I will readily admit, Thanksgiving is a smallish type of affair at my house. Working in television news for twenty years, I was typically working that night. If I wasn’t, then my wife was. Long story short, this particular holiday in the Blanco household is a quiet, low key kind of thing. There’s no one to pick up at the airport, no Turkey Bowls at the park, no uncle passed out on the couch and no aunt trying to tell everyone what to do. There IS, however, a turkey, a couple of sides and a dessert. When you do that year after year, sometimes you want to expand your horizons a little bit. At least I do. Over the last year, I have tried so many wonderful dishes from the restaurants in our area that it makes me want to celebrate all of their creations.
This year, I decided Thanksgiving is going to be bigger at Casa Blanco. Don’t tell my wife, but I am planning to bring in a number of side dishes from around town and invite a few friends over. Actually for the first time ever, I think, both her side and my side of the family will be represented at one table in our home. I’m going to turn up the offerings up a notch and I am going to sample a lot of the things area chefs are making for the holidays. You can do it too! Any number of restaurants in the area are offering carry-out either full Thanksgiving meals, or even sides that can enhance your table at home, or have something ready-made to bring to the home you’ve been invited to. All of that said, here is my list of spots in Savannah that you will find something festive to Eat and Like…
FORM 1801 Habersham Street (at 34th)
You likely already know I am a big fan of what the guys at FORM are doing. They probably supply the city with 80% of it’s cheesecake already but they do so much more. They do wine pairing dinners, they do an incredible job catering. Well, now you can take their great flavors home with you for Thanksgiving. You name it, they’ve got it. Turkey, Pecan Encrusted Pork Tenderloin, Bacon and Caramelized onion Brussel Sprouts, Vanilla infused butter Roasted Carrots. These dishes are no joke and some start at $12.99.
K-Bella Gourmet Carry Out 119 Charlotte Road–Wilmington Island.
Kristen does a great job with everything she does out on Wilmington Island. She always prepares great side dishes for any meal, Thanksgiving is no different. She is, however, offering a full Thanksgiving meal for 12-15 people. One price, one huge, ginormous dinner. No cooking, no mess. Just Eat It and Like It then clean up and pass out. Or pass out, then clean up. Sour Cream Mashed Red Skin Potatoes? Sounds incredible. That’s just one of the sides too.
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse 111 West Bay Street. Want some of the Ruth’s Chris experience without having to go downtown and spent a ton of money? Well, here you go! Ruth’s is actually offering side dishes as a carry out from now through New Year’s Eve. Family sized servings (10-12 people) of their Creamed Spinach, Sweet Potato Casserole or my personal favorite Fresh Green Beans with Roasted Garlic. They are all packaged and ready for you to pick up. Imagine how popular you’d be at a holiday pot luck dinner if you show up with something from Ruth’s Chris.
Desserts are certainly more popular and a good number of places are doing special order pies, cookies, cakes and other sweet nothings for the holiday season. That list includes our friends at Back in the Day Bakery. Cheryl and Grif are taking special orders for pies. LAST DAY TO ORDER IS NOVEMBER 22nd. Delores at Just Desserts on Skidaway Road tells me she is always slammed during the holidays with special orders. Her Pumpkin Rolls are some of the most popular. (Think tiny pumpkin flavored creamed filled yule logs). And of course, our friends at Sweet Carolina Cupcakes or Gigi’s Cupcakes can always make you the most popular person at your potluck dinner over the next five weeks or so.
Keep in mind, many of the places we’ve listed for have cut off dates. Each has a different deadline depending on what it is you will need. Call them first. Don’t expect to walk in to one of these places the night before Thanksgiving and get all that you need. They would very much appreciate a heads up so they can accommodate your needs.
See you on TV.
Jesse
Quick Bytes
- I’m raising a glass to the staff and volunteers that brought the Savannah Food and Wine Festival together and made it the best celebration of food this city has ever seen. So many highlights. So much fun. I broke it down into my Top 10 Moments, which you can read right now by clicking here. Who got very high marks for their dish? Sandfly’s Driftaway Café.
- Chocolat by Adam Turoni is offering a chocolate making class next Tuesday night from 7pm-9pm. Adam is going to teach a small class of 16 how to make some incredible things. At last check, there were only a handful of seats left. There is no doubt it will sell out. Find Chocolat by Adam Turoni on-line or on Facebook.
- New BBQ restaurant is set to open this week on MLK in the old Blowin’ smoke location. It’s called “Bub-ba-Q” Their first location is in Woodstock, Georgia. Looking forward to trying it! Welcome to the neighborhood, Bubs.
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