Carmen Brown, director of Furniture Land and Karmen's Kollection, partnered with Chaser's Café for her annual Thanksgiving and Harvest Picnic last Thursday at Hylton's Beach in Yallahs, St Thomas. "There are countless opportunities and blessings to be thankful for," shared Brown, who first held her customer appreciation Thanksgiving picnic 17 years ago. "My customers have remained loyal over the years, and this is one way of telling them 'thank you for your continued support'."

Even Mother Nature was rejoicing with perfect weather as guests mingled under white tents in the afternoon sun, while others sipped cocktails in-between conversation and grooving to the selections of 62-year-old sound system Merritone Disco. The venue quickly became a concentration of tantalising whiffs emitting from the four food stations with the help of the sea breeze. It was indeed a day to give thanks for.

The bountiful feast featured the catering services of Lorraine Fung, Ann Frater and Greg Sundar of Bellyfull Deli, Chaser's Café and Country Kitchen from Patty Hill, Hanover — Brown's native community. The traditional jerked turkeys were done to perfection by resident roaster Veta Karr and anchored the extensive menu that included: mannish water, janga and pumpkin soups, jerked chicken and pork, roasted fish, yellow yam and breadfruit, curried mutton, curried shrimp wraps, Asian wraps, rice and peas, and noodles. Thursday Food shares highlights.