A Thanksgiving Day of rest for the city chef? Not so fast.

Busy chefs share their thankful thoughts and go-to side dishes

While armchair Bouluds across the country play the part of executive chef this Thanksgiving season, we found that some of NYC's top kitchen talent will be equally busy—but not necessarily in their own restaurants. Michael Psilakis? He'll be teaching his 3-year-old how to roast a whole lamb on a spit. Todd English? Whipping up a batch of sausage and corn bread stuffing in Boston. Wylie Dufresne? At the movies. OK, some deserve the day off. We reached out to 11 chefs for T-Day plans, thankful thoughts and their go-to side dish. —Matt Rodbard

Pictured: Marlow and Sons' Sean Rembold and Dave Gould, not cooking turkey