As a Seattleite who loves to ski, I'd rather spend Thanksgivings on the slopes eating take-out Thai than spending a whole day stuffing and basting a turkey the size of a baboon. And I don't think I'm alone, even in Budapest. But no problem, because the "outsourcing" of America's favorite family meal tradition has turned into a tradition all of its own in Budapest, with a pair of easy options for enjoying TG in the Hungarian capital without tracking down a proper-sized pulyka, and then remembering what to do with it once you've squeezed it through your front door.

The first option is simple: Order out. Thanks to three of Budapest's leading hotels, Hotel Inter-Continental, Kempinski Corvinus, and the Marriott it is possible to get a turkey delivered hot to your doorstep. The offers stack up as follows: the Inter-Continental has an inclusive menu for Ft 24,500 (€96) which includes turkey for four to six, two sides, a bottle of wine, and either an apple or pumpkin pie. Meanwhile, you can get a turkey with multiple sides but no wine or pie for 19,900 (€78) from the Marriott, and Ft 20,000 (€79) from the Kempinksi. The deals are comparable and differ only on whether you prefer mashed potatoes, apple stuffing and green beans (Marriott), or sweet potatoes and brussel sprouts (Kepinski). Orders should be placed 48 hours in advance (this means Tuesday). The Kempinski wants cash upon delivery, which is free in the city center; the Marriott and the Inter-Continental accept plastic.

The second option is the quintessential all-you-can-eat hotel buffet, which is easier to coordinate but a little less homey. Since I don't often get a chance to eat Norwegian salmon, cranberry sauce, bread pudding, and bourbon-glazed ham while someone else does the dishes, the idea of a Thanksgiving buffet has a certain appeal to me. For those looking to get stuffed twice, the American Chamber of Commerce Thanksgiving Dinner has a big T-giving feast on Tuesday, and you can go back seconds at the Marriott on Thursday, from 5:00 p.m-10:00 p.m, for Ft 7,700 (€30). Reservations for the Marriott dinner are recommended, even for the kids aged 6-14, who get in for Ft 3,900.