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White Plains restaurant plans to be open to all for a free Thanksgiving dinner
"It comes from our heart," said chef Bonnie Saran, of her 10th year of hosting a free Thanksgiving dinner for anyone in need.
Jeanne Muchnick
Rockland/Westchester Journal News
It may be an unusual year, but one thing's certain this Thanksgiving: Restaurant owner Bonnie Saran will offer a free Thanksgiving meal at her White Plains location.
Saran is the chef/owner of six "Little" restaurants: Little Kabab Station, Little Crepe Street, Little Spice Bazaar and Little Drunken Chef in Mount Kisco, Little Mumbai Market in Pleasantville and Little Drunken Chef in White Plains.
As she has done for the last 10 years, Saran will offer a free meal to anyone who stops by that day, no questions asked.
No one would fault her for not doing so this year. Saran closed Little Drunken Chef for 3½ months due to the pandemic and business is down a good 30 to 60% across the board at all of her properties. Little Drunken Chef in Mount Kisco, in fact, reopened on Nov. 3 after being closed since March.
But because many are not traveling to see family this year, or some have lost their jobs or are just feeling low, Saran feels more strongly than ever that this tradition should go on. "Some things are more important than money," she said.
"I've been doing this since 2011 when I had Little Kabab Station and could barely afford a box of cereal, so why should this year be any different?"
If anything, it's more important with so many people suffering in one way or another. "It's a hard year and everyone deserves some pampering," Saran said. "What's better than having someone cook for you?"
To accommodate as many people as possible, she's extended the meal by an hour so it will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., as opposed to its usual 2 p.m. stop. It was, she said, a staff decision, as employees volunteer their time. "Everyone wanted to do it," she said. "It comes from our heart."
The meal will look a lot different.
Because of the new regulations put into effect by New York state, Saran is planning to offer take-out only. Originally, she was going to have 50% capacity inside and no buffet like she normally does but with the shifting rules, she's planning takeout.
Saran said that could change so watch her social media.
What will be the same is the menu: a medley of turkey, ham, mashed potatoes and green beans, as well as Indian dishes such as chicken tiki masala and lasooni gobi (cauliflower florets in garlic chili sauce). Dessert will also be available.
Address: 91 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, 914-615-9300, facebook.com/littledrunkenchef
Hours: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
http://www.lohud.com/story/life/food/restaurants/2020/11/19/free-thanksgiving-meal-white-plains-little-drunken-chef/6045580002/?fbclid=IwAR37-PTggY6N3MdgtEM9RClZqHInqqOnkeuikIfuNuSIEF4xJDpREV1TgKg
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