Truckstop Thanksgiving

Glen Neadeau of Bangor (left) catches up with old friend Louie Archer of Presque Isle while having Thanksgiving dinner at Dysart’s. Photo courtesy of the Bangor Daily News.

 

Turkey, stuffing, squash, potatoes, dinner rolls, and pies aren’t the only things on the menu at Dysart’s on Thanksgiving. There are also lots of traditions, smiles, friendly greetings, and family stories passed around the table.

According to chef Yazbek, the kitchen at Dysart’s on Thanksgiving is controlled chaos. Stress levels are palpable and everyone knows they have to kick it into high gear, but he explains that it’s “as easy as a backyard barbecue when you have the right crew”.

Crowds have grown larger and hungrier since 1967, when the only diners were lone truck drivers, but the staff has come to be well prepared.

To many long time employees of Dysart’s, this is what Thanksgiving is all about. Regardless of whether they have plans with their own families earlier or later in the day, they look forward to joining their work family and helping create memories for others.

“There is just a cheerful atmosphere around the place, more so than on the average day, that makes you feel good,” said Mary Dysart Hartt, “Especially for the truckers, who have a family here when they aren’t able to be with their own.”

While traditional Thanksgiving Day fare is the obvious menu choice for almost everyone, there is a second round of diners later in the day looking for something a little different.

Given that the following day is a major retail holiday, and that Bangor is a shopping destination for many Canadians, it’s no surprise the normal menu is in demand for many over-the-border tourists. 

“Our car is full of gifts, and now our bellies are full too. The food here is always good, more than we can eat, and it’s awful nice to get away from the mall for a little break”, said one Canadian diner. “This is our seventh year coming here”, she added.

Talk about a lot of food! When you add together what we serve in the restaurant on Thanksgiving day and what is ordered to take home, we serve about: 800 turkey dinners, over 1000 whole pies, 250 lbs of mashed potatoes, 360 lbs of squash, & 1500 dinner rolls, all made by hand. And that’s a feast to feed crowds of truckers, tourists, & anyone who wants a home-cooked Thanksgiving meal without the stress, time, and effort of making it themselves. 

Be a part of a Dysart’s holiday tradition this year - gather family and friends around our tables to enjoy a traditional homemade Thanksgiving dinner that’s both delicious and stress-free.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

* Portions of this post are from Cooking With Dysart's: Stories and Recipes From Over 40 Years