Newport Food Scene: Don't want to cook this Thanksgiving? Check out these take-out options
I don’t want to be an alarmist but I thought I should warn you that Thanksgiving is only two weeks away. How could that be? It feels like we just said goodbye to summer. Maybe it was the unusually warm weather that distorted our sense of time. Maybe it was Election Day distorting our sense of everything? Regardless, here we are two weeks before the big day and the holiday anxiety is about to rear its head. Thanksgiving? More like Panic-giving.
Whether you are playing host this holiday or pulling up a folding chair to the card table at Aunt Mabel’s, there’s one foolproof way to make sure your Thanksgiving feast is both easy and memorable. Outsource and get help from your area restaurants and bakers. You can pre-order side dishes or the full meal and ensure you’ll get rave reviews. Don’t worry about making that holiday dessert either - leave your favorite pies and sweets to the professionals.
Newport Vineyards is taking orders for all your holiday needs. They’ve got you covered whether you want a complete roasted turkey dinner with the turkey brined in their Rhody Coyote hard cider, or their specialty including Apple Sage Stuffing, Roasted Rhode Island Mushrooms or the Sweet and Cheesy Butternut Casserole. Their bakeshop also has some spectacular additions like an Heirloom Pumpkin Pie and a sourdough loaf shaped like a pumpkin that would make a great centerpiece on any table. Place your order by Nov. 20 and they will have everything ready for you to pick up on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
Or let the culinary team at Hotel Viking take care of your holiday dinner with their special packages that serve up to 8 people. Place your order by Nov. 21, then pull up to the hotel and the valet will load up your car with a neatly packed Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixings and dessert for you and your guests. They’ll even include easy reheating instructions. Pick-up is on Wednesday, Nov. 23 for all orders.
The Mooring is also ready to help fill your table with a dinner package that serves four people. Their Thanksgiving dinner comes with all the fixings and includes a whole pumpkin or apple pie and a bottle of wine. You can serve up their sourdough stuffing made with apples, pancetta, sage and sweet onion and the Brown Butter-Bourbon Gravy and call it your own. Dishes come in oven-ready packaging with easy heating instructions and can be picked up on Thanksgiving Day at the restaurant. Be sure to place your order by Thursday, Nov. 17!
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Provencal Bakery and Cafe is ready to help you with the holidays too and not just with great breads and sweet treats. You can order a complete turkey dinner with all the fixings including stuffing, squash and mashed potatoes. But you’d regret not ordering a dessert. You can’t go wrong with their pecan or blueberry pie, but don’t miss out on the pure joy of their marble cheesecake.
You can always rely on the folks at Clements' Marketplace to bring the holiday home. They are offering complete whole turkey dinners prepared fresh by the Clements' chefs. The feast includes a 10- to 12-pound bird along with all the fixings, rolls and dessert - and serves 6 to 8 people. Not a turkey person? They have a spiral ham package available too. Hurry though - the last day to order is the 14th! Pick-up is on Wednesday the 23rd.
While you are at Clements', look for their supply of hand-decorated Thanksgiving cookies from J.R. Custom Cookies. Their whimsical and tasty cookies are festively decorated and will bring a smile of thanks to anyone who gets one. They make for great table decorations too!
Are you going to someone’s house and don’t want to show up empty-handed? Bring a pie! Ma’s Donuts and More are taking orders for all their sweet delights. Show up to dinner with a Ma’s Cranberry Apple Pie (made with crisp, fresh apples and tart cranberries) and you’ll be the hero. If you really want to make an impression, bring the Chocolate Cream Silk Pie! There’s no harm in grabbing a dozen donuts while you're there too. Coffee and donuts on Thanksgiving morning before you head to the game are always fun.
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Come to think of it, you can go to any of our Island bakeries and find the perfect dessert for any Thanksgiving dinner or a “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” viewing party. You’ll never go wrong with something from the Mad Hatter Bakery whether it’s a Pumpkin Bread, some hand-crafted Funfetti cupcakes or the more traditional Apple Crumb Pie. Or you can look to June’s English Bakery for some English Sticky Toffee Pudding or Bakewell Tarts. Catch them at their bakery on Aquidneck Avenue or at the Aquidneck Grower’s Market. Or try the French Confection. They are always well-stocked with tasty pies and cakes, but if you show up to Thanksgiving dinner with a box of their fresh Macarons, you may win Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving may be coming fast, but don’t worry - the restaurants and bakeries in town have got you covered. Don’t have a holiday filled with stress and anxiety. Take the help and let the professionals do the work. All you have to do is say thanks.
Dan Lederer is a Middletown resident with 30 years experience in the food service industry throughout New England. He continues to work locally behind the scenes within the industry and remains a devoted fan of all things restaurant and hospitality related. His column appears on newportri.com and Thursdays in The Daily News. Cheers!
This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Thanksgiving meals available for take-out at Newport County restaurants
