Stuffing
Without a doubt, stuffing is the clear winner in the popularity contest with teachers especially loyal to this holiday classic. Mr. Boita, the biology teacher, is very passionate about his Thanksgiving stuffing. His favorite version combines sausages, celery, onions, thyme, and more, stuffed into a turkey to “absorb the good turkey juices.” But while he proudly claims that “stovetop recipes do not compare” and stresses the need for the dish to be homemade, Mr. Boita insists on keeping his stuffing recipe a secret.
Mr. Surgent and Mr. Sinclair, both history teachers, also share Mr. Boita’s love for stuffing, with Mr. Surgent reminiscing about his grandma’s recipe. He even gave us the inside scoop on how to perfect the turkey-stuffing taste. “My wife and I use a cheesecloth and we basically cook the whole turkey with butter and herbs and take the drippings and put it over the cheesecloth and it’s so good.”
Mr Mejia, however, adds a unique perspective to the debate. “I’ll eat stuffing, but it’s a side, not a dish,” he says passionately. “Stuffing depends on other things; you can’t have stuffing without stuffing it into something else. But pie? Pie can stand on its own. Stuffing can’t.”
Which leads to the second most popular dish: pie.
- Pie
Pie is undeniably a favored fall treat with many claiming it as their top choice. Both students and teachers share a love for it, which is no surprise given its versatility.
Ms. Griffin, a beloved substitute teacher and an avid fan of pumpkin pie, shares her opinion of the dessert. She prefers hers homemade with everything built from scratch including the scoop of whipped cream she puts on top. “We gotta stay skinny!” she jokes, emphasizing the importance of a sugar-free whip.
And while homemade pie is indeed a delicacy, some store-bought pies can be a strong competitor. In fact, Mr. Mejia prefers his pie fresh out of a bakery, going as far as to specify the exact store where he gets his pies. “Balthazar’s Bakery has a sweet potato pecan pie and it’s amazing,” he explains. “It has the right balance of texture and sweetness, especially with vanilla ice cream on top.”
- Mashed Potatoes
When it comes to mashed potatoes, it’s all about the creamy texture. Sophomores Sarah Park and Catherine Ahn can’t get enough, with both preferring their mashed dishes with a dollop of gravy.
But not everyone agrees with their opinions. Yuval Yochai takes a hard stance against the food explaining that “All Thanksgiving foods are trash and unseasoned. I don’t like gravy, I don’t like turkey, and I absolutely hate mashed potatoes.” For Yuval, mashed potatoes are just another reminder of the blandness she associates with the holiday.
- Turkey
Turkey, being the traditional star of Thanksgiving, appears to have lost its throne over the years. While turkey lovers like Ryan Woo remain loyal to their roots, Keaira Marshall details that “turkey is dry” with Aiden An backing her up. On Thanksgiving night, Keaira and Aiden as well as others opt for ham on account of Turkey’s dry and tasteless presence.
All in all, though Thanksgiving may be a time of gratitude and togetherness, when it comes to food, everyone has their own favorites. Whether it’s the creamy mashed potatoes, savory stuffing, or a dry turkey slice, each dish brings something special to the table. The one thing we can all agree on is that the real winner of Thanksgiving is whoever scores the last slice of pie.
