Taste

Thanksgiving Express: How to skip the kitchen and head straight for the food this year

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Yardbird
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The year 2020 will go down in history as one of the most challenging in our lifetime. And even though we’ve been doing it for months now, social distancing will never get easier. We’re meant to be with the people we love. This year’s Thanksgiving will undoubtedly be a smaller affair for most of us, so it’s a good time to give ourselves a break in the kitchen. Luckily, plenty of restaurants around town are offering Thanksgiving feasts to go. Here are a few to consider.

Honey Salt

The locals favorite, which specializes in farm-to-table food, is as close to homemade as you can get. Order the whole dinner, good for eight-plus guests—and you’ll have leftovers for days.

Menu: Red Bird organic oven-roasted turkey (16 pounds, choice of whole or carved) served with Todd’s gravy and cranberry sauce; Parker House rolls with honey butter; roasted yams with maple and brown sugar; Yukon Gold mashed potatoes; brioche stuffing with fresh herbs, apples and caramelized onions; roasted Brussels sprouts with applewood smoked bacon; pumpkin pie with vanilla bourbon whipped cream. Need more? Lobster Mac & Cheese ($32), Fall Harvest salad ($26) and apple pie ($19) are also available, along with beverage packages.

Details: $349, order through November 20, pickup Thanksgiving Day, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., honeysalt.com.

Bazaar Meat

Bazaar Meat

Bazaar Meat

If you want to break tradition this year and skip the bird altogether, José Andrés’ Sahara outpost has a takeaway menu, good for two to three people, that highlights meat-centric specialties and includes a main entrée, five starters, two sides and dessert. Certain entrées are cooked at home, with instructions and all the spices you need.

Menu: Entrée choices include Rosewood Texas Ribeye, Secreto Iberico pork, Double R-Ranch Angus strip loin, slow-roasted Wagyu brisket and more; starters include olives (liquid and stuffed), gazpacho with pipirahna, Caprese salad, a platter of sliced jamon and salami, paella-style pasta with Morcilla and pork belly; sides include buttered potato purée and grilled vegetables, and flan caps the meal.

Details: $100-$170. Ordering starts November 21, with 24-hour advance notice for Thanksgiving Day pickup from noon-5 p.m., bit.ly/2ICOcEf.

El Cortez

It’s always been about family at the longest-running casino-hotel in town, and this year’s Thanksgiving is no different. Siegel’s 1941 is offering a special menu that can be eaten at the restaurant or taken to-go.

Menu: A three-course meal with a choice of tossed green salad or butternut squash soup; roasted Tom turkey with giblet gravy, sage dressing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and green beans amandine, or Smithfield ham with brandy-pineapple sauce, sweet potatoes and green beans amandine; apple, pumpkin or pecan pie.

Details: $27 ($22 with players card), Thanksgiving Day, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., elcortezhotelcasino.com.

Yardbird Southern Table & Bar

If Southern-style Thanksgiving is more to your liking, Yardbird Southern Table & Bar at Grand Canal Shoppes has all the fixings available à la carte, with a seasonal cocktail of Wild Turkey 81 bourbon and spiced cranberry puree perfect for the occasion.

Menu: Appetizers include a pear, pomegranate and arugula salad ($16) and Charleston crab soup ($16); for the entrée, an herb-roasted Yardbird turkey dinner with Mama’s mash, green bean casserole, cranberry compote and giblet gravy ($36); shareable dishes include lobster mac and cheese (market price), leek potato gratin ($24), Brussels sprouts ($10), Mama’s biscuit stuffing ($10) and green bean casserole ($10); dessert choices include pecan pie, pumpkin pie and strawberry peach cobbler ($10-$25).

Details:Place orders by November 18, runchickenrun.com/holidays.

Big Jerk Caribbean

There are many ways to prepare a turkey, but leave the smoked jerk version to the pros at Big Jerk, who specialize in the kicked-up flavors of the Caribbean.

Menu: Pick the turkey size—from 14 to 24 pounds—that works for you and your family. Add on family-style sides like plantains, sweet potato mash, mac and cheese, curry rice, festival and more and you’ve got yourself a Thanksgiving feast for the ages.

Details: Turkeys are $5 a pound, and family-style sides start at $30. Order by November 24 at 5 p.m. for a Thanksgiving-morning pickup. bigjerkcaribbean.com.

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