Contemporary Thanksgiving

Chef Christian Shaffer’s nephew Dylan Shaffer, 17 months, eats wild rice stuffing, while sitting around the Thanksgiving table at Topanga home of Mitchell Sonners.  (Mel Melcon / LAT)

Chef Christian Shaffer pours chateau pesquie’ southern rhone wine, as relatives gather around the Thanksgiving table.  (Mel Melcon / LAT)

Relatives of Chef Christian Shaffer gather around the Thanksgiving table. In foreground, right is Chef Christian Shaffer’s shaved turnups and rutabaga.  (Mel Melcon / LAT)

Chef Christian Shaffer’s Heritage turkey with blistered pears and parsnips.  (Mel Melcon / LAT)

Bryce Asay, father-in-law of Chef Christian Shaffer, has a glass of California sparkling wine, during gathering at the home of Mitchell Sonners in Topanga.  (Mel Melcon / LAT)

Chef Christian Shaffer’s wild rice stuffing.  (Mel Melcon / LAT)

Chef Christian Shaffer’s mushroom bread pudding.  (Mel Melcon / LAT)

Chef Christian Shaffer slices mushrooms for mushroom bread pudding while making Thanksgiving fare at the Topanga Canyon home of cousin Mitchell Sonners.  (Brian VanderBrug / LAT)

Chef Christian Shaffer rolls out dough for a molasses tart using an olive oil bottle as he prepares Thanksgiving fare.  (Brian VanderBrug / LAT)

Chef Christian Shaffer prepares mushroom bread pudding.  (Brian VanderBrug / LAT)

Piper Shaffer digs into a molasses tart while prepared by her father Christian Shaffer.  (Brian VanderBrug / LAT)

Chef Christian Shaffer spoons wild rice stuffing into a serving dish.  (Brian VanderBrug / LAT)

Chef Christian Shaffer, right, carves Heritage turkey with wife Tedde.  (Brian VanderBrug / LAT)

Chef Christian Shaffer removes pomegranate seeds from shell for wild rice stuffing.  (Brian VanderBrug / LAT)