Considering that 2020 has forced many of us to become reacquainted with our kitchens, who wants to pull out all the stops and cook a Thanksgiving feast from scratch for their household?
With COVID-19 cases rising this year, the safest Thanksgiving is one ideally within one household. County and state officials are begging Coloradans to avoid private gatherings among two or more households ,so the traditional turkey day feast with multiple generations is likely just going to have to wait until 2021 or take place virtually.
But fear not: You can still get your Thanksgiving flavor fix in Boulder, support local restaurants and stay COVID-safe by going in with the other members of your household on a takeout or prepared cook-at-home feast. If you have a one or two-person household, you might consider teaming up with another household nearby and dropping off the food.
So power up the Zoom to talk to grandma, set the table and wear your mask to pick up your Thanksgiving dinner (and likely lunch the next day, and the next, and the next).
Cured
1825 Pearl St Suite B
Thanksgiving menu: curedtogo.com
Phone: 720-389-8096
Price range: $4 to $15 per person
What to know: Dishes are sized for eight people and prepared to be cooked at home; pick up and delivery available on Nov. 25.
While the turkey and ham are out of stock, Cured is still offering plenty of ways to augment your Thanksgiving meal. Choose from classic sides like cornbread stuffing with foie gras brats, green bean casserole or bourbon pecan pie. If you need a fancy starter, consider the “All American” cheese and charcuterie board and the accompanying wine pack.
Native Foods
1675 29th Street #1272
Thanksgiving menu: order.nativefoods.com/menu/native-foods-boulder
Phone: 303-442-0213
Price range: $6 to $15 per person
What to know: Plant-based wellington and sides available; the wellington comes frozen with at-home heating instructions and the sides are fully cooked
To feed a gaggle of hungry vegans or vegetarians on a budget, don’t overlook Native Foods Thanksgiving offerings. Their wellington is stuffed with everything but the kitchen sink: steak-style seitan slices, kale, herbed mushrooms, yams, caramelized onion, orange juice compote and cranberry shallot stuffing. Smother it all with mushroom gravy and have some plant-based brussel sprouts, mashed potatoes and signature stuffing on the side. You might have some room in your budget to throw an extra $5 or $10 to Support + Feed on the Native Foods website to provide plant-based holiday meals to marginalized communities.
Flower Child
2580 Arapahoe Ave Suite 110
Thanksgiving menu: iamaflowerchild.com/locations/boulder-co/menus/main-menu
Phone: 303-386-8090
Price range: $7 to $11 per person
What to know: The $44 bundle serves four to six people and come already prepared and cooked
For a gluten-free, vegan or vegetarian-friendly Thanksgiving choice, consider ordering Flower Child’s $44 bundle, designed to feed between four and six people. Choose between a large grilled chicken, steak, shrimp or salmon ($8 extra) plus two large sides such as the vegan-approved red chile glazed sweet potatoes with bok choy and sesame seeds or gluten-free mac n’ cheese.
Chautauqua Dining Hall
900 Baseline Road
Thanksgiving menu: assets.chautauqua.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Thanksgiving-To-Go-2020-1.pdf?x19708
Phone: 303-440-3776
Price range: $18 to $31 per person
What to know: Orders must be made by Nov. 23; Orders vary between a size designed for four to six people and a larger size for eight to 12 people; wine and cocktails available
Enjoy a relaxing Thanksgiving-eve drive up to the Chautauqua Dining Hall and pick up your pre-prepared feast from this dining establishment that has been a Boulder staple since 1898. The pre-cooked meal includes a salad, rolls, oven-roasted turkey, whipped potatoes and gravy, brioche stuffing and housemade cranberry sauce. A whole pie is $18 extra (definitely go for the chocolate bourbon pecan c’mon). Feeding four to six guests will cost you $125 while doubling up to eight to 12 guests costs $220. Add on adult beverages and choose from mulled wine, cranberry margs, apple pie sangria, harvest mojitos or mimosas ranging in price from $34 to $38 per bottle (serves four to six people).
Salt
1047 Pearl Street
Thanksgiving menu: saltthebistro.com/thanksgiving-dinner-takeout
Phone: 303-444-7258
Price range: $38 per person
What to know: The take-home meal kits are designed to feed two people
If you are looking for a farm-to-table feast, Salt may be your preferred turkey vendor. The take-home meal kit is designed for two people, which is relatively rare among local Thanksgiving offerings. You and your dinner mate are sure to leave the table stuffed after three courses with everything from soup, quinoa salad, brioche stuffing, sweet potato gratin and garlic-studded Brussels sprouts. Don’t forget the turkey, the star of the show. Salt’s comes with herb and butter-basted breasts and turkey leg confit as well as gravy made with sage compound butter. For dessert, choose between the requisite cranberry sauce, pumpkin mousse cup with a gingersnap cookie or an apple pie parfait with shortbread.
Jill’s Restaurant & Bistro
900 Walnut Street
Thanksgiving menu: stjulien.com/docs/default-source/menus/thanksgiving-brunch-to-go.pdf?sfvrsn=c714d0ac_6
Phone: 720-406-7385
Price range: $49 per person ($98 total for dinner for two)
What to know: Orders are for two people and include a bottle of wine; changes and cancelations due by Nov. 19
Nothing says gratitude like sitting down with your loved one for a four-course meal from the restaurant attached to Boulder’s hotel and spa St Julien. Being a Boulder staple, there are two menus to choose from: carnivorous and vegan. Both kick off with mushroom, gruyere and caramelized onion turnovers. Next, enjoy a cornucopia of diced pumpkin, roasted spiced apples, pomegranate arils, dried cherries and a vinaigrette made from apple cider and maple syrup. For the all-important entree, meat-eaters may choose between the traditional turkey spread with sage gravy or a beef short rib from Aspen Ridge and braised in red wine. All the right sides are here, of course: mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, Brussels sprouts, sausage and apple stuffing (sausage-less available for vegan meal), poached baby carrots and cranberry sauce. Vegans are treated to a gluten-free entree of roasted cauliflower pot roast with red potatoes, carrots and vegan gravy along with all the aforementioned sides except the mashed potatoes and green bean casserole. Wash it all down with either a California sparkling wine, a Sonoma chardonnay or a French Rhone red.
Boulder Cork
3295 30th Street
Thanksgiving menu: bouldercork.com/menus/thanksgiving-curbside
Phone: 303-443-9505
Price range: $55 per person
What to know: pickup between 12 and 7 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day
For a definitively fancy-schmancy Thanksgiving, don’t miss out on Boulder Cork’s curbside menu offering for Turkey Day. The three-course menu features salad, and then a choice of turkey, ham or a combination for the entree with the requisite sides of mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy and cranberry sauce. Oh, and broccoli, we guess. You could go non-traditional and choose the prime rib instead with horseradish cream sauce and au jus. For dessert, there is the traditional pumpkin pie, cheesecake or chocolate mousse. Don’t miss Boulder Cork’s nationally recognized wine list either. Ordering a Thanksgiving curbside meal nets you 20 percent off the extensive selection.
