2025 Thanksgiving with the Council
We rounded up five of New York’s finest City Council Member gourmands for the ultimate potluck — a Thanksgiving feast with their own family recipes. In the process learning much about their families, favorite dishes, and fond memories of the big meal. The result is our fifth annual collection of Thanksgiving recipes, showcasing the diverse cultures and flavors of our great city. It’s a Thanksgiving feast fit for the Big Apple!
The Fontas Advisors team wishes you and your family a happy, healthy, and hearty Thanksgiving and holiday season. We are grateful for your friendship. Now, let’s eat!
Minority Leader Joann Ariola: Joann’s Classic Creamed Cornbread
Council District 32: Glendale, Highland Park-Cypress Hills Cemeteries (North), Forest Hills, Ozone Park (North), Woodhaven, Ozone Park, Howard Beach-Lindenwood, Spring Creek Park, Rockaway Beach-Arverne-Edgemere, Breezy Point-Belle Harbor-Rockaway Park-Broad Channel, Forest Park, Jamaica Bay (East), Jacob Riis Park-Fort Tilden-Breezy Point Tip
This recipe has been a Thanksgiving staple in my family for years. Simple, filling, and absolutely delicious, it is always a hit and I look forward to making it year after year.
GET THE RECIPE →
Council Member David M. Carr: Mid-Island Potatoes Dauphinoise
Council District 50: Arrochar, Bath Beach, Bay Ridge, Bay Terrace, Bulls Head, Castleton Corners, Concord, Dongan Hills, Dongan Hills Colony, Dyker Beach Park, Dyker Heights, Egbertville, Emmerson Hill, Fort Hamilton, Fort Wadsworth, Grant City, Grasmere, High Rock, Lighthouse Hill, Midland Beach, New Dorp, Oakwood, Ocean Breeze, Old Town, Richmondtown, South Beach, Todt Hill, Travis, Westerleigh, Willowbrook
I adapted Martha Stewart’s potatoes dauphinoise recipe for Easter one year, and now I get requests from relatives each year to bring this to the holidays they host including Thanksgiving! I significantly upped the cheese content from the 4 oz of the base recipe. I also cut the nutmeg because it’s not my favorite, but feel free to add it back. It’s easily transportable in a baking dish with foil if you’re bringing it to a party to be reheated. Don’t let it sit for more than three days.
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Council Member Crystal Hudson: Crystal’s Lamb Biryani
Council District 35: Downtown Brooklyn-DUMBO-Boerum Hill, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Bedford-Stuyvesant (West), Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights (North), Crown Heights (South), Prospect Lefferts Gardens-Wingate, Prospect Park
Holiday meals were always a tradition in my house growing up, and now with my own family, it’s nice to create some of our own traditions around holidays meals. This lamb biryani is one of our annual staples, and brings a non-traditional spin to the holiday season. Enjoy!
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Council Member Christopher Marte: Chris’ Cast Iron Pumpkin Pie
Council District 1: Financial District-Battery Park City, Tribeca-Civic Center, The Battery-Governors Island-Ellis Island-Liberty Island, SoHo-Little Italy-Hudson Square, Chinatown-Two Bridges, Lower East Side
I shared this dish with my staffers several years ago, and they asked me for the recipe and love to use it as part of their Thanksgiving parties.
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Council Member Lincoln Restler: Grandma Sheila’s Chocolate Squares
Council District 33: Greenpoint, Northside Williamsburg, South Williamsburg, Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, Boerum Hill, Vinegar Hill, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Navy Yard
My Grandma Sheila was a Brooklyn-born social worker and the matriarch of our family. Though she was a terrible cook, her chocolate squares remain my favorite dessert of all time.