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Turkey Day Choices
You don't have to cook to enjoy a Thanksgiving feast.
By Judi Gallagher
Planning on enjoying Thanksgiving in the comfort of home, but dreading the thought of slaving away all day in the kitchen? The Colony Restaurant is still open and has all the fixin’s without turning on the oven.
Relax with your friends and family and reserve a luscious traditional Thanksgiving Dinner To-Go for $200. This spread features: a plump 18-lb. turkey or fresh baked ham, sage stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, green beans and carrots, crisp salad, rolls and butter and a choice of two desserts: pumpkin pie, Key lime pie, double chocolate cake and pecan pie. One bottle of The Colony's fine private label wine (red or white) is also included in this meal for six persons. (Personally I can’t make dinner for six on Thanksgiving for under $400.)
For Thanksgiving To-Go Dinner reservations call (941) 383-5558.
Enjoy!
Ophelia’s on the Bay will deliver a full Thanksgiving dinner for four to your door on Thanksgiving Day that even includes the pumpkin pie. Call (941) 349-2212 for more information on that.
Mattison’s 41 will bring it to you curbside. The Turkey Feast To-Go is
a complete Thanksgiving dinner for four people for $75, for eight people $145. Additional items are also available to add to your Thanksgiving order. To place an order at Mattison's Forty-One call (941) 921-3400. Of course you can always order individual Thanksgiving dinners from any Mattison's location with Mattison's Curb-Side To Go; just call ahead and they will bring your order to your car.
a complete Thanksgiving dinner for four people for $75, for eight people $145. Additional items are also available to add to your Thanksgiving order. To place an order at Mattison's Forty-One call (941) 921-3400. Of course you can always order individual Thanksgiving dinners from any Mattison's location with Mattison's Curb-Side To Go; just call ahead and they will bring your order to your car.
A good dine-in option to fit the budget is Cosimo’s Too at Westfield Sarasota Square.Seating is from noon until 5 p.m., with a traditional Turkey Day dinner with all the trimmings for $17.95—$6.95 kids 10 and under.
Libby’s has thought of the annual holiday dining conundrum: If I dine out on Thanksgiving, how do I get the midnight turkey sandwich? Well, they are prepared to add on a brown bag sandwich when you dine in their laid-back version of Thanksgiving with Bloody Mary and Mimosa Bar and football on the TV. Thanksgiving Dinner menu at Libby’s is $24/adult and $12/child, 12 and under, including a Turkey Brown Bag To Go.
If you are dining out this year a checklist to remember:
Call ahead and discuss your reservation with the manager. Make sure that they will not run out of turkey and the service will be as outstanding at 8 p.m. as it is at 2 p.m. Last year, among several last- minute glitches at a Thanksgiving dinner we attended, the restaurant forgot to serve gravy on the turkey and the sweet potatoes were cold and overdone from two hours previous. Worst of all, half the desserts were sold out by the time the party of 22 were ready to order. Moral of the story: If they can’t treat your special dinner as if it were their own family, head out to buy a fresh turkey and brine for a day or two; buy two pies at Yoder’s, Morton’s or Fresh Market and have all your friends bring the sides.
I will be on TV on Thanksgiving on ABC 7 at noon if you have any last minute turkey cooking questions.
Whatever you decide, may your turkey be moist, the gravy lumpless and the mashed potatoes as creamy as the sweet potato casserole, and may you share your good fortunes with those who have less. Buy a food donation bag at Publix or make a donation to the local food bank. Happy Thanksgiving, Chef Judi.
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