…making Shabbos special with special food set aside only for Shabbos..”
Nothing “special” about chulent for shabbos, at least the way many prepare it using beans and cheaper cuts of fatty meat (with lots of salt). Also, the “special for shabbos” label is a joke given that just about every frum neighborhood now has some joint that hosts special Chulent Night on thursdays. I’m all for those who choose to start shabbos early but Thursday night is a non-starter even under the most expansive definition of “plag hamincha”