Every holiday calls for a fun and festive meal to celebrate, but Thanksgiving sets the bar. If you’re hosting dinner at the Midtown West apartments at 555TEN or just looking for a dish to share at a friend’s place, here are some excellent recipes and tips for must-have side dishes and a flavorful roast turkey, grilled or deep-fried. Don’t forget dessert!

If you want both a beautifully cooked and a perfect-looking turkey—the one that’s the centerpiece of every iconic Thanksgiving photo or painting—follow Anthony Bourdain’s advice: make two birds. The first one is your showpiece for the table. Make it a smaller bird, roast it at 425 degrees for two hours, basting it occasionally before dressing it up “like a showgirl, with chop frills and elaborate fruit garnishes on a bed of old-school parsley or kale.” For your second bird, you can roast it in the same manner or you can perform a new twist on what has become a modern turkey classic and deep-fry it. Thankfully, this technique has become safer with the advent of electric deep fryers by makers such as Butterball. Forego the open flame and medieval kettle of oil, opt for an electric countertop model, and cook that fowl to juicy perfection in a single, safe, and easy hour.

Next to the perfect turkey, great stuffing makes or breaks the holiday. Again, keep it simple. All you need is the right blend of bread, eggs, celery, onions, sage, and a few other hearty spices such as thyme and rosemary. Epicurious.com has a stuffing recipe that has all of these ingredients and tastes spectacular too. Because stuffing is likely to be the most time-intensive part of your prep, prepare it a full day ahead of your meal, cool it, cover it, and put it in the fridge for baking and serving the next day. Just be certain to add a few minutes onto your cook and prep time, so that it’s ready to eat on Thanksgiving Day.

Like the turkey, sweet potatoes bring comfort with both their heartiness and simplicity. You can toss them into the oven at 400 degrees, bake them for 45 to 60 minutes until the juices start to seep out and caramelize on the skin, and then serve them with butter and brown sugar for an easy side. Or, you can dazzle your guests with this whiskey-glazed sweet potatoes recipe from Guy Fieri that combines several of our favorite fall ingredients into a single masterstroke of side-dish sorcery. Pecans, apples, and sweet potatoes are taken to a new level of sweetness with a one-two punch of whiskey and agave nectar. The result is an aesthetically stunning and equally sumptuous creation, sure to get your guests talking. And the warm aroma that the cinnamon and nutmeg impart during cooking adds instant holiday cred to your home and party. 

Finally, don’t forget the desserts. When it comes to this holiday, that means pies representing the hallowed trio of Thanksgiving classics: pecan, apple, and, of course, pumpkin. If you’ve been searching for a pumpkin pie that doesn’t crack on top (or is less likely to), give Chef John’s a try. Don’t forget to add a heaping dollop of whipped cream and grated nutmeg to the top. Our choice for pecan pie is easily this Utterly Deadly Southern Pecan Pie recipe found on Food.com. Its secret is cooking the sugar and corn syrup first. And while we respect that there will always be a debate among apple pie aficionados over what constitutes the best recipe for this all-season staple, we can all come to a détente over the classic recipe found at TasteofHome.com. If you’ve never made an apple pie before, this is the one to start with. They’ve also provided a short video showing you how to prep and assemble it, so even novice bakers can make the perfect pie.

Thanksgiving is about people coming together to express gratitude for all that they have. There’s no better way to do so than to celebrate your bounty with a perfectly prepared feast of perfectly prepared recipes. Try some of our suggestions for the ultimate turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, or dessert, and guarantee that your table will be the talk of the town this holiday season. Or tweak what you see here to create your new version of these Thanksgiving traditions.

From everyone at 555TEN’s luxury rentals, we wish you, your family, and friends a Happy Thanksgiving!

Hudson Yards is home to many vendors and retailers hosting awesome events and activities throughout the year. Book some time in a nap pod, focus on your wellness with a free fitness class, or connect with friends at your new favorite watering hole. You can relax, recharge, or reinvent yourself in any number of ways in NYC’s grandest retail space—just down the way from 555TEN’s luxury rentals.

When you’re out and about and in need of a quick bit of shuteye but don’t have time to head back home, fear not. 3DEN  offers a private, quiet space that’s specifically designed for you to rest and sleep in comfort. The Casper nap pod (a twin bed outfitted with fresh sheets and secluded behind blackout curtains) provides a cozy spot for a quick nap at any time of day. If you don’t need to snooze, 3DEN also offers meditation pillows, comfy chairs, private showers, workspaces, and soundproof phone booths to accommodate the needs of those on the go. You can also purchase a number of extras from fine brands such as LOLI Beauty, Dirty Lemon, Seed, Goby, and Harry’s. If you’re like us, you’ll be looking for a hot cup of joe when your session is over, and we rejoiced when we found out that coffee comes with the package. Bonus! And at $6 for a 30-minute session, a visit to 3DEN is pure value.

 Once you’re well-rested, get your blood flowing with a free fitness class at Athleta. Empowering women and encouraging them to take on a more active lifestyle has been central to the brand since its founding, and their free community fitness classes are part and parcel of that ethos. To give you an idea of what to expect, a recent yoga event featured FitPro Tess Jonas accompanied by DJ Julie Bobek. During the class, they took participants through a 60-minute yoga session—suitable for all skill levels—and followed it with mimosas overlooking a phenomenal view of the Vessel. More boot camps, running groups, and other wellness classes are currently being planned. Keep in the loop by signing up for Athleta event emails or by checking their calendar or the Hudson Yards calendar for more details and upcoming opportunities. 

Work and health are important, but full balance also involves cutting loose and kicking back with friends on occasion. Hudson Yards has a variety of happy hours that are perfect for reconnecting over excellent food and smartly mixed cocktails. Two of our favorites can be found at Belcampo and Hudson Yards Grill. Happy Hour at Belcampo offers $5 drafts, $6 wine, and the Belcampo Cocktail of the Day for $7, along with a delectable Belcampo Burger special. Hudson Yards Grill showcases brasserie fare prepared by native New Yorker and chef Michael Lomonaco in his new “American concept” restaurant. $10 classic cocktails with new twists, like the Lavender Margarita, $5 drafts, and $6 wines are served alongside bar snacks of mixed nuts and wasabi peas. Just don’t fill up with those deliciously salty munchies right away. Burgers, a sushi bar, prime cuts of meat, and daily specials await. In fact, make time to linger past 7 pm and explore the menu further.

Dinner out is always a treat, but there’s one meal at home that we look forward to all year: Thanksgiving. And Citarella’s Taste of Thanksgiving makes certain that you’re prepared. On November 4th, join them for a master class in “how to create the ultimate Thanksgiving feast.” Citarella’s head butcher will be on hand to demonstrate turkey prep techniques, and the master pastry chef will be doing pie-baking demos. As you may expect, samples will abound. Enjoy perfect wine and cheese pairings during the event, taste some of their most popular side dishes, and come away with new ideas for your own spectacular Thanksgiving meal. Citarella is ready to help make your next holiday the most memorable yet.

The Midtown West apartments at 555TEN are conveniently located near Hudson Yards, NYC’s premier retail destination. The ever-expanding schedule of events, classes, and gatherings, courtesy of the many retailers and restaurants at Hudson Yards, ensures that there’s always something new happening for your next visit. We’ll see you there!

Imagine an autumnal Sunday afternoon in New York City. Despite the fact that it is not a working day for many, it would not be unusual to see a multitude of New Yorkers venturing out from the comfort of their Midtown West apartments. What drives them from their well-appointed luxury homes, like those at 555TEN? What pulls them away from the comforting bliss of an afternoon Netflix binge? The answer is simple: brunch. 

Everybody loves, and is willing to go out of their way for, a great brunch. But what if you could have something more than your average brunch? What if that brunch could be a brunch tasting, prepared by some of the finest chefs in the city, and you could catch a performance while you sampled your farm-fresh eggs? If eating omelettes with a drag queen or munching on biscuits and gravy with a Broadway star sounds like your dream come true, then the New York City Wine & Food Festival has a treat for you. 

For 11 years, the NYCWFF has gathered the best chefs, food, and libations to raise funds for the Food Bank for New York City and No Kid Hungry. Guests get to indulge in amazing meals knowing they’re helping a good cause. To make the deal even sweeter, this year’s lineup is loaded with fun and original brunch tastings, many of which are right around the corner from the 555TEN luxury rentals. 

Start the weekend off right on Saturday, Oct. 12, with the Farmer’s Market Brunch at The Standard High Line. Embrace fall in all its flavorful glory as you savor dishes featuring the freshest local flavors. Chef Geoffrey Zakarian is your host. He picked the lineup of chefs for the brunch, which includes Anita Lo and Dale Talde. If you’ve ever watched Zakarian as a judge on “Chopped,” you know his taste is top-notch, so your experience will be, too. This is sure to be a culinary afternoon to remember. 

Prefer a little more flair — and a little shade — with your pancakes? Head over to the Highline Stages where you can experience what promises to be the most “fabulous” of meals. At Barilla’s Drag Brunch, presented by Absolut Juice, a squad of drag performers takes the stage to dazzle you while you sip your mimosa. With guests like Downtown nightlife staple Joey Arias and host Debi Mazar, you’re sure to be entertained. There will be dancing. There will be donuts. There will be decadence. What more could you want on a Saturday?

The next day, Sunday, Oct. 13, offers more chances to experience some spectacular food and entertainment. Go ahead and sing along with Tony Award nominee Alex Brightman at Four Roses Bourbon’s Broadway Tastes at Metropolitan West. Just make sure you’ve finished that bite of bacon first. With fan favorites Big Daddy’s, The Flying V food truck, and the world-famous Sylvia’s soul food restaurant on hand to create their best Broadway-themed dishes, you’ll be the one singing their praises.

Oysters might not be quite as flashy as Broadway performers, but at the Oyster Bash, they steal the show. Learn how to shuck your own at The Standard High Line, or skip the hassle and try samples from some of New York’s finest restaurants, such as Docks Oyster Bar and The Standard Grill. Wash it all down with bottomless beer, wine, and cocktails.

This is just a sample of the fun that awaits festival-goers. Other events include a pizza tasting, a dumpling tasting, and an epic brunch finale featuring 30 restaurants. So get out there and eat, New York! You owe it to yourself to make all your brunch fantasies come true. And eating waffles while you raise money to end hunger? That sounds like a delicious combo, indeed.