Getting bombarded with pitches to pen Thanksgiving restaurant roundups is traditionally one of my annual irritations—I usually prefer to pass. But some truly tempting offerings have crossed my inbox and my social media feeds this year that I’d love to share with you.
Rather than praising Pilgrims (or encouraging any particularly big gatherings), I recommend them as a way to treat yourself on Thursday, November 26—congratulations, you have rode this year almost out, and deserve a feast like this! You’d also be supporting a diverse lineup of independent Bay Area chefs.
PINOY HERITAGE’S THANKSGIVING EXPERIENCE
No utensils are required for Pinoy Heritage’s holiday offering ($100 for two people), a Filipino kamayan presentation on banana leaves that’s meant to be eaten with your hands. Highlights include a turkey roulade stuffed with bacon and longanisa sausage, sisig stuffing, coconut milk braised shrimp and mussels and leche flan, but are just the tip of the iceberg here. Pre-order through Feastin, which will deliver the meal on November 24.
THE MANA’EESH LADY’S ARABIC THANKSGIVING
Palestinean-American chef Mona Leena Michael, who is known as The Mana’eesh Lady and slings dough at weekly pop-ups at The Libertine in Oakland, has created a nostalgic Thanksgiving menu ($80 for two people).
“This menu is inspired by the Thanksgiving meals I grew up eating in our Palestinian household back in the day,” Michael wrote on Instagram. “With fragrant slow-roasted leg of lamb studded with garlic from @creamco_meats, Arabic “stuffing,” fall fattoush salad, and obviously a staple in any celebratory meal, warak dawali! The meal will be completed with a delicious pumpkin-labneh cheesecake on a fillo crust.” Pre-order now and pick it up at Forage Kitchen in Oakland on the morning of November 26.
PRUBECHU’S WHOLE TURKEY CHAMORRO FEAST
The reopening of Prubechu, San Francisco’s only restaurant exploring the food from Guam, was one of 2019’s most heartwarming stories in the local hospitality industry, and Prubechu’s Thanksgiving meal ($380 for four to six people) features a whole roasted Black Spanish Heritage Turkey from Joyce Farms in North Carolina with side dishes from Guam, including a Chamorro stuffing, yucca braised in coconut milk, coconut-creamed spinach with turmeric and fina’denne (a jalapeno-spiked condiment). Pre-order for pickup on Nov. 25.
SOULEY VEGAN’S THANKSGIVING DINNER
Souley Vegan usually hosts a buffet, but this year they’ll offer complete meals to go ($40 per person) featuring seitan rosemary fried chi’kn, country creamy mashed potatoes with brown butter gravy, pesto and basil mac with house made “cheese,” brown sugar candied yams and more, trays of vegan side dishes that serve 10-15 people ($40-67.50) and whole toasted pecan crusted sweet potato pies ($25) for pickup the morning of November 26 in Oakland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
LOCAL KITCHEN & WINE MERCHANT’S GIVING THANKS MEAL KIT
Rincon Hill’s Local Kitchen & Wine Merchant are taking pre-orders for the Giving Thanks Meal Kit ($40 per person), which spares turkeys in favor of citrus brined smoked chicken (or BBQ jackfruit pancit) and offers sides like ember roasted and miso whipped sweet potato and crispy Brussels sprouts with chestnuts and sweet & sour glaze. Pickups are available on November 24 and 25.
