Chef With Thanksgiving Menu by Norman Rockwell

November 28, 1942 Issue of The Saturday Evening Post

Chef With Thanksgiving Menu, a Norman Rockwell painting, appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post published November 28, 1942. This is another timeless favorite of Rockwell collectors, a classic for the ages.

An alternate title for the illustration is Thanksgiving Day Blues.

This painting was Rockwell's seventh cover for The Post in 1942. In 1942, there were eight Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post covers published.

This was also Rockwell's 211th cover illustration out of 322 Rockwell painted for the Post. Rockwell's career with the Post spanned 47 years, from his first cover illustration, Boy With Baby Carriage in 1916 to his last, Portrait of John F. Kennedy, in 1963.

The location of the original oil on canvas painting is unknown.

This painting also appears in two Rockwell commentary books. It appears:

• on page 46 of The Norman Rockwell Album and
• on page 152 of Norman Rockwell, A Definitive Catalogue by Laurie Norton Moffatt.

I have seen pristine original copies of this magazine cover sell for big bucks on eBay. And to think it only cost ten cents originally! Of course, it was mint condition then, too.

Chef With Thanksgiving Menu

This is a very humorous Norman Rockwell paintings. It is also a favorite of many collectors.

Norman Rockwell gives us a humorous take on KP, or Kitchen Patrol, duty. We are not privy to whether or not this chef is a full time chef or just one of the kitchen staff.

One things is certain. He had his work cut out for him. He has prepared a Thanksgiving Feast for 137 men, a whole brigade stationed at Fort Ethan Allen in Vermont.

And all those men will be hard-working hungry men.

The menu shows lots of items. I count 34 total.

The list includes:

• Roast Turkey
• Giblet Gravy
• Mashed Potatoes
• Apple and Raisin Dressing
• Candies Sweet Potatoes
• Scalloped Corn
• Brussel Sprouts
• Chocolate Cake
• Pumpkin Pie
• Fruit Cocktail
• Olives and Celery
• Lettuce and Tomato Salad

The meal was scheduled to be served at 12:15. The time is now 1:22. The meal has been served.

Now our chef can unwind. He is sitting down. His boots are off. He is stretching and wiggling his toes.

He is also free now to enjoy a cigarette and a cup of coffee.

This Thanksgiving chef may not be actively involved in battle, but he has sure seen plenty of action!

Now it's time to take a deep breath and start cleaning up.

Though not as popular as 1943's Freedom From Want, this Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving image is still just as well received today as when it was originally published in 1942.

Though from the same era, Thanksgiving Chef evokes entirely different emotions than 1943's Thanksgiving: Girl Praying and 1945's Thanksgiving: Mother and Son Peeling Potatoes.