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Turkey tradition continues at Hickory House

Every year Aspen’s Hickory House opens its doors on Thanksgiving for a free community meal. That means hundreds of locals consume more than a thousand pounds of food. At the restaurant, all hands are on deck to pull off the feast. Alycin Bektesh visited the Aspen landmark’s busy kitchen, on it’s prep day.

“A lot of people here are alone or don’t have family here,” said Bryan Baker, Hickory House general manager. He said the community meal seems hectic, but it’s really a lot of fun.

 
In the kitchen, staff is peeling hundreds of pounds of potatoes that will be cooked and mashed, and chopping hundreds of pounds of cabbage for coleslaw.

 
Out back, Elmer Menendez has just loaded the smoker full of extra large turkeys. More than 60 will be served on Thanksgiving day.

 
Menendez works all morning each Thanksgiving but he said he doesn’t mind coming in because the staff is like his family, and he still has dinner with his actual family in the evening.

 
Server Jose Magana has been on hand during the community meal for the last 14 years.

Regulars recognize his cheery smile, and he recognizes the locals too - even as he watches their families grow.

 
“A lot of things have happened. A lot of people, they are just boyfriend and girlfriend and they get married they’ve got a child. I see them growing up,” said Magana. “It’s unbelievable. It’s amazing I love it. I love this place because I make a lot of friends here.”

 
The event began as an option for those in need to have a Thanksgiving meal, but some families were reluctant to show up because they were embarrassed about receiving a hand-out. So the system has evolved into what Baker calls the best of both worlds - a free community meal where donations are also accepted for area nonprofits. This year all proceeds will go to the Carbondale nonprofit Ascendigo, and members of the organization will be on hand as volunteers.

 
Another volunteer who will be in attendance is Baker’s girlfriend who he met three years ago when she helped with the community meal during her first Thanksgiving away from family.

 
It was that special holiday magic that’s part of the Hickory House tradition.

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