Give thanks for Villandry

In the autumn of 1621 William Bradford, who was governor of the fledgling Plymouth colony in North America, was so pleased to see any kind of harvest after a miserable first year that he organised a blow out with his new allies the Wampanoag tribe.

The bunfight was a 'bring-a-dish' affair and some sources reckon this may have been the first time that anyone other than Native Americans tried popcorn. A few years later and the Thanksgiving line-up of turkey, cranberries and pumpkin pie was established, but it was not until the 19th century that the date was fixed as the fourth Thursday in November.

This year Villandry - the upmarket foodstore, restaurant and bar - is celebrating Thanksgiving in some style, perhaps because the proprietor, Martha Greene, is an American.

If you are cooking a Thanksgiving dinner of your own, Villandry have 25 specialist New England products on offer, ranging from taffy made by the Plymouth Candy Company to Brown Family Farm pancake mixes. The restaurant menu also goes New England - cod and lobster chowder, red flannel hash, maple syrup ice cream.

On the great day itself there's to be a traditional Thanksgiving evening celebrating all things American, from 'curried buttermilk vichyssoise'(!) to roast turkey with all the trimmings. And all of the above in an establishment named after a French chateau famous for its vegetable gardens!

Villandry , 170 Great Portland Street, W1 (020-7631 3131).
Christmas Food & Drink