No plans for Thanksgiving yet? Or does preparing a multi-course meal sound less than savory? Last minute Lindas can breathe a sigh of relief and exit out of the YouTube tutorial on how to fry a turkey — check out these tips on how to make Turkey Day a hit in a cinch.
Leave the cooking to the experts…
No need to pull out great Aunt Betty’s recipe book, there are multiple Greater Tampa Bay restaurants serving up scrumptious dishes this Thanksgiving holiday. But beware, according to the National Restaurant association, 14 million Americans dine out on Thanksgiving, so it is best to snag a reservation sooner rather than later.
Enjoy a Thanksgiving feast with a view at Safety Harbor Resort and Spa, or set sail on a Turkey Day adventure aboard the Yacht StarShip Thanksgiving Dinner Cruise departing from Clearwater and Tampa.
Pull out all the stops for Thanksgiving this year and dine with a complimentary glass of champagne at Bon Appétit in Dunedin where guests can choose from a specially curated Thanksgiving menu or buffet. Indulge in a four-course brunch at The Rusty Pelican in Tampa that will feature traditional favorites like roasted turkey, and more non-traditional like fresh oysters and Crab Cake Benedict.
Can’t imagine spending Thanksgiving anywhere else but the home fort? There are various restaurants in GTB offering Thanksgiving take-home meals. Enjoy all of the Thanksgiving staples like turkey, gravy and stuffing and order a Thanksgiving Green Box from Seasons 52 in Tampa. Cooper’s Hawk Winery is offering heat-and-serve dinners planned by the restaurant’s very own Chef Matt McMillan.
Reheat and rejoice…
For those on a budget, or maybe missed the preorder date for a take-home meal from a restaurant, there are still ways to enjoy a Thanksgiving feast at home with little to no prep. Publix is featuring a fully cooked turkey dinner that includes a 10-12 pound Butterball turkey and sides, just order 48 hours in advance and heat at home.
Head to Trader Joes and find an array of scrumptious frozen meals, desserts and sides that will easily scratch the itch for a homecooked meal on Thanksgiving. Vegetarians and vegans will also appreciate the grocery store’s impressive collection of plant-based foods.
When in doubt, wine it out…
As joyous as they are, holidays have a knack for inducing stress. Skip the stress, grab a loved one and split a bottle of wine from Tampa Wine Room or Ed’s Fine Wines over a favorite meal (even if it is takeout in a Styrofoam box), because not every Thanksgiving has to look like a Norman Rockwell painting.
By Shelley Akins.
