Hosting Thanksgiving in a Pinch? Here’s everything you’ll need
So you’re hosting the holidays.
The only problem is, you just found out. Maybe you had a canceled dinner at Mom’s, or your in-laws are now traveling last minute - either way, dinner is suddenly on you. Rest assured because we have you covered! Whether you’re on the hook for everything, or just in charge of the turkey or sides, here are our favorite arrive-ready picks and a few pick-up options from some local businesses in NYC. Add your prettiest china and linens, and no one will ever know the difference.
No fowl play
In a time crunch (or not!) outsourcing your bird is one of the wisest decisions you can make when Thanksgiving comes around. With no basting or stuffing required, your responsibilities begin and end when all you need to do is heat up the oven and let a whole pre-seasoned and cooked turkey simmer away. The best part is: your house will smell delicious, and you won’t have to clean up a single thing. We won’t tell anyone it wasn’t hours of homemade hard work. Our favorites here:
The classic: Herb Roasted Turkey from the Cajun Turkey Company
The spicy: Cajun Spicy Roasted Turkey from Uncle Ray's Fried Turkeys
The unexpected: Thanksgiving Dinner Dumplings from Mimi Cheng’s
Star-of-the-show sides
There is nothing more exciting than descending upon a kitchen island or dining room sideboard dotted with different sides to choose from. If asking your guests to bring something over isn’t part of your plan, but you don’t want to be on the hook for covering all your bases alone, shipping your sides to you is your best plan of attack. We cover the basics below:
Mac and cheese:
An NYC staple 4 lbs of Mac and Cheese from Raffeto’s (above!)
A lil’ something different: Lobster Mac and Cheese from Hancock Gourmet Lobster
Potatoes:
Sweet and salty: Molasses and Sea Salt Whipped Sweet Potatoes from Commander’s Palace
Just add caviar: Outrageously Good Twice-baked Potatoes from Elegant Brie
Lot of Latkes: Potato Latkes from Russ and Daughters
“Veggies”:
Creamed Corn: Arriving directly from Nashville's Loveless Cafe
The one and done: Terry Black’s Famous Side Dishes which include a quart each of mashed potatoes, green beans, creamed corn, and pinto beans
Roll us out of here
The most underrated (and IMHO, crucial) part of Thanksgiving, is what kind of bread to serve with dinner. This is one time where a baguette won’t be called to the table. The bread chosen has important roles (or should we say rolls) - to pair with gravy, pair perfectly with all of the sides, and handle leftovers the next morning. Enter biscuits: they’re perfect for filling every nook and cranny, and there is quite literally nothing like a warm, buttered biscuit!
The southern belle: Buttermilk Biscuits by Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit
The honey butter: Honey Butter + Biscuits by Pies n’ Thighs
Apt to handle leftovers: 8 Giant Butterhole Biscuits by Honest Biscuits
Pie in the Sky
Every Thanksgiving meal should end with a heaping slice of warm pie and vanilla ice cream. If baking isn’t in your repertoire, let the work be done for you by ordering one or two pies and picking up some Van Leeuwans and caramel sauce.
Wildberry: Three Berry Pie from Little Pie Company
Southern classic: Bourbon Pecan Pie from Two Fat Cats Bakery
Perfect apple: Apple Pie by Carlo’s Bakery
Pie not your thing? We recommend having a cake (or two) of Ina Garten’s in the fridge, plus some cookies to heat up at the last minute (this hot tip is not only limited to Thanksgiving dinner…)
Pick-up Ready
Close to NYC and need something stat? A few of our favorite spots have just what you need for a perfect one and done pick up situation. Add a bottle of your favorite wine and voila!
Daily Provisions - Thanksgiving Dinner includes two roast chickens and family-sized servings of classic sides like mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce, and eight rolls from Orwashers
Bubby’s - Thanksgiving Take Out Dinner gives you a choice between ham, turkey or lasagna, then your combination of sides and pies from a myriad of choices
Stocked by Three Owls - Choices of different sides that are perfect for if the birds already taken care of (or omitted altogether)