In Thailand this week, a few international restaurants are preparing a rare Thanksgiving menu. It's not common, but not unheard of in cities like Bangkok.

I even read a story about one American couple who found a Thanksgiving buffet at an Irish pub in Pattaya. It served many traditional entrees, including turkey, pork roast, and ham. And it was same place they shared a meal with other Americans.

This is a wonderful story, because it embraces the spirit of one of my favorite American holidays for two reasons. I have always felt that Thanksgiving, more than any other holiday in America, represents the sharing of two cultures. The first Thanksgiving was shared between Europeans and Native Americans.

The original Thanksgiving was an international meal.

I imagine that the Europeans considered some of the food exotic; maize, beans, and squash among them. From what I know, turkey wasn't the only wild game they served at the table either. The two cultures (Pilgrims and the Wamapanoag people) also shared deer, duck, catfish, clams, and lobster, and other meats too.

This is one of many reasons that my family and I have decided not to create a special Thanksgiving menu. Much like the Irish pub wanted to make Americans feel at home in Thailand on Thanksgiving, we want Thai and Asian guests to feel at home in America. I also know many of our regular customers appreciate a choice other than turkey, and sharing my family's rich heritage and culture captures the true spirit of Thanksgiving.

If you would like to celebrate Thanksgiving differently, such as the beginning of a tradition rather than observing one, we have some wonderful alternatives. Our most popular dish over Thanksgiving weekend is always the Kung Fu Plaza roast duck.

Mostly it is because many Asian guests prefer duck over turkey since the meat is so moist and tender. But some patrons might be surprised to learn that duck was served right alongside turkey during the first Thanksgiving. And here, you can enjoy several different specialties. We also serve whole roasted duck and barbecued duck.

If you would like to share Thanksgiving with my family and our extended team members, we will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., like we are every year. Resort guests who would like to stay on the Las Vegas Strip instead are welcome to place orders for delivery.

Another common Thanksgiving tradition between Thai, Chinese, and Americans.

One of my favorite things about Thanksgiving is that it is a wonderful time to express how grateful you are for the people in your life. We have so very much to be grateful for at Kung Fu Plaza. We have been visited by many special guests this year, including Roger Mayweather and Benz Pornchita Na Songkhla. We have been honored to receive awards for customer service. We have been able to introduce new ideas like free WiFi.

But more important than all that, my family and I are grateful for every guest who appreciates our commitment to authentic Thai and Chinese dishes. We are proud to be the oldest and most authentic Thai and Chinese restaurant in Las Vegas. We cannot thank you enough for your support all of these years, since 1973. Thank you. And happy Thanksgiving. And for all the Thai people, happy Vajiravudh Day this Friday.