Thu. November 14, 2013
By Rick Karlin
If you'd rather not cook Thanksgiving Dinner, there are many places willing to do the work for you. So you can watch the game (?!?!) or relax with your guests and still get all the credit as a great host.
Cooking Fools, 1916 W. North, will prepare a feast for your family and friends, including one featuring a deconstructed turkey, desserts, and an assortment of side dishes and accompaniments. Call (773) 276-9377 or go to cookingfools.net for more information.
Heybeck's Meat Market, 333 W. Northwest Highway in Palatine (plus two other locations), is willing to do all the work for you, so you can take all the credit for a delicious meal. It offers a ready-to-cook, fully prepared turkey dinner. Included in the dinner is fresh turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and gravy and seasonal cranberry relish. Pies, cakes and pumpkin bars are among the dessert options. You roast, the turkey and warm the side dishes, so your house smells as if you've been slaving over the stove all day, call (847) 358-3820 or check out heybecks.com.
Boston Market, with locations around the Chicago area, offers a number of packages from which to choose. For $12.29 per person, you get a choice of roast turkey or honey-glazed ham as an entrée. The deal also includes mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, vegetable stuf?ng, cranberry walnut relish, cornbread and a choice of apple or pumpkin pie. Available Nov. 22-28, with a $75 minimum on pick-up orders, $100 minimum for delivery. Two hour notice required for same-day pickup orders, three hours for same-day delivery. Orders for Thanksgiving y must be placed by 5 p.m. the day before. Go BostonMarket.com or call 866-977-9090 for more information.
Horizon Café, 3805 N Broadway, will feature a four-course dinner, including ham, turkey and sides, available for dine-in at $22 or for takeout or delivery for two bucks more. Mama's legendary apple butter pumpkin pies are available for $15, order in advance. Call 773.883.1565 or go to horizoncafechgo.com for more information, or to place an order.
Enjoy Thanksgiving, just like Oprah, by ordering from her former personal chef, Art Smith's Table Fifty-Two, 52 W. Elm. You have to do the turkey yourself (although you can pick up a brining kit), but Chef Smith's crew will do all the side dishes and desserts; three-cheese mac, biscuits, cornbread, sweet potatoes, pecan or pumpkin pies or sweet potato pie with bourbon marshmallow topping. Call (312) 573-4000 or go to tablefifty-two.com.
Trump Hotel will prepare dinner for from two to four people for $275, or six to eight for $385 for pick-up on Thanksgiving Day. Orders must be placed by Friday, Nov. 22, call (312) 588-8114.
The Goddess and Grocer, with four locations around Chicago, offers a dinner for 12 featuring roasted whole natural turkey stuffed with vegetable mirepoix, mixed greens with crumbled goat cheese, candied pecans, dried cranberries and a bottle of Goddess' balsamic maple vinaigrette, whipped sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, roasted root vegetables, stuffing, cranberry-orange relish, dinner rolls and butter, pecan and pumpkin pies for $375. If you prefer to assemble your own menu, you can start with the turkey (12-14 lbs $90, 18-20 lbs $120) and assemble your own sides and desserts. Call (312) 896-2600 or go to goddessandgrocer.com.
If you don't mind cooking the rest of the meal, but don't want to hassle with the turkey, Smoke Daddy, 1804 W Division, offers a smoked 11 pound bird for $65, $85 for a 20 pounder. Cornbread stuffing is $8 per quart, and gravy $10 per quart .Call (773) 772-6656, or go to TheSmokeDaddy.com, order by Nov. 20.
If you've been invited somewhere for the holiday, lucky you. Make a great impression by showing up with a pie from Delightful Pastries, with three Chicago locations. In addition to traditional selections such as apple, pumpkin and pecan try the more unusual, but equally delicious, apple-caramel, cranberry-fudge, coconut-chocolate or bourbon-chocolate pecan. All pies are $25, and serve 8-10 people. Orders may be placed at any Delightful Pastries locations; Jefferson Park (773.545.7215), Old Town (312.255.0724) or the Chicago French Market (312.234.9644) or on line at delightfulpastries.com.
If even that's too much for you, enjoy a care-free dinner and do a little good at the same time. by heading over to Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club, 3700 N. Halsted, on Thanksgiving Eve or Day. The community favorite will offer a 50% discount on martinis and cocktails, as well as a 33% on your the dinner tab with a canned good donation or nonperishable food item for Vital Bridges' annual "Harvest for Hope" community food drive. A special prix fixe menu includes a pumpkin pie martini, Kit Kat salad, herb-marinated roasted turkey breast, traditional stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberry and pineapple relish, and pumpkin pie tart for only $20 with canned good donation ($40 without donation). The regular menu will be available as well. For reservations, call (773) 525-1111 or go to kitkatchicago.com.
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