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Don’t Wanna Cook For Thanksgiving? Here’s Where to Get Takeout in Athens


One of the things we can be thankful for around this time of year is that, for those of us who hate to cook or are too busy to cook or simply are not skilled at cooking, there are plenty of folks ready and willing to pick up the slack, albeit for a fee. Here are some of the options in Athens that can supply components or the entirety of your Thanksgiving dinner.

Heirloom Café is collaborating with the Athens Farmers Market to host a small version of the market the day before Thanksgiving, from 11 a.m.–2 p.m., allowing you to pick up your last-minute sweet potatoes, greens, peas and what-have-you, should you be cooking. If not, you can order sides and pies from Heirloom for pickup inside on the same day. Details, prices and deadlines can be found at heirloomathens.com/holidayorderform.

The Comerian is baking pumpkin, apple, sweet potato and pecan pies also for pickup at Heirloom. You can place your order in person at the regular Athens Farmers Market at Bishop Park on Saturday mornings or at thecomerian.com. The crusts are made with organic butter and, should you request it, the pies can even be delivered on Wednesday in the Athens area.

Big City Bread, as usual, is doing sweets (cinnamon spice cake, chocolate peppermint cake, apple and pumpkin bread, pies, tarts and more). Order 72 hours in advance of pickup by Nov. 25.

Kiki’s Bakeshop, in Watkinsville, is also doing pies (pumpkin spice, bourbon pecan, chocolate pecan and golden apple) as well as white chocolate cranberry walnut tart, pumpkin cheesecake with gingersnap crust and assorted christmas cookies; sweet potato or cheddar biscuits; and, for breakfast, cinnamon streusel coffee cake and a cheddar, sausage and bacon strata. Orders are due Nov. 24 by 5:30 p.m. for pickup at the bakery. Its sister business, The Local Table, is doing mashed potatoes, sweet potato soufflé, cornbread dressing, green bean casserole, squash casserole and macaroni and cheese, all in small or large sizes, plus giblet gravy and cranberry sauce by the pint, and offers volume discounts. Orders are due by Nov. 24 at 4 p.m. for pickup Nov. 25 and 26 from 3–6 p.m.

home.made catering will let you order a salad of shaved Brussels sprouts and kale with mustard vinaigrette, toasted pecans and dried cranberries; sweet potato gratin; roasted fall veggies with pecans; a savory bread pudding with shiitakes, caramelized onions and fresh herbs (yum); classic green bean casserole; cranberry pepper jelly in 8-ounce containers; sweet potato pie and lemon buttermilk pie. Dessert orders are due Nov. 23 at noon, and you have until Nov. 25 at noon for savory stuff. Everything should be picked up Nov. 25 or Nov. 26 between 11 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Call 706-206-9216 or email cateringbyhomemade@gmail.com.

Opa Robby’s Market, in front of Target, is doing the same veggie casseroles, soups and other items it usually has (e.g., broccoli, cheddar and brown rice casserole; streuseled sweet potato casserole; cornbread dressing; two-cheese squash casserole; harvest pumpkin soup), plus party trays of fruit and veggies. They’ll also cut and prep veggies for you to cook. Order a week in advance.

For the bird: White Tiger Gourmet is selling both smoked and fried turkeys for $50 that weigh in at 10–12 pounds. Email catering@whitetigergourmet.com to order. Herschel’s 34 Chicken & Ribs Kitchen is also doing 10-pound turkeys, starting at $50, for pickup Nov. 25–28. Email ccompton@herschelskitchen.com to order. Butt Hutt BBQ is doing smoked turkeys for $45. The ordering deadline is Nov. 23, and you can pick up your bird before 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Call 706-850-8511 to order.

If you want someone to take care of both central protein and sides, Lindsey’s Culinary Market is offering roasted turkey at $5/lb; gravy; sourdough-and-cornbread dressing; garlic-chive mashed potatoes; green bean casserole; sweet potato casserole with pecans and mini marshmallows; squash casserole; roasted brussels sprouts with apples and pancetta; gratin of butternut squash and braised greens; cranberry-orange compote; bourbon-pecan pie; apple pie; and pumpkin pie. Prices and contact information are listed at lindseysculinarymarket.com.

Pulaski Heights BBQ will likewise do a full meal including your choice of a 12–14-pound smoked turkey, whole smoked pork shoulder or brown sugar bourbon city ham, plus cornbread dressing, gravy or BBQ sauce, bourbon cranberry sauce and two sides, all of which feeds about 8–12 people. If you want just the meat, that’s an option, too. You can pick it all up hot between 11 a.m.–noon Thanksgiving Day or pick up chilled earlier in the week. Call 706-583-9600 to order.

And Donderos’ Kitchen has roast turkey (either breast by the pound or whole bird), dressing with sausage, cornbread pecan dressing (vegan and gluten-free), pecan-baked sweet potatoes, green bean almondine, mashed potatoes, mashed rutabaga, sweet and sour cabbage with apple, caramelized brussels sprouts, red wine gravy, cranberry sauce and pies (pumpkin, apple, pecan). Orders are due Nov. 25 for pickup Nov. 26, 4–5:30 p.m., or Nov. 27, 11 a.m.–5:30 p.m., but if you want to guarantee a turkey, get ‘em in by Nov. 21. Call 706-354-8688 or email catering@donderoskitchen.com.

Finally, should you wish to avoid even the clean-up, Graduate Athens/The Melting Point is doing a buffet, for which you can purchase tickets here, and Mama’s Boy is doing its regular brunch menu starting at 8 a.m. and a turkey dinner from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. (call 706-548-6249 for reservations).

Know of other holiday takout options? Post ’em in the comments.

UPDATES BELOW:

Marti’s at Midday has sweet potato souffle, old-fashioned cornbread dressing, squash casserole, pecan green beans with shallots, green bean casserole, broccoli gratin casserole and roasted brussels sprouts and butternut squash, in large and small sizes. Pre-order for pickup Nov. 25 afternoon or Nov. 26 from 9–11 a.m.

Kumquat Mae has sliced turkey, ham  and corned beef (priced by the pound); chicken salad, pimento cheese and green salad; mac and cheese, potato gratin, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, collards; trays of crudites, cheese, charcuterie, deviled eggs and fruit; bread, dinner rolls, pickles and jars of candied jalapenos. Order by 10 a.m. Nov. 25 for pickup Nov. 26 from 3–7 p.m.

Saucehouse Barbeque, which is shooting to have its brick-and-mortar location open in March, is doing smoked turkeys (breast only or the whole thing), plus sides, with details available here. You can pick up your order from 4–8 p.m. Nov. 26 or, for $25, they’ll deliver it to you. Update (11/25): Saucehouse is also donating a turkey or meal to families in need for each turkey/meal it sells.

Preserve is offering a full feast with turkey (brined with orange peel, apple cider, moscato and whole spices and stuffed with cornbread, apricots, bacon, herbs and fava beans), root vegetable puree, roasted beet salad and apricot gravy for $150 (feeds 7–10 people) or smaller orders. Pumpkin cheesecake will run you $25 extra. Order by Nov. 25.

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