Monterey Marriott To Serve Thanksgiving Day Buffet Along With Its Spectacular Views

New York City is the place to be on Thanksgiving Day to feast your eyes high above the sky for cartoon character balloons, but it's in Monterey where visitors will want to feast on something much more hearty and satisfying.

The Monterey Marriott will feature an elaborate Thanksgiving buffet on Nov. 28, 2013, in the Ferrantes Bayview, the Cannery Row hotel's 10 th floor meeting room overlooking Monterey Bay. Chef Willie Franz has worked hard to create a menu that offers extraordinary traditional Thanksgiving dishes as well as items that are unique to the Bay Area. The buffet is $42 for adults and $21 for children 5 to 12.

Served from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Franz's menu starts with a large display that includes Bella Tuscan marinated artichokes, Asian noodle salad and a full salad bar with mixed greens, romaine hearts and a variety of accompaniments and dressings. Diners will find dishes representative of the Bay Area and the fresh seafood that restaurants in Monterey are known for. Lemon grass poached jumbo shrimp and snow crab claws, homemade crab cakes and chilled smoked salmon flatbread have made the cut on this year's unique menu. Franz also will have a station where crepes with grilled vegetables, hickory bacon and ricotta cheese can be made to order.

The main course of this Thanksgiving banquet features a honey-glazed turkey breast served with giblet gravy and cranberry sauce, delectable for anyone accustomed to Mom's home cooking. For those feeling a bit less traditional, Franz will offer boneless prime rib, braised leg of lamb, chicken parmesan and local salmon with herb and focaccia crumbs.

Side dishes including carrots, butternut squash, marshmallow butter-glazed sweet potatoes, cheddar mashed potatoes, risotto and stuffing will complement the main dish.

Franz's dessert station is sure to inspire everyone to loosen their belts one more notch to make room for sweet treats. An assortment of pumpkin, pecan and fruit tartlets, fresh pastries, Oreo pudding tasters, chocolate mousse, warm bread and sliced fruit will tantalize the taste buds.

When it comes to creating one-of-a-kind menus that appeal to a variety of tastes, Franz, a 37-year industry veteran, knows just what to do. He worked with Hyatt for 28 years before joining the Monterey Marriott team. His culinary creations enabled him to have a television show back on the East Coast and won him various awards. Franz was most recently honored with the People's Choice Award for Best Clam Chowder at the Monterey Wine Festival.

"Franz's presence at the Monterey Marriott definitely puts our restaurant a cut above other hotels near Monterey Bay Aquarium," said Rene Boskoff, general manager. "As one of the premier hotels in Monterey, CA, our 10-story high rise features unrivaled views of downtown and Monterey Bay as well as supreme meals created by our highly talented chef. Diners will be pleased with our Thanksgiving offerings, and we want them to know we are thankful for their patronage."

About the Monterey Marriott

The Monterey Marriott at 350 Calle Principal in Monterey, CA, is 5 miles from the Monterey Regional Airport (MRY). Travelers have easy access to Monterey Bay Aquarium, Fisherman's Wharf, 17 Mile Drive, Cannery Row and the National Steinbeck Center. The Monterey Bay hotel features 319 rooms and 22 suites on 10 floors as well as 27 meeting rooms with 56,000 square feet of flexible space. Public areas and event spaces are equipped with complimentary wireless Internet access for convenience. The Monterey Marriott also boasts a state-of-the-art fitness center with cardiovascular equipment and free weights and a heated outdoor pool and whirlpool. For information, visit www.marriott.com/MRYCA, like the hotel on Facebook and add the hotel to a circle on Google Plus.