The Thanksgiving Shopping Guide To Los Angeles 2014 | Tasting Table LA
Where to get all of your Thanksgiving goods in L.A.
Make T-day hassle-free with this cheat sheet to the city's turkeys and fixings to go. From deep-fried birds to not-so-trashy green bean casserole, we've got your Thanksgiving table covered. Here, your best bets for ensuring a stress-free holiday.
TURKEY
Mexican: Guelaguetza
The goods: Mexican may not be your first thought for Thanksgiving fare, but turkey is an old-school Mexican classic. The native bird comes authentic as it gets: Pavo con mole is a whole 12- to 14-pound turkey dressed with chocolate-based Oaxacan mole negro ($119). Bonus: Each bird comes with a half gallon of mole sauce; poblano spaghetti; cream-dressed apple, pineapple, carrot and raisin salad; and bolillo bread rolls to feed eight to ten people.
The details: Phone ahead for T-Day pick up between noon and 6 p.m.
Heritage: Belcampo
The goods: Impress your guests with nothing less than Bill Niman Ranch heritage birds ($6 to $8 per pound) to roast at home. Whole free-range, California-bred turkeys are available for pre-order pick up at the Grand Central Market butcher shop. If you're feeding a smaller party, mix it up with squab ($15 each).
The details: Order ASAP for pick up the day before Thanksgiving.
SIDES
Classic: Joan's on Third
The goods: Choose the decadent, because-it's-a-holiday baked yams ($28) soaked in maple brown sugar and pile on creamy mashed potatoes ($18), hazelnut and shallot-sautéed green beans ($20), and two kinds of stuffing ($26).
The details: Order by Friday, November 21, at noon for pick up at the original Third Street and new Studio City locations the day before Thanksgiving.
Newfangled: M.B. Post
The goods: The South Bay restaurant goes meaty with bacon-cheddar buttermilk biscuits ($36 per dozen) and brioche stuffing studded with pork sausage ($18 per quart) on the side. Add cranberry kumquat relish ($8 per cup), whipped garlic and olive oil potatoes ($15 per quart), and turkey gravy ($12 per quart); or load up with all four ($50).
The details: Order by Saturday, November 22, for pick up on the day before Thanksgiving between 3 p.m.
SoCal Seasonal: Lemonade
The goods: The oh-so-L.A. lunch spot is offering its usual sides (think curry cauliflower and white truffle mac 'n' cheese) along with fall picks: Spaghetti squash with farro and pomegranate vinaigrette, mashed sweet potatoes and "Not so Trashy" green bean casserole with roasted mushrooms and crispy onions ($3.50).
The details: Order at least a day ahead for pick up or delivery.
WHOLE DINNERS
Locavore: Farmshop
The goods: Local is the theme at this one-stop restaurant/bakery/market. Farmers' market produce stars in sides like apple, mushroom and tarragon stuffing ($18); cauliflower gratin with Madras curry and Gruyère ($12); and spiced Nantes carrots with harissa and Medjool dates ($14). Fake it with a you-cook turkey: The 15- to 16-pound bird ($80) is brined for 12 hours in garlic, lemon, rosemary and salt and ready to roast at home. (There's also the pre-cooked option for $115.) Visit the bakery for breads and pies and the retail shop for wine and cheese.
The details: Pick up on T-minus two days up until the day of until 11 a.m.
Puttin' on the Ritz: Hotel Bel-Air
The goods: With Wolfgang Puck in the name, you know that you're getting nothing short of fine dining luxury. The four-course prix fixe ($395 for six to eight people) includes roasted pumpkin soup with cardamom cream and cranberry compote, roasted heritage turkey with cranberry-quince chutney and sides like chestnut and raisin sourdough bread stuffing and dried fruit and pecan-layered potato gratin.
The details: 48 hour advance notice needed for pickup between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. the day of.
Dinner for One: The Oaks Gourmet
The goods: The individual T-Day dinner ($25) from the Franklin Hills market doesn't skimp on solo diners. Expect honey rosemary-glazed turkey, mushroom gravy, brown sugar carrots, roasted-garlic green beans, horseradish mashed potatoes, jalapeño cornbread stuffing, bourbon cranberry sauce and pumpkin cheesecake.
The details: Order by Wednesday, November 26, at 1 p.m. and pick up Thanksgiving day before 3 p.m.
PIES
Carbo Load: Little Flower
The goods: Christine Moore knows the way to our hearts: Baked goods from her Pasadena café. For Thanksgiving, we're crushing on her dreamy pretzel rolls ($30 per dozen), pecan bread stuffing ($16 per quart), and pull-apart sticky pecan buns ($26) for the morning after. For dessert: Pecan bourbon pie ($32), traditional pumpkin pie ($32) and pumpkin bread pudding with salty caramel sauce ($36). Swoon.
The details: Last day to order is Sunday, November 23
Fall Fancy: Proof Bakery
The goods: Stop by this Atwater Village bakery for the greatest part of Thanksgiving: pie. Na Young Ma's creations are as thoughtful as they are tasty. Try pumpkin ($40)—roasted kabocha, sweet potato and spices give it a twist—and walnut honey ($42), honey custard with toasted walnuts and dried cherries.
The details: For Thanksgiving pick up (8 a.m. to 11 a.m.), order by Sunday, November 23, at 4 p.m.
Vegan: Café Gratitude
The goods: Vegans can get in on dessert with this Bay Area chain's pies, which are also raw and gluten-free. Choose from coconut cream ($35) filled with coconut custard and dark chocolate swirl in chocolate date crust, or pumpkin with butternut squash custard, pecan date crust and coconut cashew whipped cream ($35). For nut lovers, there's a pecan-date crusted pie with pecan-vanilla filling.
The details: Pick up the day before T-Day before 4 p.m.
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WINE
Made in CA: Domaine LA
Our T-day game plan starts with wine. And we're pouring California picks from Domaine LA's Jill Bernheimer. For red, she likes Valdiguié from Folk Machine ($19) or Broc Cellars ($24). The Gamay-like wine has the same characteristics as a Beaujolais, but it's locally grown. "Valdiguié has a medium body like Pinot Noir with good minerality and a modest alcohol level...it's not over the top or too heavy," says Bernheimer. For white, go for a Chenin Blanc like Santa Ynez's Habit ($28): "Chenin Blanc has the body of Chardonnay without the oakiness, and the minerality of Sauvignon Blanc without the herbaceousness," explains Bernheimer. Think: fruit, lemon and crisp to go well with Thanksgiving meal.
Old World: Lou Wine Shop & Tastings
Stop by Lou Admur's newly opened Los Feliz wine shop for personalized, off-the-beaten-track red or white picks. Try Petit Août "Le Memoire Neuve" 2013 ($16) from France, which Admur describes as "light-bodied and pine needle-y," with "cranberry and pomegranate notes, and low in tannins but high in refreshing acidity."