To most, Thanksgiving means a home-cooked meal enjoyed with your (extended extended extended) family. I've cooked. I've put in my dues. To me, while lovely to spend time with your family, it ultimately translates to: hours spent burning your fingers, throwing your back out, and weeks of prep-time. If I had my choice, I'd opt to dine out. Honestly, you deserve a break. So, take a hint from restaurants offering multi-course—in some instances, all you can eat—menus for the holiday. Let another chef handle that situation delicately. And of course, enjoy professional wine pairings. Here are my choices for a hassle-free Thanksgiving dinner with zero prep and zero clean time.
Art & Soul: On this special holiday, executive chef Wes Morton is pulling out all the stops with a menu featuring many locally sourced foods plus a special takeaway: each guest receives a to-go roast turkey sandwich (woohoo! One of the reasons why I like leftover turkey!). Click here for the full Thanksgiving Day Menu. Seatings are available from 11 a.m.- 9 p.m. priced at $55 per adult; $27 for children ages 6-12 (excludes beverages and tax). For reservations, please call 202.393.7777, or reserve online. Note: A valid credit card is required to hold the reservation.
Carmine's: This legendary Italian restaurant is temporarily forgoing their Southern Italian roots in favor of a menu that focuses on iconic American dishes for Thanksgiving. So instead of laboring all day over a hot stove to serve your family an amazing meal, just head to Carmine’s for a traditional Thanksgiving at its best! The restaurant’s Family-Style Feast ($195) can feed up to 10 people and stars an 18lb. Roasted Turkey with giblet gravy and stuffing studded with sausage and sage. Enjoy seven side dishes that epitomize classic comfort food, including Sweet Potatoes topped with marshmallows and maple syrup and Brussels Sprouts with caramelized onions and Applewood smoked bacon. For dessert, diners get their choice of three wonderful autumn pies: pumpkin, apple or pecan. Mangia, American style! For reservations, please call 202.737.7770.
J&G Steakhouse: Spend Thanksgiving in style at the W Hotel's premier restaurant, J&G Steakhouse. Enjoy either a non-traditional menu including beet salad with Greek yogurt, chili and fresh herbs, seared halibut with scallion-chili sauce and basil and celery or Butternut Squash Soup (my favorite!). Or enjoy a traditional meal with roasted turkey, mushroom-chestnut stuffing, brussel sprouts and cranberry sauce, green apple crisp with cinnamon ice cream. The regular dinner menu will also be available. Seatings are available from 12 p.m.- 9 p.m. priced at $68 per person. For reservations, please call 202.661.2440 or reserve online.
Willard InterContinental:Thanksgiving Brunch in The Willard Room and Crystal Room will feature a traditional Thanksgiving feast and will include a tasty array of autumnal offerings on the plentiful buffet. Children have their very own Thanksgiving Buffet and entertainment. Seatings are at 10:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. Price is $85 per adult, $35 for children ages 4 through 12, and free for children under 4. Price excludes tax and gratuity.
1789: Enjoy a tempting Thanksgiving menu with both an a la carte and prix fixe option. The recent arrival of Executive Chef Anthony Lombardo with Pastry Chef Mallory Staley brings a new twist on classics sure to please in this elegant Georgetown setting. A three-course menu priced at $50 per person (excluding gratuity and tax) is an incredible value, and includes a choice of the Pumpkin Soup or Bosc Pear and Autumn Green Salad, Traditional Roast Turkey with all of the trimmings. For sweet endings, Pumpkin Pie Crème Brûlée with Gingerbread Ice Cream and a Cranberry Pecan Tart with Cranberry Sorbet are but two of the exceptional desserts prepared by Pastry Chef Staley and accompanied by coffee or tea. Seatings are available from 12 p.m.- 9 p.m. Starters range from $11-$15 and entrees are priced from $30-$45.
Thanksgiving To Go:
Acadiana:This Thanksgiving, Acadiana’s taking over your kitchen and doing all the preparation for you. From the organic bird to the all-star sides and desserts available to-go, they’ve got you covered. For a New Orleans Thanksgiving feast, order “Acadiana’s Holiday Dinner for Eight”, which includes a (12-14 pound) Deep Fried Cajun Turkey, your choice of gravy, four sides, a Pumpkin or Pecan Pie, and Acadiana’s famous Biscuits with Housemade Pepper Jelly for $150. All items are also available a la carte from $10-90, including Giblet or Eggplant Gravy, Sweet Potato Purée, Mashed Potatoes, Oyster Stuffing, Cornbread and Andouille Sausage Stuffing, Cranberries, Butternut Squash Soup, Collard Greens, a dozen Biscuits and Housemade Pepper Jelly, Pumpkin or Pecan Pie, and a 12-14 pound turkey. Just place your order by 5pm on Thursday, November 17, 2011 and a complete spread will be ready for pick up on Thanksgiving morning between 11am-1pm.
Carmine's: This legendary Italian restaurant is temporarily forgoing their Southern Italian roots in favor of a menu that focuses on iconic American dishes for Thanksgiving. So instead of laboring all day over a hot stove to serve your family an amazing meal, just head to Carmine’s for a traditional Thanksgiving at its best available for take-out! Serve up the Family-Style Feast ($195) which can feed up to 10 people and stars an 18lb. Roasted Turkey with giblet gravy and stuffing studded with sausage and sage. Enjoy seven side dishes that epitomize classic comfort food, including Sweet Potatoes topped with marshmallows and maple syrup and Brussels Sprouts with caramelized onions and Applewood smoked bacon. For dessert, diners get their choice of three wonderful autumn pies: pumpkin, apple or pecan. Mangia, American style! To place your order, please call 202.737.7770. Must be ordered by Tuesday Nov. 22nd ; pick-up and delivery is available all day Thanksgiving, Nov 24, beginning at 11 a.m.
Willard InterContinental on Wings Thanksgiving Takeaway: This carry-out holiday feast includes a 10- to 12-pound or 18- to 20-pound turkey (serving four to six people for $150, or eight to ten for $250) with cranberry sauce and gravy, four side dishes, freshly baked rolls and pie. To order, please call (202) 637-7350. When picking up your order, simply dial (202) 637-7466, pop the trunk and we will take care of the rest. All orders must be placed by 3:00 p.m. on Monday, November 21, excluding tax and subject to an 18% service charge.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! (p.s. wear big pants!)
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