The Essential Guide to Thanksgiving 2020 in Southeast Michigan

Everett Collection/Shutterstock

Make a plan for turkey dinner and dessert with options for ordering feasts to-go from local restaurants

This year has been an absolute slog, and to add holiday cooking and baking on top of it (plus, the mandatory kitchen clean-up) might just be the final spirit-crushing straw. Why not help out a local restaurant and take a load off this holiday? Why not order a meal to-go?

Below, Eater has assembled a guide to options for ordering in on Thursday, November 26, plus ideas for where to pick up pies and practice crucial cooking skills, too. It’s important to reserve meals sooner, rather than later as many restaurants and bakeries have strict deadlines for reserving holiday items. Eater Detroit will be regularly updating the list as new options become available. Email detroit@eater.com if there’s a spot we’ve missed.

Is it safe to gather with friends and family?

Everything during the pandemic is about managing risk. This fall, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is advising that people carefully consider the potential risks to friends and family of hosting large holiday gatherings. If you’re sick or may be sick, please don’t partake in any in-person holiday gatherings. According to the guidance, families should strongly consider limiting the number of people at gatherings and hosting the meal in an outdoor space. A current epidemic order limits indoor gatherings to 10 people or less. In addition to wearing masks, maintaining social distance, and sanitizing surfaces and handwashing frequently, people should also consider how food is served and handled:

• Follow good hygiene and limiting the amount of people in areas where food is prepared
• Avoid potluck gatherings
• Consider bringing food from home to serve people in your household if visiting another home
• Have one person serve all shareable food and consider using single-use items for condiments, plates, and utensils

Where can I order meal kits or takeout dinner?

Detroit

Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktails (15 E. Kirby St., Suite D) — Order a full holiday dinner prepped by Chartreuse in Midtown. The restaurant is offering meals portioned for four ($315), six to eight ($475), or 10 to 12 people ($695). The menu includes Green Circle free range turkey and gravy, green bean casserole, pork sausage-sage-sourdough dressing, macaroni and cheese, cranberry-orange compote, squash soup, peel and eat shrimp, and more. Place orders online for kits for pick up between noon and 3 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25.

Pietrzyk Pierogi (1429 Gratiot Ave., Suite 109) — The Holiday Special is an annual Pietrzyk Pierogi tradition. These Polish dumplings come stuffed with Amish free range turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and green beans with a side of turkey gravy and cranberry sour cream. Orders can be place online for $20.

Marrow (8044 Kercheval Ave.) — Reserve all the necessities for Thanksgiving this year through Marrow’s online shop. The butcher shop is selling fresh turkey (small, medium, or large), boneless smoked ham, duck, charcuterie boards, turkey gravy, turkey stock, sausage stuffing, and cranberry relish.

Metro Detroit

Red Crown (15301 Kercheval Ave.) — This Grosse Pointe Park restaurant is offering meals for groups of two ($50), four ($100), or eight people ($200). The menu features items like smoked tomato soup, cornbread stuffing, red skin mashed potatoes, and smoked turkey breast with peanut butter pie or pumpkin pie for dessert. Vegetarian options like grilled Rosewood tofu and silken gravy are also available. Place orders by Sunday, November 15 for pick up by 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25. Call 313-822-3700.

Stage Deli (6873 Orchard Lake Rd.) — Place orders online for a dinner fit for an eight-person feast from Stage Deli. The cost is $225 and includes roasted turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, onion roll stuffing, sweet potato souffle, and more. Orders in before Monday, November 9 receive a free pumpkin pie.

Frame (23839 John R Rd. #2) — Pick up a Thanksgiving dinner fit to feed up to six people from Frame, courtesy of chef Michael Barrera and Adela Bejo of Hip Hop Bake Shop. The meal features turkey from Otto’s Farm, green bean and wild mushroom casserole, cornbread-sausage stuffing, buttermilk biscuits, pumpkin pie, and more. Orders must be placed online by Tuesday, November 10.

Ann Arbor

Cornman Farms (8540 Island Lake Rd.) — Zingerman’s Cornman Farms is offering a mix-and-match menu of Thanksgiving to-go items such as glazed honey carrots, bacon-balsamic brussel sprouts, turkey gravy, cranberry-walnut pie, turkey, and more. Place orders online.

Zingerman’s Roadhouse (2501 Jackson Ave.) — Order Thanksgiving to-go from Zingerman’s Roadhouse. The restaurant is offering meals for groups of two ($100), four ($190), or eight to 10 people ($375). Customers can choose between a coffee spice smoked turkey or an traditional herb and garlic-roasted turkey. Fixins like mashed potatoes, cranberry relish, challah rolls, and pumpkin pies come with each order. Place orders online.

Where can I order takeout pastries and desserts?

Lush Yummies Pie Co. (1520 Adelaide St.) — This Eastern Market-based pie company is accepting online pre-orders for sets of Lemon Butta Pie, Peach Butta Cobbler, and Apple Butta Pie for curbside pick up from 4 p.m. to 6 pm. on Saturday, November 21. The cost is $68.

What are some other ways to celebrate?

Virtual Cooking Class: Mabel Gray is hosting a Thanksgiving cooking class led by chef James Rigato. The cost is $125 and includes recipes, a grocery list, a cornbread kit, chorizo sausage, and pie crust. The kit is available for pick up between noon and 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 21 and the event will take place at 6 p.m. on Sunday, November 22 via Zoom.

• All Holidays Coverage [ED]