Just about every common food option for thanksgiving is mediocre. Turkey is dry and flavorless unless you drench it in salt. Cranberry sauce is awful. Not only does dressing (stuffing) look unappealing it also tastes just as bad. And pumpkin pie could be better. Casserole and mash potatoes are alright but nothing to just fond over. The only good meal is mac and cheese and that ONLY depends on who’s cooking it. The 4th of July is the superior holiday in terms of food.
I suspect a lot comes from the ingredients being mediocre when you buy them at high demand periods.
I come from the French country side, my father raises poultry and makes his own foie gras and deli meats. When I see the shit they sell at Christmas, which most of my fellow countrymen eat every year… I wouldn’t be surprised reading a comment similar to yours about French Christmas food.
Maybe your grandma can’t afford the good stuff, or doesn’t have access to it ?
This is possible in the US for sure. My first thanksgiving not at home, I wound up getting my bird the night before.
The smallest one they had left was 23lbs. And it was still frozen.
Burned out two full size hair dryers & one travel size, trying to defrost the bird.
There were only three of us & we drank cognac all day. We didn’t eat until almost 10:30 that night.
It. Was. Terrible.