Thanksgiving 2014: Cater in or Eat out in Kansas City

Thanksgiving is two weeks away, my friends. Time to start to thinking about your "turkey day" meal options. As important as good food is to this high holiday in America, I have noticed that even with my love of food, and cooking, that I find myself craving family over food this time of year. 

I always go home to Tulsa for Thanksgiving to spend time with my son and both of my brothers. Now that my Mom and Dad are both gone, my brothers are all that I have in terms of family. I always find myself getting a little emotional around Thanksgiving, as it was my Mom's favorite time of the year. Thanksgiving was the one holiday we could all count on going home to see each other, and Mom and Dad. So, in keeping with our family tradition, my brothers and I are making plans this year to gather together to celebrate, to gossip, to remember, to play Cards Against Humanity and to just generally catch up with each other, just like we did when our parents were alive. I am really looking forward to it.

My brothers and I, in an effort to spend more time with each other and less time in the kitchen started catering in the turkey and pies from a local restaurant and bakery, and then we would all divvy up the side dishes between us to make for the table. Since, I am the only one that likes my Grandma Betty's Cranberry Salad, I always make that. My middle brother has a specific way he likes the mashed potatoes so he makes those. My youngest brother makes terrific hot rolls and his wife HAS to have Stove Top Stuffing on the table or something is just missing for her. Basically, if you care about havng it at the Thanksgiving table, then you will be stuck making it in my family.

So, how can you make more time for family this year at Thanksgiving? Why not start by taking the pressure off and ordering all or part of the meal to be catered, or simply going out to eat. This is one holiday for me where slaving over a hot stove is simply overrated.

We get so wrapped up in food and how to make it, you and I. If I have a wish for you this Thanksgiving it would be this: Don't let your zeal to try a new dish or technique for your Thanksgiving meal keep you in the kitchen and away from the people who love you. I have fallen victim to this many times in the past, and I would trade all of my perfectly executed turkeys or side dishes just to have one more Thanksgiving dinner sitting next to my Mom, holding her hand. 

Thanksgiving is not REALLY about the heritage turkey you have carefully brined for the last 24 hours, then rubbed with butter and imported spices from South America you bought online. It is not about the heirloom pumpkin pie you searched every pumpkin patch to find just to make your famous pumpkin pie.

Honestly, the food at Thanksigiving . . . as important as we have been raised to think it is with regards to celebrating this holiday, really isn't more important than getting together with family and friends. 

In an effort to help make your Thanksgiving more relaxing and enjoyable, I've put together this fairly comprehensive list of all of the places around town where you can cater some or all of your Thanksgiving meal in, or go out and let someone else do the cooking. Remember, my friends, NOW is the time to be ordering your food or making your reservations. Don't wait! Do it now! 

Wishing all of you love and light this Thanksgiving, and every Thanksgiving. Enjoy!

 

Click the links below for more information about the Thanksgiving Day specials at these fine restaurants. 

ORDER YOUR THANKSGIVING FEAST FROM HERE: 

• French Market - Click to see details & menu.
• Avenues Bistro - Click to see details & menu.
• Bread & Butter Concepts (The Restaurant Group that owns Gram & Dun, Taco Republic, Urban Table and BRGR.) - Click to see details & menu.
• Stroud's in Overland Park - Order a whole, cooked turkey, stuffing, green beans, mashed potatoes and their famous gravy, cranberry dressing and cinnamon rolls. All you have to do is reheat and serve. Call for pricing and details, or to place your order.
• McGonigle's Market - Click to see details & menu.
• Whole Foods – Click to see details & menu.
• Dean & Deluca - Click to see details & menu.
• Broadway Butcher Shop – Turkeys are available in 10-12 lbs., 14-16 lbs. and 18-20 lbs. These are free range birds sell for $3.99 a pound. They can brine it for you for $.50 a pound more. Sides you can pick up at the shop are foie gras brioche bread pudding, braised green beans with pork cheek hams, stuffing with sausage. Call for more details or to place your order.

CALL AND MAKE A RESERVATION TO EAT HERE: 

Downtown/Crossroads: 

• Lidia's - Click to see the menu. Open Thanksgiving Day from 12:00 noon to 6:00 pm for a 4-course Thanksgiving Day meal. Price is $45 per person, $15 for children, and 12 and under.
• Affare - Click to see the menu. Thanksgiving Day Brunch will be served from 10:30 am - 3:00 pm. Four course dinner will be served from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Price is $48 per person.
• Bristol Seafood Grill in Power & Light – Click to see the menu. Open 11:00 am to 10:00 pm.  Offering a 3-course Thanksgiving Prix-Fixe menu. Price is $33 per person, $17 for children, 12 and under. 
• Metropolitan inside the Marriott Hotel Downtown - Click to see the menu. Open 11:00 am – 3:00 pm with a Thanksgiving Buffet. Price is $26 per person, children 4-12 are $13, and 3 and under are FREE.
• Providence American Kitchen inside the Hilton President Hotel Downtown - Click to see the menu. Open 11:00 am - 8:00 pm. Offering a 3-course traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Price is $25 per person, and $12.50 for children 12 an under.

Plaza:

• Jax's Fish House & Oyster Bar - Open 4:00 pm until close, Jax will be kicking off stone crab season, offering stone crabs with lemon, jax mustard sauce, whipped parsnips, red cabbage slaw and a parker house roll, as well as, their regular menu and drink specials on Thanksgiving night. Call for pricing.
• Grand Street Cafe – Open 12:00 noon to 4:00pm. Roasted Turkey, Country Ham, Carved Prime Rib...and more! Call for pricing.
• Capital Grille – Open 11:00 am – 9:00 pm. Offering all of your traditional Thanksgiving favorites until 3:00 pm. Price is $36 per person, $15 for children. After 3:00 pm you are welcome to order from the a la carte menu.
• McCormick's & Schmick's Seafood – Open 11:00 am – 10:00 pm.Roasted Turkey, Cornbread Stuffing, Apple Squash Casserole, Butternut Squash Bisque and more. Price is $26.99 per person, and children $9.99.
• Cooper's Hawk – Open 11:00am to 9:30 pm. Serving a traditional Thanksgiving feast featuring slow roasted fresh Amish turkey, Mary’s potatoes, pan gravy, herb stuffing, house-made cranberry sauce and spiced pumpkin cheesecake pie with fresh vanilla whipped crème. Price is $24.99 per person and $9.99 for children, 12 and under.
• Cafe Trio - Currently SOLD OUT, however you can call to be put on a waiting list. 
• Seasons 52 – Open 11:00 am-8:00 pm. Serving a traditional feast featuring all-natural Plainville Farms roasted turkey and all the trimmings. Price is $26.95 per person, and children are $12.95.
• Gram & Dun – Open 11:00 am – 11:30 pm. Serving traditional Thanksgiving dinner mixed with selections from their regular menu. 
• Morton's Grille - Open from 1pm - 9pm on Thanksgiving Day. Offering their regular menu.
• Zocalo Mexican Cuisine - Open Thanksgiving 4:00 pm-1:00 am. Offering their regular menu.
• Rosso inside Hotel Sorella - Open for Lunch Service 11:00 am-2:30 pm; Dinner Service 5:30 pm-10:00 pm. Serving their regular menu. 
• Plaza III – Open 11:00 am to 9:00 pm. Serving a traditional Thanksgiving meal with turkey, potatoes, pumpkin or pecan pie. Call for pricing.
• Chaz on the Plaza inside The Raphael Hotel – Open 12 noon to 8:00 pm. Offering a traditional Thanksgiving Buffet with carving stations. Price is $55 per person, $19.95 for children 6-12.

Brookside:

• Julian – Open 11:00 am – 7:00 pm.Meal will be a fixed 3-course menu.Featuring butternut squash bisque, brined and roasted turkey breast with dressing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and turkey gravy, and pumpkin cheesecake with nutmeg whipped cream. Price is $38 per person and $18 for kids 10 and under.
• Avenues Bistro – Open 11:00 am – 8:00 pm. offering a traditional Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings. Call for pricing. 

East:

• 37 Steak inside of Harrah's Casino – Open 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm. offering their regular menu on Thanksgiving Day. 

South:  

• Sullivan's Steakhouse – Click to see the menu. Open 12 noon – 8:00 pm. Offering a classic roasted turkey dinner. Price is $39 per person, or $19 for children under 12. Or feel free to order from their regular menu instead.
• Stoud's in Overland Park - Open 10:30 am to 5:00 pm. Offering a buffet with traditional favorites along with chicken noodle soup, pan-fried chicken, catfish nuggets and cinnamon rolls and pumpkin pie. Call for pricing.
• OP 1906 inside of the Sheraton Hotel at the OP Convention Center  Open 11:00 am to 2:00 pm for lunch, and 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm for dinner. Serving a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with a southern twist. Price is $28 per person, tax, gratuity & beverages excluded.
• Bristol Seafood Grill in Leawood – Click to see the menu. Open 11:00 am to 10:00 pm. Offering a 3-course Thanksgiving menu. Price is $33 per person, and $17 for children 12 & under. 

West:

• Golden Ox – Open 10:30 am – 6:00 pm. Enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving Buffet. Turkey, ham, stuffing and everything that goes with them. Drinks and assorted desserts included. Price is $23.95 per person. 
• Grand Street Cafe in Lenexa – Open 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm. Roasted turkey, country ham, carved prime rib...and more. Call for pricing.
• Journey Steakhouse at Argosy Casino – Open from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Mesquite grilled Turkey breast with whipped garlic mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus, soup and salad included. Price is $28 per person.
• Terrace Buffet at Argosy Casino - Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm. Offering traditional favorites like roasted turkey, honey-glazed ham or cranberry pork chops. Corn bread dressing, brown butter potatoes and maple bacon glazed carrots and more. Price is $27.99 per person.
• Epic Buffet at Hollywood Casino – Click to see the menu. Open 11:00 am – 9:00 pm. Buffet is $19.99 per person.