Thanksgiving 2011

Pick up, take out, eat in ways for a no-cook Sonoma County Thanksgiving


By biteclub

EDITOR’S NOTE: G&G Market will be open from 7am to 3pm Thanksgiving. I mistakenly wrote that they would be closed.
Sure, Thanksgiving is a time for gathering ’round the family table, but who says it has to be yours? Instead of spending hours slaving in a hot kitchen, there are plenty of eat-out, pick-up and “who has to know you didn’t make it?” options throughout Sonoma County.

This year, celebrate turkey day in a new way. Just remember to get a doggy bag for those post-Thanksgiving turkey and stuffing cravings.
Here are some of our favorite spots throughout Sonoma County.

RESTAURANTS

Santa Rosa
Stark’s Steakhouse: Roast Willie Bird Turkey, Chef Mark’s Andouille Sausage & Wild Mushroom Stuffing, Traditional Giblet Gravy and Pomegranate-Cranberry Relish for $24, or the usual steakhouse menu (except burgers and entree Caesar salads) from 2 to 7pm. Desserts: Pumpkin Pie and Mamma Janne’s Cream Cheese Pie. No corkage. 521 Adams St (at 7th St.), Santa Rosa, 546-5100.

Willie Bird’s Restaurant: Family-favorite serving up local Willie Birds. Full holiday turkey dinner along with other menu items. Reservations required and most are nailed down well in advance, but some walk-ins accepted. Open until 8pm. 1150 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707.542.0861. Can’t get in for Thanksgiving: Grab a turkey Monte Cristo on Black Friday.

Cafe Europe: Four course diner, $35, from 1 to 6pm. 104 Calistoga Road  Santa Rosa, 538-5255

John Ash and Co.: Traditional turkey dinner from Chef Thomas Schmidt. Call for reservations. 350 Barnes Rd., Santa Rosa, 707.527.7687

Brasserie: Three course meal from noon to 7pm, $42 adults, $18 12 and under. 170 Railroad Street  Santa Rosa, 636-7388.
Union Hotel: Traditional turkey, butternut squash soup, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, $28.50; Prime rib dinner, $28.50; shrimp pasta, $23.50; pasta primavera $23.50 and a vegetarian pomodoro pasta $23.50. Reservations, 11:30am to 7:30pm. 280 Mission, Santa Rosa, 538-6000.

Willie Bird’s Restaurant: Family-favorite serving up local Willie Birds. Full holiday turkey dinner along with other menu items. Reservations required and most are nailed down well in advance, but some walk-ins accepted. Open until 8pm. 1150 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707.542.0861. Can’t get in for Thanksgiving: Grab a turkey Monte Cristo on Black Friday.

Healdsburg
Madrona Manor: Michelin-starred chef Chef Jesse Malgren does annual four-course turkey dinner for $78pp. Call ahead for seating between 1:30 and 7:30pm. 1001 Westside Road, Healdsburg, (707) 433-4231.

Dry Creek Kitchen: Three course menu includes roasted beet carpaccio, Duo of Willie Bird Turkey, Roasted leg of lamb, hard cider glazed pork, butternut squash ravioli; pumpkin pie with salted caramel sauce, hand pulled apple strudel. $65 per person. Served 2-7pm; 317 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 866.458.7224

Cocina Latina: Thanksgiving Yucateca-style. Mateo Granados’ new restaurant serves up Tacones, ceviche, Yucatan-style turkey with jasmine rice, crispy duck leg with beans and chorizo, braised lamb with potatoes, roasted beets, sticky bun flan. $45 per person, serving noon to 8pm. Reservations recommended, 433-1520.

Spoonbar: A casual three courses include mixed game terrine with date compote; Redwood Hill goat cheese salad; Ras el Hanout scented breast of turkey with pinenut and currant stuffing; ribeye steak with  potato gratin; prosciutto wrapped sturgeon; breast of duck with Gravenstein apple gastric; Gleason Ranch porchetta with root veggies; sweet potato pie, pecan tart, brown sugar creme caramel. $55 for adults and $25 for children. 219 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 922-5426.

Sonoma
Estate: Chef Sondra Bernstein’s family-style Italian restaurant in the former General’s Daughter is serving up prosciutto and pumpkin soup, Blue crab spaghetti, sugar pie pumpkin ravioli with sage butter, roasted turkey roulade, leg of lamb, pumpkin cheesecake. 400 West Spain Street
Sonoma, 933-3663.

girl and the fig: Nearby sister restaurant on the Sonoma square features a three course menu including wild mushroom and fromage blanc strudel, roasted turkey breast, prime rib, and a brow butter Bartlett pear tart for $52 per person. 110 West Spain St., Sonoma, 938-3634.

Depot Hotel: Four courses at a favorite Sonoma bistro features corn chowder, vineyard salad, roast turkey with sage stuffing. Other entrees: grilled salmon, orecchiette pasta with butternut squash, veal picatta or filet of beef. Cheesecake, pumpkin pie or chocolate decadence with port wine sauce. $37 to $43pp, seatings from noon to 7pm; 241 First St., West, Sonoma, 938-2980.

Sante: An epic Thanksgiving buffet that puts all other buffets to shame. The highlight reel: Butternut squash with creme fraiche, shrimp cocktail, assorted charcuteries, artisan cheeses served by the Maitre Fromager, smoked salmon and caviar, classic Caesar, ricotta tortellini salad. Carving stations of Diestel turkey with brioche and sage stuffing, filet mignon, pumpkin pie ravioli, sea bass, lamb, veal, mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts, artisnal breads, pumpking pie, chocolate Bourbon tart, pumpkin cheesecake, spiced pumpkin macaroons, s’mores bar, Crepes Suzette. $95pp, 939-2415.

DIY Pie: Join with other busy bakers for a Community Pie event at 10am, Wednesday, Nov. 23. All you need is an apron and a rolling pin (you can borrow a neighbor’s if you need to). Caterer Meloni Courtway provides instructions and ingredients on how to make her Martha-worthy double pastry crust for a take-home apple or pumpkin pie. Sips, nibbles and plenty of friendly chit-chat while you bake. $22 to be the star of your holiday meal, RSVP required mcourtway@sbcglobal.net or 781-7244.

Sebastopol
French Garden: Garden Butternut squash soup with pumpkin ravioli; turkey, Prime Rib, polenta cakes with kale, mashed potatoes, sausage stuffing, roasted chestnut gravy, yams with brown sugar, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, sticky date pudding and more. 8050 Bodega Avenue  Sebastopol, .  824-2030. $60pp, $25 children 12 and under.

Petaluma
Central Market: Always a favorite in Petaluma, Chef Ton Najiola celebrates his eighth annual Thanksgiving dinner, this year highlighting New Orleans influences. $60pp, kids under 12, $20. 42 Petaluma Blvd N., Petaluma, (707) 778-9900

West County
Agriculture at Dawn Ranch: Three course featuring pate with caramelized onions, mushroom tart, herb roasted turkey with Brussels sprouts hash, pumpkin tart. $44pp, seating from 4:30 to 9pm. 16467 Hwy 116  Guerneville, (707) 869-0656

Rancho Nicasio Thanksgiving Dinner: Annual three course dinner from 12 to 7pm, reservations recommended. Menu includes homemade clam chowder, turkey, ham, salmon Wellington with champagne sauce, prime rib, pumpkin, apple or pecan pie. $34.95pp, 29.95 65+, kids under 10, $24.95. Three course vegetarian option available by reservation. On The Town Square, Nicasio, 415-662-2219.

BUYING YOUR TURKEY
BBQ Smokehouse Smoked Turkey: Smoked over applewood for 12 hours, $68.50. Add cornbread stuffing, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, red eye turkey gravy and  cranberry relish for $89.99.  Order before 5:00 PM on November 18th, 575-3277 ext. 2.

Diestel Turkey: Big John’s (1345 Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg), Oliver’s Market, Whole Foods, Sonoma Market (520 W. Napa St., Sonoma), Ukiah Natural Foods (721 S. State St., Ukiah), Molsberry Market (522 Larkfield Ctr, Santa Rosa).

Willie Bird Turkeys: Local free-range turkeys. 5350 Highway 12, Santa Rosa, CA 707-545-2832 Will Call Orders Only.

Whole Foods: Pre-cooked meal options include a Latin Feast, Heritage Holiday dinner, traditional turkey dinner, spiral cut ham, organic and vegan options, as well as organic and heirloom turkeys.

PICKUP
Zazu/Bovolo/Black Pig: You cook the turkey, Zazu does the rest. A la carte sides with flair including Black Pig Bacon (for your left over BLTurkey!); Cranberry apple Chutney; Riesling Gravy, Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes, maple and browned butter yams, cornbread stuffing, pumpkin ice cream pie, Sebastopol apple crunch pie. All orders must be received by Friday, Nov. 20 for pick up on Wednesday at ZAZU restaurant + farm, 3535 guerneville road, santa rosa from 3 to 9pm or at BOVOLO, 106 Matheson St, Healdsburg from 12 to 6 pm. 431-2962 to place your order.

Pearson and Co: Mix and match everything from sides to stuffing. Menu includes: Butternut Squash Soup, turkey, ham, garlic mashed potatoes, root vegetables, green beans, wild rice stuffing, breads, pies and more. All orders must be placed by Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010. Call ahead orders: 541-3868, 2759 4th St., Santa Rosa.

Fresh By Lisa Hemenway: Complete Thanksgiving dinner includes a roast turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, veggies, desserts and more. $180-$195. Packaged and ready to go, ready for pickup between 10am and 1pm. 5755 Mountain Hawk Way, Santa Rosa, 539-1049.

DON’T FORGET DESSERT

Dominique’s Sweets: Pumpkin, apple, sweet potato, Honey walnut, pecan or yam pie available for pick up on Nov. 23 at the Santa Rosa wednesday market (Veteran’s Building). Order by Nov. 19. 707.843.9765 or dominiquesweets.com.

Della Fattoria: Chocolate pecan pie, pumpkin pie with Maple Meringue, Pumpkin Slab Pie, bourbon Pumpkin Cheesecake, brown butter pumpkin layer cake with cream cheese frosting, dinner rolls and breads. Order by 11/21, 763-0161. 141 Petaluma Boulevard North, Petaluma.

Mom’s Apple Pies will be open for limited hours on Thanksgiving day. Expect lots of pumpkin. Order ahead if you want something different. 4550 Gravenstein Hwy. North, Sebastopol, 707-823-8330.

LAST MINUTE SHOPPING

* Whole Foods:  Thanksgiving hours are 8am to 2pm.
* Safeway: Most locations: 6am to 12pm
* G & G Market/Santa Rosa: Open 7am to 3pm
* Olivers: Montecito, Stony Point, Cotati, open from 7am to 3:30pm

TO HELL WITH THE TURKEY!
Save a turkey and join adopt a turkey instead of eating one. To view this year’s “adoptable” turkeys, visit adoptaturkey.org or call the Turkey Adoption Hotline at 1-888-SPONSOR.

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